{"id":15390,"date":"2026-07-24T05:36:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T00:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=15390"},"modified":"2026-07-24T05:36:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T00:36:18","slug":"mets-set-for-sobering-reminder-against-dodgers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=15390","title":{"rendered":"Mets set for sobering reminder against Dodgers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p>As if Mets fans needed another reminder of just how much of a train wreck this season has turned into, here comes the biggest one of all: The Dodgers will be at Citi Field when the Mets open their homestand Friday.<\/p>\n<p>It comes on the heels of another lost series, this one to the Brewers, where David Stearns\u2019 old team is battling the Dodgers for the best record in the sport.<\/p>\n<p>And now the same Dodgers the Mets were supposed to emulate when Stearns arrived in Queens and paired with Steve Cohen\u2019s money are in town to show off just how big a gap there is between the two franchises.<\/p>\n<p>Because instead of a battle of coastal powerhouses, the series that opens Friday is another example of just how far the Mets are from reaching their goal.<\/p>\n<p>The Dodgers have the best record in the majors (65-38) and stand to get even better over the next two weeks.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40073789\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/shohei-ohtani-17-los-angeles-135236498.jpg?resize=661,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 661w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/shohei-ohtani-17-los-angeles-135236498.jpg?resize=90,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 90w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/shohei-ohtani-17-los-angeles-135236498.jpg?resize=120,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 120w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/shohei-ohtani-17-los-angeles-135236498.jpg?resize=1200,800&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/shohei-ohtani-17-los-angeles-135236498.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/shohei-ohtani-17-los-angeles-135236498.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/shohei-ohtani-17-los-angeles-135236498.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px\"\/><figcaption>Shohei Ohtani swings during the Dodgers\u2019 July 22 game. <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Even before they figure to add improvements by the Aug. 3 trade deadline, they should get their closer, Edwin D\u00edaz, back.<\/p>\n<p>The ex-Met is expected to return to the bullpen within the next few days \u2014 although not likely by this weekend \u2014 after surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow.<\/p>\n<p>Kik\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez has been out with a strained oblique and could be back this month.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Meanwhile, the Dodgers have not just overcome the absence of those two key players, but catcher Will Smith is out indefinitely with a neck injury and Shohei Ohtani has been dealing with left knee inflammation that\u2019s kept him off the mound.<\/p>\n<p>Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are expected back in the rotation next month.<\/p>\n<p>The Dodgers recently shrugged off a sweep at the hands of the Diamondbacks in Los Angeles and won series against the Yankees and Phillies \u2014 both on the road.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Do Yankees Need More Than One Bat? + A.J. Hinch Talks Tarik Skubal Trade Rumors | The Show Ep. 210\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eHaXThAG41s?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>As for the Mets, they haven\u2019t won as many as three straight games since the end of May.<\/p>\n<p>They are a season-high 17 games under .500, 17 games out of first place in the NL East and 10 \u00bd out of the final NL wild-card spot.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p>And now they\u2019ve forced themselves into sitting one of their only bright spots \u2014 either Carson Benge or A.J. Ewing \u2014 on a regular basis to get Luis Robert Jr. in the lineup to potentially increase his trade value.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI understand why they\u2019re doing it,\u2019\u2019 one National League scout said of the decision to try to play Robert regularly now that he\u2019s finally returned from a back issue, \u201cas long as it\u2019s just until the [trade] deadline. But it still doesn\u2019t look great. Having those two rookies out there is about all that\u2019s worth paying attention to, but their development isn\u2019t gonna be impacted by a few days out of the lineup in July. It just can\u2019t go on later [in the season].\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40073808\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img style=\"aspect-ratio:1.49926794;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"40073808\" width=\"885\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/new-york-mets-center-fielder-135239730.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"New York Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) on the field before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers.\" class=\"wp-image-40073808\" 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/new-york-mets-center-fielder-135239730.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/new-york-mets-center-fielder-135239730.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/new-york-mets-center-fielder-135239730.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px\"\/><figcaption>Luis Robert Jr. is pictured before the Mets\u2019 July 20 game against the Brewers. <span class=\"credit\">IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"product-spotlight product-spotlight-block wp-block-nypost-editor-product-spotlight\">\n<p>\n\t\t\tMEts merch shop\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\tNew York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s still another example, though, of how this season has gone off the rails for the Mets, as the scout noted the number of questions they have up and down their roster, which will continue at least for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter inline-module--nypostbusinessunit aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\" data-source-unit=\"Inline Newsletter Module Membership - Inside the Mets\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__unsubmitted-title-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDelivering insights on all things Amazin\u2019s\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"inline-module__cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThank you\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cWho\u2019s their first baseman next season?\u201d the scout said. \u201cSecond baseman in two or three years? Third? They\u2019ve shown you can\u2019t just trade or sign those guys that easily. The Dodgers have shown the ability to find the right guys to fill out their team. The Mets haven\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And that will be on display in full effect for the next three days.<\/p>\n<p>While Nolan McLean is starting Saturday, he\u2019s sandwiched between Sean Manaea and Freddy Peralta.<\/p>\n<p>By the end of the 10-game homestand that begins Friday, the Mets will look considerably different and certainly not any better.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As if Mets fans needed another reminder of just how much of a train wreck this season has turned into, here comes the biggest one of all: The Dodgers will be at Citi Field when the Mets open their homestand Friday. It comes on the heels of another lost series, this one to the Brewers,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15391,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/crop-40073829.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&1784833653&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15390","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15390","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15390"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15390\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15391"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15390"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15390"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}