Welcome to the Monday Stat Party, where we dive into the intriguing and sometimes nostalgic world of Mets baseball stats from the past week. Whether it's a rookie making history or the team setting new records, there's always something fascinating to uncover. Let's get into the numbers that made headlines and turned heads.
THURSDAY HIGHLIGHTS
Brandon Lowe's early homer was a rare blemish for the Mets, marking only the second Opening Day in 21 years they’ve surrendered a first-inning run. The last time? A 2016 showdown with the Royals.
Pirates starter Paul Skenes faced a quick exit, logging just 0.2 innings. This marks the shortest Opening Day start against the Mets since 1983, joining a short list with José Berrios and Kyle Gibson.
The Mets' pitchers were on fire, recording double-digit strikeouts on Opening Day for the ninth time in thirteen seasons. No other National League team has done this more than seven times in that span.
Scoring eleven runs on Opening Day is a rare feat the Mets have now achieved thrice, previously in 2013 and 1994.
Putting up five runs in an inning on Opening Day? The Mets have done it five times, with back-to-back instances in 2017 and 2018.
Multiple homers on Opening Day returned for the first time since 2014, evoking memories of power displays against the Nationals.
Carson Benge and Francisco Alvarez delivered back-to-back homers, a feat last seen on Opening Day in 1994. Benge joins a select group with a homer in his MLB debut on Opening Day, a club that includes Kaz Matsui.
Benge’s debut was historic, becoming the youngest to homer, walk, and steal a base on Opening Day, edging out legends like Bryce Harper and Barry Bonds.
Eight players made their Mets debut, the most since 1995, showcasing a fresh wave of talent.
For the fifth year running, the Mets had a new face on the mound for Opening Day, a streak only matched once before in team history.
The Mets boast a stellar 42-23 Opening Day record, leading the league with a .646 win percentage.
SATURDAY SHOWDOWN
A rare 0-0 tie through nine innings took us back to April 2024. Luis Robert Jr. then delivered a thrilling walk-off, becoming just the fourth to do so in Citi Field history.
Robert's walk-off in extra innings was the first for the Mets since Dominic Smith’s grand slam in 2019. Ironically, Smith hit another walk-off just hours later, now with the Braves.
SUNDAY STORIES
Oklahoma State alums Nolan McLean and Carson Benge brought their college rivalry to the big leagues. McLean, known for his heat, threw three pitches over 98 mph in just two innings, a stark contrast to last season.
McLean’s 65 strikeouts in nine starts tie him with Mets legends like Al Leiter and Mark Prior, with Dwight Gooden and Nolan Ryan still ahead.
Luis Robert Jr.'s hot start puts him in elite company, joining Mets greats like David Wright and Mike Piazza with five RBIs and reaching base eight times in the first three games.
The Mets have already played extra innings in two of their first three games, a rarity seen only three other times in franchise history.
There you have it, a week of Mets baseball filled with standout performances and historic moments. Stay tuned as the season unfolds and more stats emerge to capture our imaginations.