Mets Ride Wild Series, Split to 20 Wins on Season
The New York Mets and Washington Nationals delivered four games of pure baseball whiplash this week, trading gut-punch losses and emphatic victories in equal measure. New York emerged with a hard-fought split in a series that had a little of everything – egregious umpiring, lights-out pitching, bullpen shivers, and a 19-run offensive eruption.
The New York Mets have reached the 20-win mark before any other team in MLB, maintained first place in the National League East, and still have the best record in baseball. It was a roller coaster of a week, but it left Mets fans more excited than discouraged, as key players returned and the team’s resilience shone through.
First team to 20 wins?
Your New York @Mets! pic.twitter.com/DkuneZfsFl
— MLB (@MLB) April 28, 2025
Game 1: Triple Play Turmoil and a Tough 5–4 Loss
The opener will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Kodai Senga turned in a steady start (six innings, two earned runs, five Ks), keeping the Mets in the game, but a controversial umpiring blunder stole the game.
Kodai Senga, Nasty 83mph Sweeper. 😨
5th K pic.twitter.com/Fvwn2enMWM
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 26, 2025
In the fourth inning, a line drive by Jesse Winker that clearly bounced to Nathaniel Lowe was ruled an unreviewable catch – and the Nationals promptly turned a bewildering “triple play” on the confused baserunners to end the inning.
— Gab (@gabrielleraucci) April 26, 2025
The egregious call snuffed out a potential Mets comeback in an instant, drawing vociferous boos from the transplanted Citi Field Faithful (a whole lot of orange in Washington D.C.) and plenty of expletives from the dugout and me at my tv. Despite a late push, the Mets fell 5–4, a bitter loss served with a side of umpire-induced frustration.
McNeil and Alvarez Return
On the personnel front, Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez returned from the injured list in this game, providing a much-needed jolt to the lineup (even if it was electrifying as fans had hoped). Meanwhile, Brett Baty, who’d just found his stroke with a monster home run off Cy Young-level pitcher Zack Wheeler) was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse after the game.
It was a tough pill to swallow all around: the Mets lost a winnable game and sent a promising player down. Still, the sense was that better days – and calls – were ahead.
Game 2: Alvarez’s Return Sparks Win as Pitching Dominates
The Mets bounced back in Game 2 behind dominant pitching and the welcome pop of a returning bat. Right-hander Clay Holmes delivered five scoreless innings (2 K) in calm, efficient fashion, pounding the zone and keeping Washington’s hitters off-balance.
Clay Holmes is a great starting pitcher! pic.twitter.com/98nJfAHvbe
— Pitch Profiler (@pitchprofiler) April 27, 2025
The bullpen followed suit, with lefty Danny Young providing a highlight by striking out the side in the seventh inning on just 13 pitches. The Nationals were completely stifled, managing only a few meek hits.
Alvarez Launches Game-Winning Shot
On the offensive side, Francisco Alvarez announced his return with authority, launching a two-run homer deep into the left-field seats–a no-doubter that won the game. Alvarez’s blast broke a scoreless tie and was the decisive blow in a 2–0 Mets victory that looked much more like the well-oiled team leading the division.
Francisco Alvarez goes the opposite way for his first homer of the year! pic.twitter.com/eUl3Hfsbmd
— MLB (@MLB) April 26, 2025
It was a crisp, feel-good win: the pitching staff was in control from start to finish, and the lineup got just enough timely hitting (with Alvarez providing the firepower) to even the series. This club’s resilience all year was on full display, turning the page quickly after the previous night’s drama.
Game 3: Megill Dazzles, but Bullpen Collapse Leads to 8–7 Heartbreaker
Tylor Megill brought his A[ce]-game, mowing down Nationals hitters with an exceptionally dominant outing.
Tylor Megill, Dirty 84mph Slider. 😨
9th K pic.twitter.com/KmfNOk4LYE
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 27, 2025
“Big Drip” was electric over 6⅓ innings, fanning nine batters and allowing just three runs. By the time Megill departed, the Mets had built a 7–3 lead, thanks to a balanced offensive attack and some clutch two-out hits. It felt like the Mets were cruising toward another win–until the late innings turned into quite an unraveling for the relief corps.
A career-high 105 pitches for Tylor Megill today against the Nationals pic.twitter.com/tOMvuVX9I0
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) April 27, 2025
The usually reliable Mets bullpen imploded. A couple of Washington runs in the eighth cut the lead to 7–5 and set the stage for the nightmare ninth.
When brought in to close it out after José Buttó, Ryne Stanek suffered his second blown save of the series. He was tagged for a game-tying, two-run homer. Moments later, the Nationals pushed across another run to complete a stunning five-run comeback.
The Mets went from comfortable to crushed, dropping an 8–7 heartbreaker that left fans momentarily stunned. It was a gut-wrenching loss that every team endures a few times a year, but the Mets refused to let it define the series.
Game 4: Nimmo’s Historic Injects 9-RBI, Mets Win 19–5
Great teams answer adversity with authority, and the Mets did precisely that in the series finale. On the mound, Griffin Canning took full advantage of all that run support, punching out five, tossing five scoreless innings, and picking up the win with little sweat.
But Brandon Nimmo decided to personally turn Game 4 into his own historic highlight reel.
great strategy mendoza https://t.co/2ICs8lcvPp pic.twitter.com/DSxlsfbZlN
— Lime and Mets (@LimeMets) April 29, 2025
The usually mild-mannered “Child of God” erupted for Nine RBIs–yes, nine – in a single game, a feat tied only by Carlos Delgado for the most RBIs in a single game in Mets history. Nimmo was a one-man wrecking crew, cracking two home runs (including a grand slam) and a bases-clearing double for good measure.
9 RBI GAME FOR BRANDON NIMMO!!!
He ties a #Mets franchise record! pic.twitter.com/gjYSRn5wWC
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 28, 2025
By the end of the fifth inning, he’d driven in eight runs, and the Mets’ offense had hung an eye-popping 19 runs on the Nationals’ pitching staff. A tense series morphed into a celebratory slugfest at Nationals Park (which felt like Citi Field South as Mets fans cheered every onslaught).
Brandon Nimmo joins Carlos Delgado as the only players in @Mets history to record 9 RBI in a game! pic.twitter.com/CS9vtYf3Jv
— MLB (@MLB) April 28, 2025
McNeil Crushes His First Solo Shot of the Season
It wasn’t just the Nimmo show, either. Jeff McNeil broke out of his slump with a vintage performance – slashing line drives all over the field, including a solo homer in the top of the fifth (his first of the season) and a nastily-ripped triple to collect a trio of RBIs.
Jeff McNeil’s first home run of 2025 🐿️ pic.twitter.com/1nFPKIm04c
— MLB (@MLB) April 28, 2025
Sizzling Soto’s Opposite Field Power
Juan Soto continued to torch baseballs on Monday, scorching a ground-rule double into the right-field corner in the sixth inning that left his bat at 111 mph.
Juan Soto drives a ground-rule double the other way! pic.twitter.com/tsyoUfPgR1
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 28, 2025
The ball hopped the wall so fast there was no chance for extra bases, but it capped another sharp day at the plate for Soto, who finished 2-for-4 before subbing out with the Mets comfortably ahead. His consistent hard contact has been a tone-setter for this lineup all season, and Monday was no different.
Nobody Works a Count Like Winker
Nobody works a count like Jesse Winker — and today, he showed why he’s one of the most quietly lethal at-bats in this lineup. Winker went 2-for-4, walked twice, drove in a run, and crossed the plate four times in the Mets’ 19–5 dismantling of the Nationals.
Jesse Winker makes it 16-5 pic.twitter.com/9Wa4f2agES
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 28, 2025
His ninth-inning RBI single came off a 64 mph meatball from Amed Rosario, which Winker didn’t miss — 104 mph off the bat, lined like a laser into right. Over his last seven games, Winker has hit .286 with a .400 OBP. He’s locked in, but pitchers still haven’t figured out how to clock him (without the help of the officials).
Swaggy V, Again!
Mark Vientos capped off a standout series by reaching base four times in the finale and driving in two runs of his own. In his last at-bat, he caught the outside of a Rosario meatball and sent it 403 ft/103mph to center field to score Winker and himself.
Mark Vientos has hit a home run. pic.twitter.com/CwWuzCyKun
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 28, 2025
By the time the dust settled, the Mets had a 19–5 victory and a split of the four-game set. More importantly, the team’s confidence was reaffirmed: any time the offense can explode like that, you know this club is never down for long.
Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil combined for the following in today’s @Mets win:
5 XBH
12 RBI
0 KThey are the first pair of lefties to combine for each of those marks in a game since Carl Yastrzemski and Fred Lynn for the Red Sox on June 18, 1975. pic.twitter.com/1J4REB52Pv
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) April 28, 2025
High Notes and Looking Ahead
Splitting a series might not usually be cause for celebration, but in this case, the Mets have plenty to feel good about. They leave the series as the first team in the majors to reach 20 wins (now at 20-10) and still hold the best record in the NL East and MLB overall.
With today’s 19-5 win over the Nationals, the @Mets are the first team to reach 20 wins in 2025! pic.twitter.com/dcGWjOcv4n
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 28, 2025
The return of McNeil and Alvarez has already paid dividends, the starting pitching has been largely excellent (Senga and Megill’s outings were big positives), and even the bullpen hiccups serve as learning experiences early in the year.
And let’s not forget the pure fun of that Game 4 outburst – an offensive eruption that will have the Mets riding high into their next matchup, which is thankfully at home.
4️⃣ pic.twitter.com/PqhGszSKVM
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) April 28, 2025
There’s a satirical silver lining here: maybe the baseball gods just wanted to remind the Mets to keep things interesting. A little adversity, a little umpire egregiousness, and a joyful romp to remind everyone how potent this team can be.
If this four-game stint has proved anything, it’s that the 2025 Mets have a flair for the dramatic – and a knack for coming out on top in the end. The season is young, the Mets are in first place, and as April turns to May, one thing is clear: The Mets are playing good, fun, and complete baseball.
