RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The Mets ' 2026 season has been largely a disappointment, but don't tell that to this current iteration of the team.
Following Saturday's 5-4 win over the Nationals, the Mets are 8-3 since the trade deadline. They are playing with confidence and getting contributions from all veterans and youngsters alike.
While Francisco Lindor 's walk-off single to cap off the Mets' comeback win will garner headlines, the shortstop made sure to give his teammates credit for setting him up in the ninth.
Down one run, Brett Baty worked a walk before Jorge Polanco -- mired in an offensive slump -- lined a single before Francisco Alvarez doubled to tie the game. After A.J. Ewing struck out, Lindor came up with the chance to win the game.
"By the time I stepped into the box, I already knew what to do," Lindor said after the win. "Just seeing how the guys worked the counts, it was a much easier plan and approach once I saw everything happening the way the guys went about it."
"That's a game-winner!" Gary and Keith on the call for the Mets' comeback in the 9th inning! 🎙 ➡️ @Novig pic.twitter.com/zsKhnSd5LQ
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 16, 2026 It wasn't a perfect game for Lindor, however. He made a baserunning mistake that cost the Mets an out and a baserunner. Lindor owned up to it to interim manager Andy Green , who praised the shortstop for how he handled it.
"You don’t play perfect baseball when you are on a winning streak. But you don’t let that moment impact the next moment," Green said. "Lindor literally came up to me and owned a baserunning mistake, but he didn't let it impact the game-on-the-line at-bat. That's a championship-caliber player. That's what you want out of your whole team."
Similar to Friday's series opener against the Nats, Lindor's fielding error caused Washington to take the lead. But Lindor made up for it later with a solo shot to tie the game, which eventually led to a win for New York. Lindor's baserunning error didn't cause him to fail to come through when the team needed him the most.
Lindor's walk-off was the 10th of his career, and his first this season. He finished 2-for-4 on Saturday, continuing his torrid pace at the plate. Over his last 25 games (since July 19), Lindor is slashing .309/.407/.588 with seven home runs, four doubles, a triple, 20 RBI and 15 walks. His .995 OPS ranks third in the NL in that span.
That offensive output from Lindor has contributed to the Mets' recent winning ways. And it's not just the winning, but the way the Mets are winning that's drawing attention. There's a visible energy among the players, both with the veterans and the youngsters. Lindor has noticed it and believes it has contributed to this stretch.
"Good vibes, good energy. Guys feeding off each other, guys jumping after strikeouts," Lindor quipped. "It’s a good time right now; we just have to keep up the energy, keep playing for each other and see what happens."
Although the Mets are still way below .500 (55-69), the players want to win as many games as they can. And Lindor believes that can only benefit the team moving forward.
"The more games [the youngsters] can play, the better," Lindor said. "It’s been a tough year here for everybody. They’re seeing the year’s not done. We play to win…that’s what they’re doing. They are trying to win every single day. Even when we were losing, they got a little bit upset because they wanted to win. It’s important not just for them, but for everybody."
Lindor, who is playing his sixth season with the Mets, is not surprised by the recent success. He believed this team should have been playing this way all season; it just didn't happen for them.
Of course, Lindor's calf injury took him out for nearly two months and contributed to the team's tough start, but the vision for what the 2026 Mets could have been is revealing itself, at least to Lindor.
"To be quite honest, we had all these guys. Felt like [president of baseball operations David Stearns ] did a good job, we just didn’t play well in the beginning," Lindor said. "Everyone who has been here has been in the organization from the beginning, pretty much. This is baseball. In the beginning, we didn’t come through; we didn’t execute and now we are."
The Mets will look to complete the three-game sweep on Sunday.
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