The Mets (33-36, 7.5 GB in NL East, 5 GB of second Wild Card) fell to the Cardinals Friday night, twice, losing a suspended game, 5-4, then the regularly scheduled game, 9-5. They return to face the Cardinals on Saturday at Citi Field at 7:10 p.m. 

Here's what went down on Friday, in case you missed it:

After blowing the save in Thursday night's suspended game, Edwin Diaz returned for the 10th inning to pitch again only to allow another run and take the loss as well. In the regularly scheduled game, it was Jeurys Familia who cost the Mets, blowing a one-run lead in the eighth by allowing four runs, including two home runs, in a 9-5 loss. 

As if the Mets needed any more questions about their bullpen, they may have another injury to deal with after Friday's game.

Robert Gsellman pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the Mets, but was then taken out of the game as part of a double switch. When asked about that move after the game, Mickey Callaway said Gsellman told him he was experiencing tightness in his back.

Callaway didn't have much more info on Gsellman, other than that he will get treatment and the team would go from there. 

On the premiere of SNY's new digital series 'Game On, presented by GEICO,' Robert Gsellman and Steven Matz audition for a spot on the show!

The best I can tell, 10 of the league's 15 teams in AL still consider themselves "contending," while seemingly only the Giants and Marlins are, at this point, set on beings sellers before the deadline.

At 28-32 and five games back of the last Wild Card spot, the Mets are presently among the NL teams riding the fence. To hit 90 wins, which is what it typically takes to reach the postseason, the Mets will need to play .560 baseball, which is not out of the realm of possibility. If this is going to happen, it has to start now, specifically this week playing the Giants and Rockies at home.

It's not going to be easy, though, especially with multiple key players underperforming, banged up, or on the injured list. Best case scenario, the Mets get themselves to be slightly above .500, and well within reach of the Wild Card by winning or splitting every series between now and the end of July. This level success would hopefully make them buyers.

The Mets began their six-game homestand at Citi Field with an extra-inning loss to the Giants, falling 9-3 in 10 innings. >> Box score

Six things to know from Tuesday's game

1) Noah Syndergaard gave the Mets a second-consecutive quality start, but the run support just wasn't there for him early on. Syndergaard pitched 6.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on 103 pitches. After the Mets did give him a lead in the sixth, he was noticeably unhappy when Mickey Callaway elected to pull him from the game in favor of Seth Lugo with two away in the seventh. He left the mound with a lead, but it wouldn't hold.

Jacob deGrom was rolling, got into a little bit of trouble, and then his hip cramped up.

He was kneeling as Adeiny Hechavarria made a throwing error which allowed the Diamondbacks to get their first run, and his hip cramped up. He was allowed to remain in the game after one mound visit, but after giving up a ground-rule double. Mickey Callaway and the team trainer decided to take him out. DeGrom was at 89 pitches when he was taken out with two outs in the seventh, and the Mets' bullpen proceeded to blow a four-run lead before they lost 6-5 in 11 innings.

"I was frustrated," deGrom said. "It just cramped up for a second. I just wanted to throw a couple of pitches to make sure it was fine and it was. It's a tough loss for us tonight and I wish I could've stayed out there."

The Mets (28-29, 5 GB in the NL East) rallied in the eighth inning for a 5-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks (28-30, 11 GB in NL West) on Friday.

They return to face the Diamondbacks again on Saturday at Chase Field at 10:10 p.m. when Jacob deGrom (3-5, 3.71 ERA) takes on Zack Greinke (6-2, 2.78 ERA). 

Here's what went down on Friday, in case you missed it:

The Mets put together a two-out rally in the eighth inning, with Carlos Gomez lining a pinch-hit go-ahead double to lead the Mets to a 5-4 victory over the Diamondbacks.

The Mets' bullpen had a different look on Friday, but the group got the job done in the Mets' 5-4 victory over Arizona.

After a crazy top of the eighth inning where the Mets jumped in front, Mickey Callaway relied on Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman to pitch the eighth and ninth innings, and the duo delivered.

"The more and more we looked at it, after they played catch they said they were okay. Dave (Eiland) and I talked about it, and (Jeurys) Familia and (Edwin) Diaz were down," Callaway said. "They have thrown five out of eight. Today would have been another three out of four for both of them. They've thrown a ton of pitches, and we just couldn't do it.

"I think taking care of our players and putting them in a good spot is always something that we're going to think about, as well as winning, and we had Lugo and Gsellman. Thank goodness (Zack) Wheeler stepped up and went seven for us. That was huge. Now, both Familia and Diaz have had two days off, and we're caught up. We felt like if we would have pitched them today, man, we're going to be trying to catch up for another week. Lugo and Gsellman stepped up big-time and got the job done."

The Mets will try to salvage a split of their four-game series against the Dodgers Thursday night at 10:10 p.m. on SNY. 

Mets notes

Jason Vargas doesn't typically pitch deep into games, but the Mets will need him to go as long as he possibly can Thursday as Edwin Díaz, Jeurys Familia and Robert Gsellman are all taxed. Díaz has pitched in three of the last four games, throwing 46 pitches over the last two days and said he's unavailable Thursday; Familia has also gone three of the last four, including the last two; Gsellman has thrown 41 pitches over the last two days. ... Tomás Nido steps in for Wilson Ramos behind the plate, while Dominic Smith is back on the bench with J.D. Davis starting in left field.

Michael Conforto blasted a go-ahead grand slam while Steven Matz tossed six strong innings to lead the Mets to a 7-3 victory at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night. >> Box score

Six things to know about Tuesday's game

1) Steven Matz continued his string of strong performances again, holding the Dodgers to two runs on four hits over six innings while striking out six. His only mistake was hanging an 0-2 curveball over the middle of the plate to Cody Bellinger, who hit his MLB-leading 20th home run. Since Matz' disaster in Philadelphia, when he allowed six earned runs without recording an out, he has allowed more than two runs just once in his last six starts and has lowered his ERA from 4.96 to 3.55 in that span. 

The Mets won a wild, ugly game against the Tigers in 13 innings on Saturday afternoon at Citi Field >> Box score

Six things to know about Saturday's game

1) Leading off the bottom of the 13th inning with the game tied, 4-4, Tomas Nido smoked a homer to right field to give the Mets a 5-4 win. Nido's homer came after Hector Santiago escaped a bases loaded, one-out jam in the 12th inning before working a scoreless 13th.

2) With the game tied, 4-4, in the bottom of the 11th, the Mets wasted a golden opportunity to win. After a one-out walk by Wilson Ramos (who was pinch-run for by Steven Matz), consecutive singles by Dominic Smith and Todd Frazier loaded the bases for the Mets with one out. That brought up Aaron Altherr, who struck out swinging after getting ahead in the count 3-1. Things were left to Adeiny Hechavarria, who grounded out to the pitcher on a 3-2 pitch.

The Mets won a wild one against the Nats on Thursday afternoon to complete a four-game sweep >> Box score

Five things to know about Thursday's game

1) Trailing 4-3 with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, the Nats elected to walk Wilson Ramos intentionally to put runners on first and second for Carlos Gomez, who crushed a three-run homer to left-center field off reliever Wander Suarez to give the Mets a 6-4 lead. Dominic Smith had doubled to start the inning.

The Mets fell to a season-worst four games under .500 after failing to muster any offense or fight on Saturday in Miami. >> Box score

Five things to know about Saturday's game...

1) With manager Mickey Callaway's job status potentially in a precarious spot, the Mets gave an absolutely listless performance as they managed just one hit while losing their second-straight game to the MLB-worst Marlins. It was their fourth-straight loss overall. After Jeff McNeil led the game off by doubling off Marlins starter Pablo Lopez, 14 consecutive Mets were set down as he settled into a groove. This was the same Pablo Lopez the Mets scored 10 runs against last week. 

A day after their bullpen tossed 10.1 innings during Saturday night's 18-inning loss to the Brewers, the Mets have called up Tyler Bashlor and Tim Peterson from Triple-A Syracuse.

With Justin Wilson set to be activated off the IL as early as Monday, there are two reasons why it made sense for the Mets to demote Chris Flexen as one way to make room:

1. Flexen, no matter how he performed on Saturday night (he performed badly) was likely destined to return to Triple-A once Wilson returned.

It took an entire second game for the Mets to break a deadlock after tying it in the ninth, but Chris Flexen blew it in the bottom of the 18th as the Mets took a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to the Brewers. They fell under .500 for the first time this season. >> Box score

Seven things to know about Saturday's game...

The Mets struck quickly Friday night in Milwaukee but fell flat the rest of the game, losing to the Brewers 3-1. They've scored just two runs in their last three games. >> Box score

Six things to know about Friday's game...

1) The Mets took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning and couldn't muster another run. Wilson Ramos drove in Robinson Canó with a two-out single. The Mets had three hits in the first inning but had just four hits over the final eight innings and zero hits from the sixth through the eighth.

The Mets' 5.57 team ERA is the third-worst in the majors, better than only the Orioles and Red Sox. But manager Mickey Callaway isn't ready to sound the alarm.

"It's not concerning," Callaway said at Citi Field before Monday night's game against the Phillies, noting that the sample size is far too small for the team to be worried.

Is Callaway right to not be alarmed? Maybe...

The Mets began a 13-game stretch last week that included 10 games against the Phillies and Braves.

I believed the Mets would need to win at least six of those 10 games -- which would put them around 14-10 heading into their next homestand -- to avoid hitting the panic button too early.

To date, they have won just two of seven during this stretch, with three left against the Phillies, whom they will play at Citi Field after beginning a three-game series Friday against the Cardinals in St. Louis.

If the Mets are going to be this careful about protecting Edwin Diaz, refusing to use him in the highest of high-leverage eighth-inning spots Monday night against the Phillies, then there's only one way to justify such caution:

Go sign Craig Kimbrel. And do it quickly before someone else does.

It's the obvious take, I know, and it might make for a touchy situation as to who gets the ninth inning if the Mets actually were to sign him.

The Mets (10-6, first place in the NL East, 0.5 game up on second place Phillies) face the Phillies in Philadelphia on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. 

Here's what went down on Monday in case you missed it...

In the Mets' wild 11-inning win over the Phillies, Edwin Diaz was held back until the save situation and proceeded to blow the heart of Philadelphia's order away >> Read more

Mets manager Mickey Callaway defended his decision not to use Edwin Diaz in a pivotal eighth-inning spot after Monday's 11-inning win over the Phillies, saying he wouldn't use his closer for a four-out save unless it was the playoffs.

Callaway said the Mets wouldn't have Diaz, who has a 1.35 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings this season, pitch more than one inning or enter in a tie game on the road.

After Jeurys Familia pitched into a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the bottom of the eighth in a 6-5 game, Callaway turned to Robert Gsellman instead of Diaz to try to escape the jam. Gsellman then walked in the game-tying run on four pitches to blow the save.

Michael Conforto drove in the game-winning run on an error in the 11th inning as the Mets overcame a blown eighth-inning lead to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-6 on Monday at Citizens Bank Park. >> Box score

Seven things to know about Monday's game

1) Conforto's two-out liner off Rhys Hoskins' glove trickled into shallow right field, allowing Juan Lagares to score from second base ahead of Cesar Hernandez's off-line throw to break a 6-6 tie.

2) Edwin Diaz, who did not enter the game for a four-out save in the eighth inning, struck out the side in the bottom of the 11th as the Mets snapped a two-game losing streak.

The main Mets headlines continue to center around replacing Jason Vargas with Dallas Keuchel, and whether to sign Craig Kimbrel to beef up the bullpen.

Here are four under the radar stories worth noting...

1) Broxton is better than Lagares

Mets left-hander Jason Vargas was so bad on Saturday night against the Braves that manager Mickey Callaway seemed to be at a loss after the game while explaining what went wrong.

"He's just not getting outs at this point," Callaway said. "That's really all I can say."

Callaway said more, though, noting that the Mets might skip Vargas' next start and that the Mets "have to have other options" when it comes to the No. 5 spot in the rotation 

If the Mets have serious designs on competing for a World Series, the stated goal by rookie general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, they can't possibly plan on having Jason Vargas be their fifth starter the rest of the season.

After Vargas' latest debacle, in which he recorded just one out, was pulled after six batters and allowed four runs on two hits and three walks while throwing just 17 of his 36 pitches for strikes, it will be difficult for the Mets to justify even sending the lefty out for one more start.

"He's just not getting outs at this point," Mickey Callaway said of Vargas. "That's really all I can say."

As the Mets traveled north from Port St. Lucie, their bullpen looked to be a solid unit. New GM Brodie Van Wagenen landed the MLB's saves leader in closer Edwin Diaz and brought back Jeurys Familia to join Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo. Lefty Justin Wilson was also a crucial free agent pickup.

But this group has not gotten off to the start they hoped for in 2019.

As a whole, though, the seven bullpen arms - that includes Luis Avilan and Tim Peterson as well - own a combined 5.76 ERA to start the new year. Avilan has the worst ERA of the relievers, sitting at 16.20 after allowing six runs in 3.1 innings. Lugo is also struggling with a 8.10 ERA after allowing six earned over 6.2 innings.

Mets pitchers combined to walk 12 batters as they dug the team into a 12-1 hole. New York's offense erupted after that, helped by a terrible Nationals bullpen, but the late explosion fell short as the Mets lost, 12-9, on Sunday afternoon at Citi Field in the finale of their three-game series. >> Box score

Seven things to know about Sunday's game

1) Zack Wheeler was shaky from the start of the game, and while he escaped the first inning unscathed, the Nationals dropped a five-spot on him in the second inning with Wheeler unable to locate at all. That inning was especially ugly, with Wheeler walking a pair of batters, allowing a ground ball RBI single to Max Scherzer, and left fielder Jeff McNeil playing what would have been a sacrifice fly and the second out into a ground-rule double by Adam Eaton that made it 4-0 Nats...

The Marlins made a late comeback in the bottom of the ninth, but the Mets finished them off to sweep their first series of 2019 on Wednesday night. >> Box score

Five things to know about Tuesday's game

1) Jacob deGrom asserted his dominance once more, and collected a career-high 14 strikeouts in the process. Everything was working for deGrom in this one, as he mixed things up each time he went through the Marlins lineup. He allowed only two hits and walked one batter over his seven-inning, 114-pitch outing. DeGrom also helped himself out with a solo homer in the top of the third as well. The 2018 Cy Young winner just does it all.

The Mets' bullpen nearly let a 6-2 lead evaporate against the Marlins on Tuesday night, as most of the pitchers who came out of the 'pen struggled. And while Mickey Callaway's bullpen management was questioned during the game, something he revealed after the game made it even more curious.

Here are three reasons why his bullpen management -- which must improve if the Mets want to contend in a division that is expected to be the toughest in baseball -- left a lot to be desired on Tuesday night...

Lugo was left in while struggling -- and sick

In the wake of making the postseason in 2015 and 2016, the Mets have gone 147-177, fired their manager, watched the face of their franchise retire, and have taken a gamble by hiring a former agent to lead their revival.

In five months, Brodie Van Wagenen has modernized the organization's front office and staff, has added five former All Stars, stabilized the depth and back end of the roster, and inked Jacob deGrom to a contract extension. At the same time, during the past two years, a shift has been created in the NL East with a large crop of young talent emerging and older players either leaving or switching teams.

The dust has settled and, to the surprise of most New York fans -- myself included -- the Mets are projected to contend for the NL East title. However, so are three other teams...

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |

With Opening Day one week away, things are starting to come into focus for the Mets. Here's how we see things shaking out in our 25-man Roster Prediction 3.0...

Starting Rotation (5)

1. Jacob deGrom, RHP
2. Noah Syndergaard, RHP
3. Zack Wheeler, RHP
4. Steven Matz, LHP
5. Jason Vargas, LHP

Mets reliever Drew Smith, who seemed on track to be in the Opening Day bullpen, needs Tommy John surgery, manager Mickey Callaway said Monday.

Smith, who had been sent back to New York to be evaluated by team doctors, is out for the season. 

The 25-year-old Smith had been solid so far in Spring Training, tossing 4.0 scoreless innings while walking three and striking out four. 

The Mets beat the Cardinals, 9-1, on Sunday afternoon at First Data Field in Port St. Lucie. >> Box score

Six things to know about Sunday's game

1. As the first base battle raged on, Pete Alonso (who was the DH) went 1-for-3 with a walk (his OPS is 1.297)., and Dominic Smith (who started at first base) went 1-for-3 with a run scored (his OPs is 1.060)...

The Mets (7-8-1) host the Cardinals (6-7) on Sunday at First Data Field at 1:10 p.m. on WPIX. 

Mets Notes...

Amed Rosario returns to the lineup for the first time since exiting the game on March 4 after getting hit in the hand with a pitch. ... Jeff McNeil gets the start at third base as the Mets prepare for the possibility that neither Todd Frazier or Jed Lowrie will be ready for Opening Day. ... Steven Matz is on the mound. 

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |

With Opening Day three weeks away, the Mets are dealing with injuries to Jed Lowrie and Todd Frazier, getting terrific Spring Training production from a refreshed Dominic Smith, and slowly working Travis d'Arnaud back into the swing of things. Here's how we see things shaking out in our 25-man Roster Prediction 2.0...

Starting Rotation (5)

1. Jacob deGrom, RHP
2. Noah Syndergaard, RHP
3. Steven Matz, LHP
4. Zack Wheeler, RHP
5. Jason Vargas, LHP

The Mets lost to the Marlins, 3-1, on Tuesday afternoon >> Box score

Five things to know about Tuesday's game

1. Jason Vargas tiptoed around trouble, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings while allowing four hits, walking one, and striking out two. His ERA this spring is 2.08.

The Mets (6-5-1) travel to face the Marlins (3-7) on Tuesday at 1:10 p.m. 

Mets Notes...

Brandon Nimmo will serve as the DH for the second-straight game, while Michael Conforto gets the start in right field. ... Jason Vargas makes his second start of the spring. ... Edwin Diaz is scheduled to pitch in relief. 

The Mets (1-1-1) face the Tigers (1-2) on Tuesday at 1:10 p.m. at First Data Field in Port St. Lucie. 

Mets Notes...

Brandon Nimmo and Zack Wheeler make their Grapefruit League debut along with many of the regulars, while the Mets' split squad is in Disney to face the Braves. Pete Alonso is among those making the trip to Disney, where Corey Oswalt gets the start.

This offseason, the back of the Mets' bullpen received a serious upgrade with Edwin Diaz coming aboard via trade, and Jeurys Familia making a free-agency return to Queens. Players like Justin Wilson, a veteran left-hander the Mets needed, joins the squad as well.

And then there's Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman, who come into Spring Training welcoming these new faces with open arms. Gsellman knows exactly how lethal this bullpen can be this season.

"My role doesn't really matter," he said after a workout in Port St. Lucie on Saturday. "We signed the best closer in baseball, we signed the second-best closer in baseball in Familia as well. So we're going to be really good depth-wise with Justin Wilson too. I'm just really excited to get going, to learn from those guys. It's just going to be a great year."

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

For all of the promise their starting rotation offers in 2019, the Mets badly need to add depth there as insurance against the inevitable injuries that will occur. 

My solution? Sign David Robertson. 

Let me explain.

And just like that, RHP Jeurys Familia is back.

The Mets and Familia agreed to a three-year deal, worth $30 million to bring the former closer back to their bullpen, the team officially announced on Friday.

"We are excited to bring Jeurys back to Flushing," Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen said in an official statement. "Jeurys is a familiar face and an accomplished, elite reliever with experience that will fit well in our clubhouse."

The Mets might not be done adding high-end relievers after their reunion with Jeurys Familia, who is back on a three-year deal worth $30 million. 

And while Familia isn't a bright and shiny new toy, his signing is a damn good one. And it will remain a damn good one regardless of the moves the team makes from here.

Here are three reasons why...

Mets OF Brandon Nimmo thinks the Mets are "getting the best of both worlds" with agent-turned-GM Brodie Van Wagenen.  

"I think you're gonna get someone who's really in to the analytics -- knows how to read 'em -- but also has that baseball mindset where he's gonna let the analytics kind of help him make baseball decisions and not the other way around," Nimmo said. "So I think we're getting the best of both worlds in that. I'm excited to see what he's gonna do."

Nimmo, who said he has spoken with Van Wagenen, cited his intelligence, but also seemed excited that the new GM had played the game before -- with Nimmo saying Van Wagenen was an injury shy of playing in the pros...

Brodie Van Wagenen has switched sides at the bargaining table, going from being an agent at CAA to the Mets' new GM. On Tuesday, Todd Frazier became the first of Van Wagenen's clients to weigh in on the switch.

"I've known him a very long time," Frazier told Matt Ehalt of The Record. "He is a great person who's also really smart and knows the game well. This is a great start for us going into the offseason."

Van Wagenen said during his introductory press conference on Tuesday that he had spoken to a number of his former clients about the move, and suggested they were happy about it...

Steven Matz struck out 11 batters in seven innings and Todd Frazier drove in the go-ahead run in the 11th inning to lead the Mets to a 2-1 win over the Giants on Saturday afternoon in San Francisco.

For a full box score of the game, click here

Things you should know about today's game...

1) With the Mets trailing 1-0 in the fifth, Tomas Nido plated Brandon Nimmo to account for New York's only run until Frazier's sacrifice fly in the 11th inning. Amed Rosario hit a two-out triple in the fifth inning and Wilmer Flores, Jay Bruce, Michael Conforto, and Austin Jackson also had hits for the Mets. 

Despite taking a shutout into the seventh inning, Mets RHP Noah Syndergaard was charged with four runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings in Monday's 6-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field.

Syndergaard struck out six batters and allowed just four hits through the first six innings, but failed to retire any of the final four batters he faced, leaving the game in the bullpen's hands.

"I didn't feel like I had the best stuff in terms of mechanically, in terms of stuff," Syndergaard said after the game. "I was able to go out there and survive through six and just kind of ran out of gas in the seventh."

The Mets' bullpen faltered a little, but stayed strong to get their first win of the second half over the Yankees, 7-5, in the Bronx Friday night. 

For a full box score of the game, click here.

Things you should know about today's game...

Mets RHP Robert Gsellman can finally rejoice -- his Xbox has returned. 

It was Gsellman's birthday on Wednesday, and fellow pitcher Noah Syndergaard decided to gift -- or should I say return -- Gsellman's Xbox to him. Gsellman, though, didn't think it should be considered a gift from Thor.

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The Mets provided some quality run support during Noah Syndergaard's long-awaited return to Citi Field, and he repaid them by setting the tone for a 4-2 win over their division rival on Friday night. 

For a full box score of the game, click here.

Things you should know about tonight's game...