Today's NY Back Pages, Mets News and Morning Links - 8/17/2026

Good Morning.  Happy Birthday Skip Lockwood and Jesse Winker. 

Section Links: Mets Links, Minor League Links, MLB Links, and This Day in Mets History 

Mets Links: 

8/16/2026 Box Score: New York Mets 4 Washington Nationals 3

A.J. Ewing*; CF 0 for 3; 1 walk; 2 Ks; Francisco Lindor#; SS 1 for 3; 1 run; 1 walk; 1 K; Bo Bichette; 3B 3 for 3; 1 triple; 1 walk; Carson Benge*; RF 0 for 4; 1 K; Jared Young*; 1B 2 for 4; 1 double; 1 run; 1 RBI; Luis Robert Jr.; LF 1 for 4; 2 Ks; Brett Baty*; 2B 1 for 4; 1 double; 1 run; 2 Ks; Jorge Polanco; DH 1 for 4; 1 RBI; 1 K; Luis Torrens; C 1 for 3; 1 HR; 1 run; 2 RBIs; Christian Scott; (W, 4-3) 6.1 innings; 3 runs; 3 ERs; 5 hits; 1 HR; 2 walks; 7 Ks; Nate Lavender*; (H, 4) 0.2 inning; no runs; 1 K; Daniel Duarte; (H, 3) 1 inning; no runs; 1 K; Kodai Senga; (S, 3) 1 inning; no runs; 2 Ks; 

AP Sports: "Christian Scott pitched into the seventh inning for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery and Luis Torrens hit a two-run homer Sunday, helping the surging New York Mets to a 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals and a three-game series sweep."

Brian Joura Mets360: "After giving up a run in both the second and third innings, Scott cruised thru the three-middle innings, with a low enough pitch count to be sent out for the seventh. He allowed another scratch run in the seventh before Andy Green went into the pen. One of the keys for Scott today was throwing strikes. Of the 91 pitches he threw, 60 went for strikes..."

Abbey Mastracco NY Daily News: "...the Mets have been extra cautious with the pitch counts for the 27-year-old because it’s his first since the surgery...Instead, the Mets brought in the left-handed rookie who has fast become the guy they call on to put out fires, Nate Lavender, with two on and one out. Lavender got out of the jam by retiring the Nats’ 1-2 hitters to preserve the lead and notch his fourth hold in five appearances."

SNY.TV: Luis Torrens has always been known for his work behind the plate, but his power has been on another planet of late. Torrens belted a two-run homer to give the Mets a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning, giving him four homers in his last 17 at-bats. 

Mark Rosenman Kiner's Korner: "At this point, it’s becoming less of a surprise and more of a daily occurrence: Carson Benge is making spectacular defensive plays look routine. The rookie turned in three gems today, each one coming in a different way...Three innings, three different defensive skills — range, arm and instincts...Benge is quickly becoming one of the most must-watch players on the Mets."

From the Mets 4 Nationals 3 Post Game Notes - 8/16/2026:

Mets: Took the final game of their three-game set with the Nationals, 4-3, to complete their fourth sweep of the season...Improved to 9-3 over their last 12 games...Is their best 12-game stretch since they also went 9-3 from July 11-27, 2025...Their bullpen combined for 2.2 scoreless innings.

Jared Young (2-4, 2B, RBI, R): Singled in the fourth inning and plated one with a double in the fifth...Has hit safely in each of his last six games.

Luis Torrens (1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R): Blasted a two-run homer in the fourth inning to give the Mets a 3-2 lead...Has four home runs over his last six games.

Bo Bichette (3-3, 3B, BB): Singled in the first and fifth innings then tripled to center field in the seventh...Was his second triple of the season (also: 6/5 at SD)...Also drew a walk in the third....Has hit safely in six of his last seven games...In 65 games since the start of June, he is batting .310/.349/.459 (79-255) with an .808 OPS.

Mets YouTube Channel: Nationals vs. Mets Game Highlights (8/16/26) | MLB Highlights

SNY on YouTube: Green, Torrens, Scott talk Mets' sweep of Nats with 4-3 win - 8/16/26

Today's Game:

Mets Vs. Padres, Citi Field, Flushing NY, 7:10 PM. 

RHP Walker Buehler (7-5, 4.88) vs. RHP Nolan McLean (8-8, 3.42) (SNY, Audacy 880 AM, 92.3 FM HD26)

Multiple reports have the Mets making a number of roster moves today.  The Mets #3 prospect, SS Elian Peña advancing to Brooklyn, INF Émilien Pitre being promoted to Syracuse and Christopher Morel being reported to the Mets in Flushing.  You can follow all of the Mets transactions as they happen on the Mets News and Links Roster Moves page and updates as they are officially announced at www.metsnewslinks.com

New York Post:

• Luis Torrens homers again as his increased Mets usage keeps paying off
• Kodai Senga delivers another Mets save with key difference as role questions still loom
• Mets sweep Nationals as they try to salvage dignity in lost season

SNY.tv:

• Mets to call up Christopher Morel: reports
• Mets' Jonah Tong strikes out six in latest outing for Triple-A Syracuse
• Luis Torrens' recent power-surge giving Mets offense 'fun' spark
• Mets top prospect Elian Peña promoted to High-A Brooklyn
• Christian Scott turns in quality start as Mets complete sweep of Nationals
• Former Yankees pitcher Tommy John, namesake of transformational elbow surgery, dies at 83

Metsmerized

• Morning Briefing: Peña, Pitre Promoted
• Mets To Promote Christopher Morel
• Mets Sweep Nationals Courtesy Of A 4-3 Series Finale Victory
• Game Chat: Nationals vs Mets, 1:40 P.M.
• The Mets’ Offense Continues To Be Strong Since The Break
• Mets Minors Recap: Voit, Reimer Lead Binghamton To 14 Runs

Amazin' Avenue

• Mets sweep the Nationals behind Luis Torrens and Christian Scott

Rising Apple Feed

• NY Mets Monday Morning GM: Despicable Darin Ruf trade was only short-term torture
• NY Mets prospect promotion puts Brett Baty, Marcus Semien on notice
• The one where the NY Mets score 24 runs against the Phillies with what lineup?

Mets360

• Gut Reaction: Mets 4, Nationals 3
• Sean Manaea’s glow-up

kinerskorner.com

• Great Scott, Revamped Pen Finish Off Sweep of Nats 4-3
• IN MEMORIAM: TOMMY JOHN, THE PITCHER WHO REFUSED TO LET HIS CAREER END

Mack's Mets

• Reese Kaplan -- So What If Carlos Beltran Is Not the New Manager?
• MACK - HOT ARMS - Matt Seelinger, Carlos Guzman, Josbel Torrez
• Tom Brennan: Best-Performing Mets Minor League Newbies; MLB’s Top 100 Blues

Minor League Baseball:

Syracuse: 

• Syracuse Mets Game Recap: S-Mets Edge Jumbo Shrimp, 2-1, to Win Series in Jacksonville
• 8/16/2026 - Box Score: Syracuse Mets 2 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 1
• Syracuse Mets Game Notes - 8/16/2026

Binghamton Rumble Ponies: 

• Binghamton Game Recap: Vargas Career-High 4 RBI, Binghamton Holds On in Series Finale Against Portland
• 8/16/2026 Box Score: Binghamton Rumble Ponies 8 Portland Sea Dogs 6
• 8/16/2026: Binghamton Rumble Ponies Game Notes

Brooklyn Cyclones: 

• Brooklyn Cyclones Game Recap: Hurtado's Heroics Not Enough as Cyclones Get One-Hit in 1-0 Defeat
• 8/16/2026 Box Score: Jersey Shore Blue Claws 1 Brooklyn Cyclones 0

St. Lucie Mets:

• St. Lucie Mets Game Recap: Aloy Homers Twice for St-L Mets in 7-3 Loss to Hammerheads
• 8/16/2026 Box Score: Jupiter Hammerheads 7 St. Lucie Mets 3

For the complete Mets Minor League statistics click here.

MLB Links:

MLB Scoreboard.

MLB.com:

• Top 2 in Power Rankings may not look like this for long
• Tommy John, whose surgery blazed a trail for countless players, dies at 83
• Facing the ace they tried to trade for, Brewers get the last laugh vs. Dodgers
• Sweet redemption for Rice, who hits go-ahead blast after error in 9th
• Báez's borrowed cleats from historic debut heading to Cooperstown
• Painter prevails after rocky start as Phils rally for first sweep since June
• White Sox showing they're the team to beat in AL Central with sweep of Tigers
• Ranking every MLB farm system, 1-30
• 10 unheralded players stepping up for postseason contenders
• Chapman triggers his vesting option for '27
• A look back at when Tommy John changed baseball history
• Olson's go-ahead moonshot fuels Braves to series finale victory
• Top 5 series to watch this week
• Pitchers laud Tommy John as 'trailblazer'
• Orioles take sole possession of 3rd Wild Card with 3rd straight win vs. AL-best Rays
• Injuries: Bellinger, Dansby, McClanahan, Wood, Trea, Dodgers
• Tigers look to renew playoff push tonight vs. Pirates (7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• On the rebound: Mariners take Astros series with key contributors stepping up
• Baseball’s competitive balance issue, explained
• Family affair: Brewers' Carsten Sabathia III hits first pro homer with Hall of Famer dad in stands 

AP Sports Headlines via Winnipeg Free Press

• AL wild-card race looks like a mess. It could be lots of fun
• Cowser, Encarnacion-Strand deliver big hits as Orioles score 7 in the sixth and beat the Rays
• Mariners hang on for a 3-2 win over the Astros as Raleigh, Arozarena go deep
• Dave Roberts decries Dodgers’ inability to play ‘clean baseball’ after latest costly loss to Brewers
• Amador and Sullivan hit 3-run HRs to help Rockies beat Giants 13-7
• Padres power surge: 4 homers back Casey Mize’s 1st San Diego win in a 5-0 win over Guardians
• Henderson shines over 7 innings as the Brewers take 3 of 4 from the Dodgers
• Reynolds, Lowe, and Yorke each drive in 2 runs, Pirates beat Red Sox 8-3 after 2 1/2-hour delay
• Gelof and Butler each hit two-run homers to lead the A’s over the Rangers 5-2
• Murphy helps Goldeyes battle back to beat Explorers

MLB Trade Rumors

• Tommy John Passes Away
• Nolan Arenado Likely To Undergo MRI For Torso Injury
• Mets To Select Christopher Morel
• Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Phillies Interested In Teruaki Sato
• MLBTR Live Chat
• Cubs To Place Dansby Swanson On 10-Day IL Due To Oblique Injury
• A’s Place Tyler Soderstrom On 10-Day IL Due To Hip Impingement
• Red Sox Notes: Yoshida, Slaten, Anthony, Story, IKF
• Braves To Release Carlos Santana From Minor League Contract
• Dodgers Place Justin Wrobleski On 15-Day Injured List
• Athletics Claim Joe Rock From White Sox
• Cubs Activate Edward Cabrera From 15-Day IL
• Luis Severino Likely Out For Rest Of Season
• Diamondbacks Select Dennis Santana, Designate Philip Abner For Assignment
• Tigers Promote Brett Callahan For MLB Debut, Designate Trei Cruz

FanGraphs Baseball

• Sunday Notes: Tigers Top Prospect Bryce Rainer Had Serious Two-Way Potential

Today in Mets History: 

Born on this date:

• Skip Lockwood (1946)
• Michael O’Connor (1980)
• Jesse Winker (1993)
• Joe Genord (1996)
• Wilson Esterlin (2004)
• Yoandy Perez (2004)

Transactions:

New York Mets traded Tom Wilson to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Tony Socarras on August 17, 2004.

New York Mets traded Anderson Hernandez to the Washington Nationals for Luis Ayala on August 17, 2008.

National Pastime.com: 

1968	After four tries, the Mets still haven't scored a run when Jim McAndrew starts a game with their 1-0 loss to Houston at Shea Stadium. In his first four major league appearances, the 24 year-old rookie right-hander has a puny 1.82 ERA, but is 0-4 due to the team dropping two 2-0 and two 1-0 decisions.
1969	The Mets sweep a doubleheader from the Padres for the second consecutive day, beating San Diego 3–2 in both ends of the Shea Stadium twin bill. Yesterday, behind solid starts by Tom Seaver and Jim McAndrews, the Amazins’ beat the Friars respectively, 2-0 and 2-1.

1973

At Shea Stadium, 42 year-old Willie Mays hits his 660th and final home run of his career off Cincinnati southpaw Don Gullett. The Mets first baseman, who played 21 seasons roaming the outfield for the Giants before coming home to New York last season, is third on the all-time home run career list behind Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (703).

2014

Michael Cuddyer is the 30th player to hit for multiple cycles, but becomes only the third player to accomplish the feat in both the American and National League, joining Bob Watson (Astros, 1977, and Red Sox, 1979) and John Olerud (Mets, 1997, and Mariners, 2001). The rare baseball occurrence is completed with an eighth inning double off Reds reliever Manny Parra, who yielded three of the hits in the outfielder's first cycle in 2009, pitching for the Brewers in a game against the Twins.

Baseball Reference:

1973 - At Shea Stadium, 42-year old New York Mets outfielder Willie Mays hits the 660th and final home run of his career off Reds lefty Don Gullett. Third-string catcher Hal King belts a pinch-hit homer in the top of the 10th inning giving Cincinnati a 2 - 1 victory.

1982 - Cincinnati's Mario Soto fans 15 Mets in a 9 - 2 victory to raise his league-leading strikeout total to 209. Soto walks none. He will finish the season with 274 strikeouts, second only to Steve Carlton's.

2010: The Mets place closer Francisco Rodriguez on the disqualified list and will not pay him until he is able to pitch again. He suffered a season-ending thumb injury punching his father-in-law last week, an action for which he faces criminal assault charges. The Mets may still try to void the last year of his contract as well, worth $11.5 million, although such a decision would be certain to be contested by the Players union.

Jumping for joy! Happy birthday, Jefry! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/SlDhFO39p4

— New York Mets (@Mets) August 17, 2026