Pete Alonso stands alone in the record books. 

The slugger crushed his 253rd career home run in the bottom of the third on Tuesday night, officially passing Darryl Strawberry for the Mets franchise record. 

Alonso tied Strawberry’s mark this weekend in Milwaukee, and he didn’t waste any time jumping in front of him back in the home ballpark. 

Strawberry took a minute to congratulate the big man in a video shared on the team’s social media pages. 

“I just want to say congratulations on breaking the home run record,” he said. “You have worked hard, you have stood up in the pressure of New York City, and you have played well — it is well deserved, you are a homegrown player.

“Again, congratulations and continue to have great success.”

Darryl Strawberry congratulates Pete Alonso on breaking his Mets home run record 🤝

(via @Mets) pic.twitter.com/ly8rDtYl6G

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 13, 2025

The New York Mets have a new home run king. 

Pete Alonso hit a two-run blast off Atlanta Braves starter Spencer Strider on Tuesday, extending New York’s lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the third inning. 

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The home run was the 253rd of Alonso’s career, moving him past a tie with franchise great Darryl Strawberry for the most in Mets history. Alonso broke the record in front of an appreciative Citi Field home crowd that celebrated the achievement with a standing ovation.

Strawberry went on to tally 335 home runs in a career that also included stints with the Dodgers, Giants and Yankees. But his 252 with the Mets previously stood as the franchise record. 

Alonso, 30, re-signed with the Mets on a two-year, $54 million contract in the offseason and will presumably have plenty of opportunities to add to his now-franchise-record home run tally.

Alonso led the NL with 53 home runs in his rookie campaign in 2019. In the years since then, he has remained one of baseball’s premier sluggers, with 34-plus home runs in each season that wasn’t shortened by COVID-19. 

Tuesday’s home run was Alonso’s 27th of the season in his 118th game, putting him well on pace to eclipse 30 home runs again, with 43 games remaining on New York’s schedule. The Mets will need all they can get from Alonso as they fight for a spot in the playoffs. 

The Mets entered Tuesday’s game amid a seven-game losing streak and having lost 11 of their previous 12. The slump dropped them to 63-55, six games behind the first-place Phillies in the NL East. That said, they remain in control of their playoff path, with a two-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds for the final wild-card berth in the National League.

The New York Mets have a new home run king. 

Pete Alonso hit a two-run blast off Atlanta Braves starter Spencer Strider on Tuesday, extending New York’s lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the third inning. 

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]

The home run was the 253rd of Alonso’s career, moving him past a tie with franchise great Darryl Strawberry for the most in Mets history. Alonso broke the record in front of an appreciative Citi Field home crowd that celebrated the achievement with a standing ovation.

Strawberry went on to tally 335 home runs in a career that also included stints with the Dodgers, Giants and Yankees. But his 252 with the Mets previously stood as the franchise record. 

Alonso, 30, re-signed with the Mets on a two-year, $54 million contract in the offseason and will presumably have plenty of opportunities to add to his now-franchise-record home run tally.

Alonso led the NL with 53 home runs in his rookie campaign in 2019. In the years since then, he has remained one of baseball’s premier sluggers, with 34-plus home runs in each season that wasn’t shortened by COVID-19. 

Tuesday’s home run was Alonso’s 27th of the season in his 118th game, putting him well on pace to eclipse 30 home runs again, with 43 games remaining on New York’s schedule. The Mets will need all they can get from Alonso as they fight for a spot in the playoffs. 

The Mets entered Tuesday’s game amid a seven-game losing streak and having lost 11 of their previous 12. The slump dropped them to 63-55, six games behind the first-place Phillies in the NL East. That said, they remain in control of their playoff path, with a two-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds for the final wild-card berth in the National League.

The Houston Astros made a splash last month when they reunited with three-time All-Star Carlos Correa. But the Astros didn’t come away from the trade deadline with a new reliever.

Now they’ve lost their best one to the 15-day IL.

Six-time All-Star Josh Hader, who is tied for third in MLB with 28 saves, will have to recover from a left shoulder strain before he returns to the mound, where he has posted a 2.05 ERA in 48 games this season.

The lefty closer reported shoulder discomfort ahead of Monday’s game against the Boston Red Sox. 

“It’s [a] punch in the gut,” Astros manager Joe Espada said, per The Associated Press. “But … he’s seeing doctors right now. We’re getting more tests done, and hopefully this is not going to be a long-term thing.”

[Get more Astros news: Houston team feed]

Hader recorded a season-high 36 pitches across two innings Friday in New York during a 5-3 win against the Yankees that was settled in the 10th frame. That marked his seventh multi-inning appearance of the season.

He also warmed up down the stretch of Sunday’s series finale, but his number wasn’t called while the Astros wrapped up a 7-1 victory in the Bronx.

Hader is in the second year of his five-year, $95 million deal with Houston. He set a franchise record by starting the season 25-for-25 in save opportunities. Entering the week, he was tied for second among AL relievers in strikeouts, according to MLB.com.

With Hader out, Espada isn’t planning to name a replacement closer. Instead, he told reporters that he’ll dispatch relievers from his bullpen depending on matchups.

“I feel good about all those guys,” Espada said.

It’s a group that welcomed back right-handed reliever Shawn Dubin, who was reinstated from the 15-day IL on Tuesday. The Astros also recalled lefty Colton Gordon from Triple-A Sugar Land.

After bouncing back from a 2-8 stretch that started on July 24 and ended on Aug. 3, the 67-52 Astros went into Tuesday with a one-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the AL West.

The Houston Astros made a splash last month when they reunited with three-time All-Star Carlos Correa. But the Astros didn’t come away from the trade deadline with a new reliever.

Now they’ve lost their best one to the 15-day IL.

Six-time All-Star Josh Hader, who is tied for third in MLB with 28 saves, will have to recover from a left shoulder strain before he returns to the mound, where he has posted a 2.05 ERA in 48 games this season.

The lefty closer reported shoulder discomfort ahead of Monday’s game against the Boston Red Sox. 

“It’s [a] punch in the gut,” Astros manager Joe Espada said, per The Associated Press. “But … he’s seeing doctors right now. We’re getting more tests done, and hopefully this is not going to be a long-term thing.”

[Get more Astros news: Houston team feed]

Hader recorded a season-high 36 pitches across two innings Friday in New York during a 5-3 win against the Yankees that was settled in the 10th frame. That marked his seventh multi-inning appearance of the season.

He also warmed up down the stretch of Sunday’s series finale, but his number wasn’t called while the Astros wrapped up a 7-1 victory in the Bronx.

Hader is in the second year of his five-year, $95 million deal with Houston. He set a franchise record by starting the season 25-for-25 in save opportunities. Entering the week, he was tied for second among AL relievers in strikeouts, according to MLB.com.

With Hader out, Espada isn’t planning to name a replacement closer. Instead, he told reporters that he’ll dispatch relievers from his bullpen depending on matchups.

“I feel good about all those guys,” Espada said.

It’s a group that welcomed back right-handed reliever Shawn Dubin, who was reinstated from the 15-day IL on Tuesday. The Astros also recalled lefty Colton Gordon from Triple-A Sugar Land.

After bouncing back from a 2-8 stretch that started on July 24 and ended on Aug. 3, the 67-52 Astros went into Tuesday with a one-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the AL West.

Tylor Megill took a big step towards a potential late-season return on Tuesday.

The big Mets starting pitcher made his first rehab appearance down with Double-A Binghamton, though he wasn’t particularly sharp.

Megill retired the first two batters he faced, then struggled to put the inning away as the next two reached on a walk and single, but he punched out the cleanup hitter to escape without any damage.

He needed 23 pitches to battle his way through the opening frame. 

Binghamton’s offense handed Megill a 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning, and he picked up two more strikeouts in the second, but ended up being pulled after allowing a pair of singles. 

Luis Moreno entered and retired the next batter easily to close his line with no runs allowed on three hits and a walk while striking out four in just 1.2 innings of work.

Megill did mix in his full arsenal as he threw 41 pitches, 27 of which were strikes.

The right-hander has been sidelined since the middle of June due to a right elbow sprain. 

He was putting together another inconsistent campaign prior to the injury, pitching to a 3.95 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 89 strikeouts across 14 big league starts.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Mets utilize Megill when he is ready to return. 

Frankie Montas‘ spot in the rotation is open at the moment with him sliding to the bullpen, but all signs point to the team calling up top prospects Brandon Sproat or Nolan McLean to jump into the mix. 

Megill has just seven appearances in his career as a reliever. 

Something needs to change for the fading New York Mets. 

On Tuesday, manager Carlos Mendoza announced that change is coming for the pitching staff. Starter Frankie Montas is moving to the bullpen amid struggles that have plagued him since he was called up in late June. 

Mendoza did not name Montas’ replacement for his next scheduled start on Saturday against the Seattle Mariners. “It’s possible” the Mets call up a pitcher from Triple-A Syracuse to take his place, Mendoza said. 

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Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat, both 24, are among the potential prospects to get the call. McLean is the 37th-rated prospect in baseball, per MLB.com. 

But regardless of who’s up, Montas’ stint as a Mets starter is done.

“He’s gonna go to the bullpen,” Mendoza said. “We had that conversation today. He’s going to throw his side, and then the first day that he will be available is Thursday.”

Montas, 32, joined the Mets in the offseason on a two-year, $34 million contract amid hopes that he could add depth to New York’s starting rotation. Montas, who has been a full-time starter since his second MLB season in 2017, has show flashes of upside in his nine-plus-season MLB career but has repeatedly been derailed by injuries. 

From Yahoo Sports’ Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman when the Mets signed Montas:

Cincinnati’s 2024 Opening Day starter, Montas disappointed in his brief Reds tenure before looking a fair bit better after he was traded to Milwaukee at the deadline, albeit still with a below-average ERA. The fact that he stayed healthy enough to make 30 starts is a good sign after he missed almost all of 2023 due to shoulder surgery, but the upside here isn’t nearly as tantalizing as it once was.

Montas sustained a lat injury in spring training after signing with the Mets and didn’t make his 2025 debut until a June 24 start against the Atlanta Braves. He didn’t allow a run in five innings that game but has since compiled a career-worst 6.38 ERA in eight appearances, seven of them starts.

Montas made his first appearance out of the bullpen in Saturday’s 7-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. He allowed three runs (one earned), three hits and two walks in three innings of relief.

The Mets are making this move amid a slump in which they’ve lost seven straight games and 11 of their past 12. They’ve fallen to 63-55, which placed them six games behind the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies prior to Tuesday’s games.

New York remains in playoff position, but its hold on that is tenuous. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Mets held a two-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds (62-58) for the final wild-card spot in the National League. 

Something needs to change for the fading New York Mets. 

On Tuesday, manager Carlos Mendoza announced that change is coming for the pitching staff. Starter Frankie Montas is moving to the bullpen amid struggles that have plagued him since he was called up in late June. 

Mendoza did not name Montas’ replacement for his next scheduled start on Saturday against the Seattle Mariners. “It’s possible” the Mets call up a pitcher from Triple-A Syracuse to take his place, Mendoza said. 

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Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat, both 24, are among the potential prospects to get the call. McLean is the 37th-rated prospect in baseball, per MLB.com. 

But regardless of who’s up, Montas’ stint as a Mets starter is done.

“He’s gonna go to the bullpen,” Mendoza said. “We had that conversation today. He’s going to throw his side, and then the first day that he will be available is Thursday.”

Montas, 32, joined the Mets in the offseason on a two-year, $34 million contract amid hopes that he could add depth to New York’s starting rotation. Montas, who has been a full-time starter since his second MLB season in 2017, has show flashes of upside in his nine-plus-season MLB career but has repeatedly been derailed by injuries. 

From Yahoo Sports’ Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman when the Mets signed Montas:

Cincinnati’s 2024 Opening Day starter, Montas disappointed in his brief Reds tenure before looking a fair bit better after he was traded to Milwaukee at the deadline, albeit still with a below-average ERA. The fact that he stayed healthy enough to make 30 starts is a good sign after he missed almost all of 2023 due to shoulder surgery, but the upside here isn’t nearly as tantalizing as it once was.

Montas sustained a lat injury in spring training after signing with the Mets and didn’t make his 2025 debut until a June 24 start against the Atlanta Braves. He didn’t allow a run in five innings that game but has since compiled a career-worst 6.38 ERA in eight appearances, seven of them starts.

Montas made his first appearance out of the bullpen in Saturday’s 7-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. He allowed three runs (one earned), three hits and two walks in three innings of relief.

The Mets are making this move amid a slump in which they’ve lost seven straight games and 11 of their past 12. They’ve fallen to 63-55, which placed them six games behind the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies prior to Tuesday’s games.

New York remains in playoff position, but its hold on that is tenuous. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Mets held a two-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds (62-58) for the final wild-card spot in the National League.