Carson Benge Was Batting .189 in April and Mets Fans Should Be Losing Their Minds Right Now

Alright, Seattle, buckle up! You know we're all about that grind, that comeback energy, and right now, out in the Big Apple, a rookie named Carson Benge is serving up a plate of it, making some serious noise in the league. The New York Mets, who were pretty much dead in the water, are suddenly playing like a team possessed, thanks in no small part to this kid's absolutely bonkers turnaround. They've slashed two games off their wild-card deficit in their last ten outings, and Benge is leading the charge!

The Rookie Surge No One Predicted

Remember those brutal April days? Benge was hitting a measly .189 back then, as the Mets slogged through a brutal 12-game losing streak. But guess what? That's ancient history! This dude has absolutely flipped the script. In his last 34 games, Benge is tearing it up with a .316 average, slamming five homers, and driving in 20 runs. Seriously, who saw that coming?! He just went 5-for-5 and scored three times in a 7-3 win against San Diego, helping the Mets split a tough West Coast trip. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza isn't surprised, though. He’s seen the talent, called it, said Benge is just "settling, he's comfortable, he's playing his game," and we're gonna see more of it. And for a team that’s been on four West Coast trips in two months, finally getting to stay in the Eastern time zone for 35 straight games? That's like finding a secret stash of espresso beans after a red-eye flight, pure jet fuel for this sudden climb!

Cardinals Are Kings of the Comeback

Not to be outdone, the St. Louis Cardinals are rolling, too. They’re five games back in the NL Central, but these guys are just relentless. We're talking four straight wins, and get this: 19 comeback victories already this season! Nineteenth! Their last win, a 5-3 against Cincinnati, saw Victor Scott II and Ivan Herrera drive in runs in the eighth inning on balls that didn't even leave the infield, turning into errors. That's just gritty baseball, folks. Manager Oliver Marmol says they just "stay focused" and don't get "distracted," which, honestly, is easier said than done. And speaking of consistent, Jordan Walker has been an absolute machine, putting up multi-hit games in his last four starts and boasting a ridiculous .478 average in his past five.

Pitching Matchups Bring the Drama

This upcoming series kicks off with Dustin May on the mound for St. Louis. He’s sitting at 3-6 with a 4.59 ERA, and it's been a tough stretch, going 0-4 with a 3.86 ERA in his last seven starts. The dude's been working, though, completing at least six frames in five of those outings. He didn't face the Mets back in late March/early April when the Cards took two of three, but he's got a 4.97 ERA in three career appearances against them. Meanwhile, Freddy Peralta gets the nod for the Mets, sporting a 4-4 record and a 3.63 ERA. He's been solid lately, 3-1 with a 3.40 ERA in his past seven. And get this, we saw him recently! He allowed just one run on six hits over six innings in a 7-1 win on Wednesday... at T-Mobile Park. Yeah, against our Mariners. So he knows how to dial it in after a tough stretch. What's next? The Cardinals are looking to extend their winning streak, and the Mets are hungry to keep chipping away at that wild-card deficit. It's going to be a battle! Speaking of our own teams, while these two duke it out back East, our Mariners just handled business! The M's pulled off a sweet 6-3 win against the Orioles, showing everyone in the Emerald City that they're ready for whatever this season throws at them. Let's go, Seattle!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.