Snubbed but Not Shaken: Mets Take on Orioles with Fire After All-Star Disappointments
The New York Mets are playing with a chip on their shoulders. After several key players were left off the 2025 MLB All-Star roster, the team has responded not with complaintsโbut with inspired, high-energy baseball. Their latest challenge? A pivotal series against the red-hot Baltimore Orioles.
The All-Star Game selections stirred frustration throughout the Metsโ clubhouse. Multiple standout players with impressive first-half numbers were overlooked. Among the most notable snubs was star shortstop Francisco Lindor, who has delivered strong offensive stats and elite defense all season long. Starting pitcher Kodai Senga, returning from injury with dominant outings, was also passed over.
Instead of sulking, the Mets have embraced the snub as motivation.
โWeโre not here for personal accolades,โ Lindor said before Fridayโs game. โBut we know weโve been playing at an All-Star level. If others donโt see that, weโll just keep proving it on the field.โ
That mindset showed immediately. In the opening game of the Orioles series, the Mets came out swingingโboth literally and emotionally. The bats came alive, with Pete Alonso crushing a three-run homer and Brandon Nimmo adding two clutch hits. The team looked focused, aggressive, and determined to make a statement.
On the mound, Senga delivered a fiery performance, striking out nine in six innings and keeping the Orioles off balance with his trademark splitter. Every pitch he threw seemed to echo the message: I belong among the leagueโs best.
The Metsโ defense also tightened up, with Jeff McNeil making two highlight-reel plays at second base. The entire squad played like a team on a missionโunified, sharp, and unshaken by recent slights.
Manager Carlos Mendoza praised his teamโs response. โThey didnโt dwell on it. They turned it into fuel. Thatโs what competitors do,โ he said after the game. โThis group plays with pride, and theyโre showing it.โ
The Orioles, meanwhile, didnโt roll over. As one of the American Leagueโs top teams, Baltimore pushed back late in the game. But the Mets held firm, closing out the win with clutch bullpen work and gritty at-bats in the final innings.
As the series continues, the Mets aim to maintain this intensity. Each game now feels like a messageโnot just to the Orioles, but to the entire league. These players may have been snubbed from the All-Star stage, but theyโre proving they belong among baseballโs elite.
In a season filled with ups and downs, the All-Star snub may be the spark the Mets needed. If this new fire keeps burning, New York could be one of the most dangerous teams heading into the second half.