Brett Baty -- General News

During Sunday's doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies, Mets third baseman Brett Baty made unwanted history when the MLB's automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system overturned a bases-loaded walk into a called third strike. In the first inning of the opener, plate umpire Ryan Blakney initially ruled ball four on a full-count pitch that would have forced in a run and given New York a 1-0 lead. After a challenge, the ABS system reversed the call to a strike, ending the inning instead. Blakney was challenged four times in the inning, with three calls overturned.

The Rockies capitalized on the momentum swing, winning the opener 3-1 behind Jose Quintana's first win of the season. Colorado completed a three-game series sweep with a 3-0 shutout victory in the nightcap. The Mets' offense was anemic throughout the doubleheader, managing just one run across both games with six total hits and only one extra-base hit. Pitcher Kodai Senga struggled in the second game, lasting just 2 2/3 innings while allowing three runs on three hits with three walks.

The sweep extends the Mets' struggles, as they have now lost 15 of their last 17 games, falling to a 9-19 record overall. The team will look to rebound against the Washington Nationals in a three-game series beginning Tuesday night at Citi Field, marking their first matchup this season against a National League East rival.

The New York Mets continue to struggle after being swept by the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field, dropping both games of Sunday's doubleheader. The team has fallen to 10 games below .500, with their offense continuing to underperform. Brett Baty went hitless in seven at-bats with three strikeouts in Game 1, exemplifying the team's offensive struggles.

Despite the bleak circumstances, players and management maintain they are pulling together rather than pointing fingers. Baty acknowledged the problems but emphasized the team's commitment to hard work and improvement. He stated there remains "a lot of ball left to play" and that the team understands they must perform better.

Manager Carlos Mendoza expressed confidence in his roster's capabilities, noting the hitters "are good hitters" who "have done it for a long time." A critical advantage for the Mets is timing: their poor stretch occurred early in the season rather than in the middle or end, affording them the full summer to correct course. Baty emphasized the team has everything needed for success already in place and that players have each other's backs through the final day.

In a controversial moment during the Mets' 3-2, 10-inning victory over the Detroit Tigers on May 13, 2026, third baseman Brett Baty was charged with an ABS (Automated Ball-Strike system) challenge despite not meeting the required protocol. After striking out looking in the sixth inning, Baty raised his arm toward umpire Junior Valentine but failed to perform the required helmet tap needed to officially contest a call. Valentine nonetheless ruled that Baty had challenged the pitch, triggering an automatic review that confirmed the strike call. The erroneous challenge consumed the Mets' final challenge of the game, prompting manager Carlos Mendoza to enter the field and argue with Valentine's interpretation. Mendoza stated post-game that Valentine 'missed it' and that Baty 'wasn't even close' to tapping his helmet, suggesting the umpire misidentified the gesture as an official challenge attempt.

During a Mets game at Citi Field on Tuesday night, home plate umpire Junior Valentine called a challenge that Brett Baty never requested. In the sixth inning, Baty slightly raised his right hand, appearing as though he might touch his helmet bill, but video review clearly showed he never made contact with his helmet. Despite this, Valentine immediately signaled for a challenge. Baty argued the call and manager Carlos Mendoza came out to protest, but Valentine maintained his decision based on umpire discretion. The strike stood and the Mets lost a challenge.

This incident highlights ongoing issues with MLB's new Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, which still relies heavily on human judgment regarding whether a challenge was properly requested. The system requires players to touch their helmet bill to initiate a challenge, but umpires retain discretionary power to interpret ambiguous gestures. Similar problems occurred on Sunday when home plate umpire Carlos Torres denied challenge requests from both the Orioles and the A's. These incidents demonstrate that despite technological advancement, the human element remains a significant and sometimes problematic factor in baseball's challenge system.

In the first inning of Sunday's doubleheader opener, New York Mets batter Brett Baty was denied what would have been a go-ahead run after plate umpire Ryan Blakney initially called ball four on a bases-loaded, full-count pitch on the outside corner. Colorado catcher Brett Sullivan challenged the call, and MLB's automated ball-strike system overturned it to a called third strike, ending the inning. Baty became the first player to have a bases-loaded walk reversed to an inning-ending strike via the ABS system. The first inning was highly contentious, with Blakney challenged four times and three calls overturned. Bo Bichette overturned a strike on the game's first pitch, and Luis Robert Jr. successfully challenged a 2-1 count that resulted in a walk. The reversal proved consequential: the Mets never led and were swept in the doubleheader, with Colorado winning 3-1 and 3-0 for a three-game series sweep. The Mets' loss marked their 15th defeat in their last 17 games.