Mets Notes: Luis Robert Jr. working to find rhythm, outfield defense shows out in Milwaukee

Following the Mets' 4-0 win over the Brewers on Tuesday night, interim manager Andy Green and others talked about the game...

ROBERT STILL LOOKING FOR RHYTHMTuesday was Luis Robert Jr.'s second game back from an injury that kept him sidelined since April, so it was going to take some time for the first-year Mets outfielder to get the cobwebs out at the plate.

>After going hitless in four at-bats, with three strikeouts, in Monday's series opener with the Brewers in Milwaukee, Robert showed the power that made him coveted by the Mets this past offseason.

>With the Mets up 3-0 in the eighth, Robert slammed an 87 mph cutter from Brewers reliever Bryse Wilson over the left-center field wall for his third home run of the season. The blast left Robert's bat at 112.2 mph and went 451 feet over the bullpen and into the concourse at American Family Field.

>Robert was asked how many times in his career he's hit a ball that well and far before. The 28-year-old, who has hit 105 long balls in his seven-year career, said he's hit plenty like it, but acknowledged he's still trying to find his rhythm at the plate after missing nearly three months.

>"Yesterday and today, the first couple of at-bats I was just trying to get that rhythm," Robert said after the game through an interpreter. "I was able to connect today with that homer, but at the same time, just continue to go out there, work and try to fall into that rhythm."

>Following Tuesday's game, Robert is slashing .213/.308/.340 with an OPS of .648 through 26 games. Robert has started in center field since he's returned as the Mets showcase the outfielder for a potential trade before the Aug. 3 deadline.

ELITE OUTFIELD DEFENSEIn the Mets' 4-0 win over the Brewers, the defense was superb.

>The combination of Robert in center, Carson Benge in right and A.J. Ewing in left -- his first start there in his MLB career -- meant no ball hit out there would hit the grass.

>"A.J. is going to defend wherever you stick him in the outfield. Feels like when those three guys are out there together, you have three centerfielders," Green said. There’s a ton of extra value of having guys that can make those types of plays in the corner outfielders.

>"[The Brewers] hit some balls hard and they found the gloves of good defenders today."

>"It’s great, it’s a beautiful thing because none of us have to cover that much ground when we’re all out there," Robert said of the outfield through an interpreter. "It’s a lot of fun because any of us can get to those balls at any moment."

>While young starter Zac Thornton was dealing, a lot of the zeroes he put up was thanks to the defense behind him. Of the 18 batters Thornton retired, nine were retired by the three outfielders. None bigger than in the sixth inning. With two outs and two runners on, Brice Turang hit a fly ball to left field. Ewing was turned around, but adjusted fast enough to make a sprawling catch to end the inning.

A.J. Ewing makes another big-time play in the outfield! pic.twitter.com/7ehT55KfMu

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 22, 2026"I yelled and said, ’Let’s go," Thornton said of the Ewing play. "He made two great plays out there."

>"With the speed that's out there, it gives you confidence to attack the zone and have the guys play defense behind you," Devin Williams, who pitched a clean ninth, said of his defense.

DEVIN RETURNS TO MILWAUKEEWilliams allowed a hit, but otherwise put the bow on the Mets' win on Tuesday night. What was significant about the appearance for the Mets closer is he made his first appearance in Milwaukee as an opposing player.

>The last time Williams pitched in Milwaukee was when he allowed the go-ahead homer to Pete Alonso during the 2024 Wild Card series. Williams was traded to the Yankees that offseason but never pitched in the city of the organization that drafted him until Tuesday.

>"Kind of a weird feeling, sitting in the opposing bullpen having been there since 2020," Williams said of the experience. "It was good. Put up a zero and helped us get a win.

>"I had a little bit more adrenaline, I would say. But nothing crazy," Williams later said.

>In six seasons with the Brewers, Williams pitched to a 1.83 ERA and saved 68 games across 241 appearances.