The Mets’ pitching was a mixed bag, as both Freddy Peralta and Sean Manaea displayed moments of brilliance alongside some struggles. Peralta had a decent outing, going five innings and giving up two hits, but he allowed three runs, striking out four while walking six. He struggled with his command for most of the afternoon. The two earned runs were charged to Peralta after he left two runners on base, who then scored when Manaea took over.

Manaea started rocky but found some rhythm toward the end. He pitched four innings of relief on 57 pitches, allowing four hits, three runs (two earned), while walking two and striking out three. He relieved Peralta in the sixth inning and was instrumental in the Yankees’ four-run sixth, walking two and giving up a bases-loaded hit to Anthony Volpe, followed by a sacrifice fly from Amed Rosario. Manaea also hit Paul Goldschmidt on the foot to load the bases before Volpe’s hit.

In the top of the 10th, the Yankees threatened with the free runner, Ryan McMahon, stealing third and Anthony Volpe getting a walk. Devin Williams came through clutch, striking out Max Schuemann and forcing Austin Wells to ground out into an inning-ending double play after a solid snag by Mark Vientos at first base. Williams, who got the win, continued to show his strong comeback with a series of solid appearances on the mound.

The Mets’ defense had its lapses, while the Yankees were impressive. Trent Grisham, Spencer Jones, and Schuemann all made solid catches in the outfield for the Yankees. In contrast, Tyrone Taylor overthrew a cutoff man in the sixth inning and failed to support Bo Bichette as he backpedaled for a ball in shallow left, allowing a run to score.

Tyrone Taylor. (Photo credits: USA Today)

The Mets’ offense came through when it mattered, especially from Luis Torrens and Tyrone Taylor. After the Yankees took the lead, Luis Torrens drove in two runs with a double in the bottom of the sixth, keeping the game close. Following another Yankees run, the Mets rallied in the bottom of the ninth, putting two runners on base. Tyrone Taylor then knocked a hanging breaking pitch near the foul pole in left field, tying the game at six.

In the bottom of the 10th, the Mets advanced the free runner to third base following A.J. Ewing‘s first professional sacrifice bunt. Luis Torrens was hit by a pitch from Yankees reliever Tim Hill during this inning. The Yankees attempted a five-man infield, with Max Schuemann serving as the fifth infielder. He ended up colliding with his own teammate, allowing Carson Benge to slap a ball up the middle. The contact impeded Jazz Chisholm Jr.‘s ability to field the ball cleanly, allowing Marcus Semien to score easily.

Marcus Semien had a strong performance, collecting two hits alongside Mark Vientos. Bo Bichette snapped an 0-for-15 streak, with every player in the lineup recording a hit except MJ Melendez and Hayden Senger. This victory, where the team overcame a deficit of more than four runs after eight innings, ended a drought in which they lost their last 91 games when trailing after eight innings.

Player of the Game: Tyrone Taylor

Tyrone Taylor wasn’t his normal elite defensive self, but he had the biggest hit of the game Sunday. After stunning the ball in his first two at-bats, which came after he replaced MJ Melendez, Taylor launched the game-tying three-run homer.

On Deck

The Mets are right back at it as they head to Washington, D.C. to take on the Nationals Monday. Christian Scott (0-0, 3.45 ERA) will toe the slab for the Mets while Jake Irvin (1-4, 5.91 ERA) rivals him for the Nationals. First pitch will take place at 6:45 pm ET and will be broadcast on SNY and Mets Radio 880.

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The New York Mets can win another series Sunday afternoon! Friday was a disparaging night. The Mets’ offense looked flat. Clay Holmes suffered a fracture in his league on a comebacker sidelining him for a while.

Saturday night was the reverse. The Mets scored six runs, including two on a wild pitch. David Peterson had eight strikeouts in only four innings. They survived an error in the outfield and got out of a bases loaded, no-out jam in the seventh inning. Luke Weaver pitched two massive innings in relief and Devin Williams shut the door on his old team. A good night all around.

Now, the Mets look to keep the winning going Sunday afternoon!

Mets Lineup

1. Carson Benge – RF
2. Bo Bichette – SS
3. Juan Soto – DH
4. Mark Vientos – 1B
5. MJ Melendez – LF
6. Brett Baty – 3B
7. Marcus Semien – 2B
8. A.J. Ewing – CF
9. Hayden Senger – C

Starting Pitcher: Freddy Peralta

Freddy Peralta has pitched 49 1/3 innings over nine starts with a 3.10 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 1.216 WHIP, and a 128 ERA+. In his last three starts he has allowed five runs, only three earned, over 17 innings while striking out 14 (1.59 ERA).

He hasn’t faced the Yankees since his first start in 2025 where he allowed two runs over five innings. The Yankees have the following career numbers against him:

• Cody Bellinger 6-14, 2B, HR, BB, 5 K
• Jazz Chisholm Jr. 2-10, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 4 K
• Paul Goldschmidt 9-35, 5 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 10 K
• Trent Grisham 1-5, 2B, 3 K
• Aaron Judge 0-3, 2 K
• Ryan McMahon 1-12, 3 BB, 3 K
• Ben Rice 1-2, K
• Amed Roasrio 1-4, BB, K
• Anthony Volpe 1-2, HR, K
• Austin Wells 1-2, HR, BB, K

Yankees Lineup

1. Trent Grisham – CF
2. Ben Rice – 1B
3. Aaron Judge – DH
4. Cody Bellinger – LF
5. Jazz Chisholm – 2B
6. Ryan McMahon – 3B
7. Spencer Jones – RF
8. Anthont Volpe – SS
9. J.C. Escarra – C

Starting Pitcher: Elmer Rodriguez

Elmer Rodríguez will make his third major league start today. Over his first two starts he has allowed five runs from 10 hits over 8 2/3 innings (5.19 ERA, 84 ERA+). Both starts have been similar.

In his major league debut at the end of April he allowed two runs on four hits and four walks over four innings. On May 5 he allowed three runs on six hits and four walks over 4 2/3 innings.

He has been tearing up Triple-A this season with a 1.38 ERA over five starts (26 innings). Over his first two starts he has used his mid-90 mph sinker and four-seamer about two-thirds of the time. He mixes in a slider, changeup, and curveball to round out his arsenal.

Game Notes

According to Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, Jorge Polanco’s Achilles issue won’t fully heal this season. They are instead trying to get into a place where he can play through the discomfort.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Juan Soto is heating up. Over his last three games, Soto has gone 5-for-10 at the plate with two home runs, three walks, and four runs scored. He stole two bases in one inning last night. Soto is doing all the things things you expect Soto to do.
2. Carson Benge’s homestand. Yes, Benge made a bad error in the outfield Saturday. However, he also had a tremendous day at the plate going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Over his last seven games, he is hitting .367/.367/.400 and in his last 15 games he’s slashing .340/.386/.472.
3. Bo Bichette is ice cold. The Mets have to get Bo Bichette going. The good news is worked a walk last night and scored two runs. The bad news is he’s hitless in his last three games, going 0-for-11 at the plate with two walks. In his last seven games, he has gone 2-for-25 with five walks, slashing .080/.233/.080. At the some point he has to return to his career numbers.

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The New York Mets took down the New York Yankees on Saturday night thanks in large part to relief outings from Luke Weaver and Devin Williams.

What are some things that these players have in common? They both are relief pitchers on the New York Mets. They both were born on the 21st of a month. They both made their major league debut in the month of August. And, yes, they both were signed immediately after seasons with the New York Yankees.

When president of baseball operations David Stearns signed both Weaver and Williams, I am imagining he hoped that several of the Mets games this season would look similar to this: Weaver to Williams in the late innings of a close game against a great team to secure a win. On Saturday, the pair of ex-Yankees combined to go three innings, giving up only one hit while striking out three against their former team, thanks to Weaver pulling a rabbit out of his hat to escape a bases loaded jam with no outs.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

“Unicorn stuff” is what Juan Soto called Weaver’s Houdini act in the seventh inning. “He comes in, shows no fear, attacks the hitters, gets the job done. It’s really cool to see,” Soto told reporters after the game. Weaver threw 19 pitches, 17 for strikes, and was able to go two huge innings to help secure a win to give the Mets a chance at a series win.

In 2026, almost everything that can go wrong for the Mets has gone wrong. Whether that be injuries to key players, massive regression from usually consistent players, or seemingly strong moves on paper by the front office failing. However, and this may not be a popular opinion, Luke Weaver and Devin Williams have been good moves for the Mets this year.

I’m sure everyone remembers the Athletics game when Weaver gave up four runs in route to a loss, or when Williams didn’t record an out against Minnesota to lose the game. However, a small sample of games early on should not define a player’s season.

After Saturday, Weaver has not allowed a run in 15 of 18 appearances. Similarly, Williams has not allowed a run in 13 out of 17 appearances. In his last eight appearances, Williams has gone 7 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out nine while only allowing one hit and one walk.

As the Mets are attempting to right the ship, Weaver and Williams hitting their stride have been paramount. In the month of May, the pair has combined for 13 scoreless innings. So, what has changed?

Part of the answer that people may not want to hear: Williams’ luck is starting to turn. Under the hood, Williams is drastically underperforming what he “should” be. Coming into his appearance Saturday night, his ERA was a 5.27, compared to an xERA of 3.00. His BABIP was an absurd .438, seventh highest of any pitcher with at least 10 innings pitched. This was always going to level out, it was just a matter of time for a pitcher with a track record like Williams.

Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Another part of this is the fact that Williams needed to find his changeup again. The “airbender” changeup has simply not been good this year. His changeup has a negative run value for the first time in his career. Coming into Saturday, opposing batters were hitting .303 and slugging .424 off the changeup. Why is this happening?

The changeup shape is just simply not the same as it has been. This year, his changeup is, on average, getting over two inches more of arm side run than it ever has, while dropping almost three inches less than his career average. This is creating a “flatter” changeup, which was not successful early in the year.

In the case of Weaver, his pitch mix has been much different in May than it was in April. While he is throwing his changeup at a similar rate, he is throwing his cutter 10.3% more and his fastball 10.9% less frequently.

What makes his success so interesting is that his cutter has been his worst pitch this year. While it generates his highest whiff rate, hitters have done tons of damage this year off his cutter. When Weaver was at his best, he was using his fastball as a weapon. Throwing more cutters has allowed his fastball to be more successful than it was in April, which has done wonders for both him and the Mets.

Games like these feel great. It’s always great to win. It’s even better to beat the Yankees.

However, if the Mets are going to turn this season around, they need their bullpen to pitch lights out. And Williams and Weaver need to continue to be the catalyst.

The post Weaver, Williams Vital In Victory Against Former Club appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Holmes began his start in strong fashion, setting down all three Yankees in a scoreless top of the first inning with two strikeouts, the only blemish coming on catcher’s interference to back-to-back American League MVP Aaron Judge.  The Mets went down in order in the bottom of the inning, leaving the game scoreless after one.

After two strong innings from both Holmes and Schlittler, the Yankees struck first in the top of the third on an RBI double by Cody Bellinger. The scoring did not end there, as a second double, this time driving in two, by Jazz Chisholm Jr. made it 3-0 Yankees in the middle of the third inning. 

After the Mets failed to score in the bottom of the third, the Yankees loaded the bases with two outs for Judge. However, Holmes jammed the slugger, resulting in a lazy flyout, and escaped the inning unscathed.

Holmes was taken out of the game after 4 1/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season. Manager Carlos Mendoza revealed after the game that he suffered a fractured fibula on a line drive off the bat of Spencer Jones, which will keep him out for an extended period of time.

Austin Warren replaced him, and allowed the inherited runner to score to make it 4-0 Yankees.

Warren stayed on for the top of the sixth inning and set the Yankees down in order, lowering his season ERA to 0.71. The Mets came to bat in the bottom of the sixth, where they once again went down in order, mustering just one hit over six innings.

Tobias Myers replaced Warren in the top of the seventh, where the right-hander worked a scoreless inning. In the bottom of the inning, Juan Soto  finally got the Mets on the board when he hit his 250th career home run. A two-out Brett Baty walk knocked Schlittler out of the game, and a Marcus Semien infield single brought the tying run to bat. However, an A.J. Ewing flyout would strand the pair, with the score standing at 4-1 Yankees after seven.

Myers returned for the top of the eighth, where he was once again effective, pitching a second scoreless inning in relief. His season ERA dropped down to 3.25 as a result.

Craig Kimbrel relieved Myers in the top of the ninth, where he was rudely greeted by a Ben Rice solo home run. However, the veteran would limit any further damage, keeping the Yankees’ lead at 5-1.

In the bottom of the inning, Soto lead off with a walk. A Mark Vientos double play would erase the runner, before MJ Melendez tallied a two-out single. Brett Baty singled in Melendez after he took second on defensive indifference. However, a Semien lineout would spoil a rally opportunity for the Mets.

Player of the Game: Juan Soto

Despite going just 1-for-3 with a walk at the plate, Soto was responsible for the only Mets run of the game. His seventh inning home run off of Schlittler was the 250th of his career, becoming the 42nd fastest player in MLB history to reach the milestone. It was Soto’s sixth long ball of the season, and his second in as many days.

On Deck

The Mets will resume action on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. EST in the middle contest of the three-game set against the Yankees. The Mets will use an opener, likely setting up David Peterson for a bulk relief appearance. The game will stream live on FOX, with radio on WCBS 880, and the Audacy app.

The post Mets’ Bats Go Cold in Loss to Yankees appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

What a time for the New York Mets’ offense to come alive!

The Yankees head to Queens today to take on the Mets, who just swept the Detroit Tigers. Yesterday, five different Mets players hit home runs, and only two players struck out. It’s the best the Mets’ bats have looked in a long time.

The Yankees are 10 games over .500 but have lost six of their last ten. The Mets are seven games under .500 and have won seven of their last 10. Each team has a sub-2 ERA pitcher on the mound tonight!

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

1. Carson Benge – RF
2. Bo Bichette – SS
3. Juan Soto – LF
4. Mark Vientos – 1B
5. MJ Melendez – DH
6. Brett Baty – 3B
7. Marcus Semien – 2B
8. A.J. Ewing – CF
9. Luis Torrens – C

Starting Pitcher: Clay Holmes

Holmes has thrown 48 1/3 innings over eight games with a 1.86 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 1.014 WHIP and a 214 ERA+. He already has 1.9 bWAR this season (last season he had 2.0 bWAR over 33 games). Holmes has also struck out exactly six batters in each of his last three outings. Those 18 batters are a season-high in any three-game stretch for him this season.

The Yankees, who used to employ Holmes as a reliever, have the following career numbers against him:

• Cody Bellinger 1-4, 2B, BB, K
• Jazz Chisholm Jr. 0-2, BB, K
• Paul Goldschmidt 1-8, HR, 4 K
• Trent Grisham 0-0, 3 BB
• Ryan McMahon 1-6, HR, 2 BB
• Amed Rosario 2-8, 3 K
• Max Schuemann 0-1, K

Opposing Lineup

1. Trent Grisham – CF
2. Ben Rice – 1B
3. Aaron Judge – RF
4. Cody Bellinger – LF
5. Jazz Chisholm Jr. – 2B
6. Ryan McMahon – 3B
7. Spencer Jones – DH
8. Anthony Volpe – SS
9. Austin Wells – C

The Mets’ bats face off tonight against one of the best pitchers in the American League. Cam Schlittler has tossed 53 1/3 innings over nine starts with a league-leading 1.35 ERA, 1.65 FIP, 0.806 WHIP and a 312 ERA+. He also leads the league in H/9 at 5.7. This will be the Mets’ first time facing Schlittler, and the only player on the roster who has seen him before is Bichette (1-for-4, 2B, K).

Game Notes

• Jared Young is beginning his rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie tonight after being placed on the 15-day injured list with a meniscus tear in his right knee on April 15.
• The Yankees are 7-13 in their last 20 games at Citi Field and haven’t won a series there since 2018.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Recent Call-ups. What a first week for A.J. Ewing! In his first three major league games, he has gone 3-for-9 with a triple, home run, stolen base and three walks (.538) while scoring four runs. The Mets have won every game he’s played in so far. The Yankees called up Spencer Jones last week, and he has gone 1-for-12 over his first five games with three walks. Before getting his call-up, Jones had 11 home runs in 33 games at Triple A (.258/.366/.592). The story of today’s game are the two sub-2 ERA pitchers. The story of the weekend, though, could be Ewing and Jones.
2. Home Runs. The Mets slugged five home runs yesterday, bringing them to 36 on the season. They are now 25th in the majors in that stat. Going into play yesterday, they were basically in last, hanging out with the Milwaukee Brewers and the San Francisco Giants. The Mets’ roster is constructed to get moderate pop from just about everyone. That’s tough to do without Francisco Lindor, Francisco Alvarez, Jorge Polanco, Ronny Mauricio and Luis Robert Jr. Yesterday showed that the baby Mets (Vientos, Baty) and the rookies, plus Juan Soto, can put on a show.
3. Marcus Semien. Semien got off to a slow start this season. Through his first 19 games, he slashed .194/.257/.269. In the 24 games since, he is slashing .253/.309/.368 with five stolen bases and two home runs. He’s not lighting the world on fire, but his last 24 games are much closer to what he has done in recent years (.230/.305/.364 in 2025, .237/.308/.391 in 2024).

Let’s go Mets!

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Maybe… Maybe not… The Mets swept a three-game series from the Detroit Tigers, their first sweep since August of 2025. They came from behind in all three wins, something the team has struggled with since the start of last season. Could this week be a turning point?

The Mets will look to continue their positive run against the New York Yankees (27-17), who own the fourth-best record in all of baseball. They have lost five of their last six games, however, most recently dropping a series against the Baltimore Orioles. It should be an entertaining matchup.

Let’s take a look at some notes ahead of the three pitching matchups this weekend.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

PITCHING MATCHUPS

• Friday: Cam Schlittler (5-1, 1.35 ERA) vs. Clay Holmes (4-3, 1.86 ERA): Schlittler is one of, if not the most intriguing up-and-coming starter in the game. He is 6’6″ with fastball velocity that can rise above 100 mph. That’s a nightmare combination for most opposing hitters. Schlittler’s 1.35 ERA is the best mark among qualified pitchers in the American League. He has given up one earned run or less in seven of his first nine starts. Holmes’ stuff is not as flashy as Schlittler’s, but he has provided a similar level of production. He has allowed two earned runs or less in all eight of his starts this season. In three starts at home, he is 1-1 with a 1.47 ERA over 18 1/3 innings. Holmes will make his first career appearance against the Yankees Friday.
• Saturday: Carlos Rodón (0-0, 6.23 ERA) vs. TBD: Rodón will make his second start of the season after beginning the year on the injured list following offseason elbow surgery. His first outing wasn’t pretty: three earned runs on two hits and five walks in 4 1/3 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers last Sunday. Rodón is 3-1 with 3.48 ERA in four career starts against the Mets. This is David Peterson‘s spot in the rotation. However, using an opener before going to the lefty in bulk relief has been a successful strategy as of late. Over his last 16 innings in that role, Peterson has only given up three earned runs. As a starter, he is 0-4 with a 8.10 ERA. As a reliever, he is 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA. That’s a stark difference. For the time being, expect Peterson to remain in that role.
• Sunday: Ryan Weathers (2-2, 3.00 ERA) vs. Freddy Peralta (3-3, 3.10 ERA): The Yankees took a flyer on Weathers, acquiring him for the Miami Marlins in January. The expectation was that he would begin the season as a starter, but once guys returned from injury, he would move into the bullpen. But with Gerrit Cole still working his way back and now Max Fried potentially going on the injured list, the situation has changed. Weathers owns a 1.88 ERA over his last 24 innings. Peralta has pitched well for most of this season. The only missing piece was providing a bit more length. Peralta has done a better job of that recently, throwing six innings in two of his last three starts. Peralta is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in one career start against the Yankees.

WHAT’S THE STORY?

A lot of attention will be on Juan Soto and how he performs this weekend. In six games against his former team last season, the superstar outfielder slashed .238/.385/.429 with one home run and three RBIs. Soto will probably see very few good pitches to hit as a result of the Mets missing a handful of big bats in their lineup. Can he make the Yankees pay when they make a mistake in the middle of the zone? That will not only be key for Soto’s success, but the team as a whole.

PREDICTION

Since 2018, the Yankees are 7-13 against the Mets at Citi Field. Will that trend continue? Can Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing make a big impact in their first Subway Series? I think the Mets have started to turn the corner and will win two of three against their crosstown rivals.

The post Series Preview: Mets Face Big Test in Subway Series appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

On Sunday, the New York Mets and New York Yankees faced off in Port St. Lucie. The two teams, while not having their full rosters, still had a few key contributors in the lineup on hand for the game. And for the Mets, Freddy Peralta was set to take the mound, providing fans another good look at one of the best pitchers on the roster.

How did things transpire? And what were some of the main talking points of the day? Follow along as we dive into all of it!

Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Carlos Mendoza Speaks to the Media

Ahead of the game against the Yankees, manager Carlos Mendoza said that the plan is for Freddy Peralta to go “55 pitches” or three innings on the mound. He also stated that the team is looking to “ramp up” the rest of the pitchers in the coming days.

Asked about Carson Benge playing center field, Mendoza said that he wants to put him in positions that could happen if he is with the team. He added that they are getting him reps there, along with Mike Tauchman, so that they can be comfortable. And when asked about Benge’s chances of making the Opening Day roster, Mendoza said that it is a nice competition, but also said “we’ll see” with a smile.

Additionally, Mendoza said that right-handed pitcher Robert Stock will undergo surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome and called the injury “very unfortunate.” He also added that left-handed pitcher Brandon Waddell experienced shoulder discomfort and will not start tomorrow against the Marlins.

On a more positive note, Mendoza said that they are aiming for center fielder Luis Robert to get into MLB spring training action by Thursday and said that presumptive closer Devin Williams is, “in a really good spot.” He also praised the pitching of prospects Ryan Lambert and Jack Wenninger, along with starter Kodai Senga.

-On Robert Stock’s injury, Mendoza called it a very “unfortunate development.” -Mendoza said the younger arms, such Ryan Lambert and Jack Wenninger, have looked really good. Also said Kodai Senga has stood out. -Said Devin Williams is “in a really good spot” at this point.

— Brandyn Pokrass (@brandyn-pokrass.bsky.social) 2026-03-08T14:17:50.395Z

Freddy Peralta and Lineup Find Success Against Yankees

Things did not start in the smoothest fashion for Freddy Peralta against the Yankees, but they ended on a major high note.

After a first inning in which he allowed two runs (one due to some bad luck), the Mets’ new ace locked in and shutdown the Mets’ cross-town rival for two consecutive innings. Using his fastball, change-up, and curveball trio, Peralta struck out the last two batters of the second inning and the first two batters of the third inning on six pitches. He eliminated any hard contact and kept the Yankee hitters guessing, allowing him to cruise through them.

Peralta, speaking after his outing on television, said that he felt “really good” during his outing and that everything was working the right way. In his press conference, Peralta said that after his first inning of work, he made an adjustment with catcher Francisco Alvarez. Working wth Alvarez, the standout pitcher shifted to using more change-ups and curveballs, causing him to “feel good” about the results. Additionally, Peralta spoke about what it has been like working with Alvarez.

“I had conversations with him before we got to spring training. Even back then, I knew he would be really good, because he makes you do well. Whether it is for yourself, for the team, or for everything. He showed me that he wants to win and that he cares about it. He cares about performance. That’s number No. 1 for a catcher. That’s very important, whether it is for us, for him, or for the whole team.”

Freddy Peralta cruised through the 3rd inning with ease. He struck out Escarra and Lombard Jr. on six total pitches, using his curveball as the knockout blow each time. He then forced Spencer Jones to ground out. Really good finish to the outing for Peralta. #Mets

— Brandyn Pokrass (@brandyn-pokrass.bsky.social) 2026-03-08T18:04:01.316Z

On the hitting side of things, Brett Baty, Francisco Alvarez, and Carson Benge each had really good days at the plate.

The catcher, in two separate at-bats, laced singles to right field, with the second one being at 104.3 mph. Baty, who had a nice day against the Cardinals in Jupiter on Friday, continued rolling against the Yankees. The versatile infielder/outfielder notched a walk and had an RBI double in the third inning. Facing Ryan Weathers, a lefty, Baty smoked the ball at 103.8 mph the other way.

Baty 💪
Bichette 🏃‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/TsaUO3JfRY

— New York Mets (@Mets) March 8, 2026

As for Carson Benge, the prized outfield prospect continues to improve every game, and today was no different.

In his first at-bat, Benge found a wicked hop in the grass, driving in a run with what ended up being an infield single. In his second at-bat, Benge smoked a ball to left field at 98 mph off left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers. And while it was an out, Benge’s third at-bat ended in a line drive to the left fielder.

Whether it has been his eye, contact ability, fielding, or base running, Benge has been providing value game in and game out for the Mets. In his postgame press conference, Mendoza highlighted this and called Benge, along with A.J. Ewing, “very exciting” players. If the right fielder keeps playing at this type of level, it is going to be very hard to keep him out of Queens for an extended period.

-Asked about Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing, Mendoza called them “very exciting.” Lauded their ability to impact the game in so many ways. Highlighted their two-strike approach, how they’re running the bases, and how they’re playing the field.

— Brandyn Pokrass (@brandyn-pokrass.bsky.social) 2026-03-08T20:32:12.014Z

Other Notes

• A.J. Ewing is a really strong prospect. He had yet another hit today, scorching the ball the other way to give the Mets what ended up being a decisive lead.
• Jacob Reimer smoked a double at 106.5 mph today. His transcendence up prospect rankings should continue this year.
• Jorge Polanco was smoking the ball today, even if it did not find grass. He had a home run robbed on a 101.4 mph ball to deep right field.

The post MMO from Port St. Lucie: The Spring Edition Subway Series appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Freddy Peralta started on the mound for the Mets. Despite a shaky beginning in which he surrendered two early runs, he settled down and pitched three innings, allowing only three hits and one walk, while recording four strikeouts on 45 pitches. Carl Edwards Jr. then came in to relieve Peralta, giving up two more runs over 2 2/3 innings. However, the rest of the Mets’ bullpen, including Brett Banks and Jonathan Pintaro, who struck out three batters, along with Aaron Rozek, effectively contained the Yankees for the remainder of the game.

The Mets delivered a strong offensive performance, highlighted by their success against Ryan Weathers. Carson Benge kicked off the scoring with an RBI single that brought home Francisco Alvarez. A.J. Ewing followed with a two-run single, scoring Tyrone Taylor and Benge. Brett Baty, who has had an outstanding spring, then doubled to left field, driving in Bo Bichette. Taylor extended the lead by following Baty’s double with one of his own, scoring Baty.

Later in the game, Taylor added a sacrifice fly that brought Jacob Reimer home, while Christian Arroyo drove in Cristian Pache with a single. The Mets continued to pile on runs when Ji Hwan Bae reached base on an error that allowed Jackson Cluff to score. Finally, Jose Rojas capped the rally with a groundout that brought Arroyo home.

Sunday’s game highlighted the efforts of some of the Mets’ young players. Carson Benge, hitting .350 so far this spring, went 2-for-3. A.J. Ewing, with a batting average of .357, went 1-for-3. Brett Baty contributed with a 1-for-2 performance after subbing in later, and Francisco Alvarez recorded two hits of his own.

Player of the Game: A.J. Ewing

With a .357 batting average and a .996 OPS during the spring campaign so far, A.J. Ewing continues to impress, driving in two in a key spot after the Mets went down two, going 1-for-3 on the afternoon. Ewing is making a strong case to be an option at some point down the road for New York.

On Deck

The Mets are right back at it tomorrow at Clover Park, as they welcome the Miami Marlins to town. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 pm EDT and will be broadcast on SNY.

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The New York Mets finally return to television today on WPIX and it’s a good one. The New York Yankees are in town for a Grapefruit League, Subway Series game. Freddy Peralta will be pitching for the Mets while the Yankees feature several of their top prospects in their lineup.

Mets Lineup

1. Marcus Semien – 2B
2. Jorge Polanco – 1B
3. Bo Bichette – 3B
4. Francisco Alvarez – C
5. Brett Baty – DH
6. Tyrone Taylor – RH
7. Carson Benge – CF
8. Vidal Bruján – SS
9. AJ Ewing – LF

Starting Pitcher: Freddy Peralta

Yankees Lineup

1. Jasson Domínguez – LF
2. J.C. Escarra – DH
3. George Lombard Jr. – 3B
4. Spencer Jones – CH
5. Seth Brown – 1B
6. Zack Short – 2B
7. Duke Ellis – RF
8. Braden Shewmake – SS
9. Ali Sánchez – C

Starting Pitcher: Ryan Weathers

Game Notes

Mets manager Carlos Manager confirmed that RHP Robert Stock has been diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and will need to undergo surgery. He first felt the issue while pitching with Team Israel at the World Baseball Classic.

Mets manger Carlos Mendoza also confirmed that LHP Brandon Waddell felt some shoulder discomfort, so he will no longer pitch Monday.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Freddy Peralta. Peralta looked good in his first spring start last week going three innings, striking out three and didn’t allow any runs or hits. Given it is several pitchers second start of spring, pitch counts will be interesting to watch. Prior to the game, manager Carlos Mendoza said to expect him to throw about 55 pitches. Peralta is coming off of his first 33 start season, his third 30-plus start season in a row. He hit a career high in innings last year at 176 2/3.
2. Francisco Alvarez. Alvarez has gone 2-for-5 at the plate in official spring training games this year with a double and a walk. As a hitter, he is 1-for-1 in ABS challenges. As a catcher, he is 0-for-1.
3. Jorge Polanco. Polanco had five chances in his first spring training game and had five put outs with zero errors. He’ll get more reps at his new position today. Polanco has had a slow start to the spring at the plate going 0-for-5 over his first two games.

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The New York Mets head to Tampa Bay this afternoon for a very early trip across the entire state of Florida. The Yankees scored 20 runs in victory Saturday. The Mets dropped their first spring game 2-1 against Miami.

Mets Lineup

1. Carson Benge – RF
2. Mark Vientos – 1B
3. Luis Torrens – C
4. Jared Young – DH
5. Christian Arroyo – 3B
6. Ryan Clifford – LF
7. Vidal Bruján – 2B
8. Cristian Pache – CF
9. Grae Kessinger – SS

Starting Pitcher: Justin Hagenman

Yankees Lineup

1. Trent Grisham – CF
2. Aaron Judge – DH
3. Cody Bellinger – LF
4. Jazz Chisholm Jr. – 2B
5. Paul Goldschmidt – 1B
6. Austin Wells – C
7. Amed Rosario – 3B
8. Yanquiel Fernández – RF
9. José Caballero – SS

Starting Pitcher: Luis Gil

Game Notes

Sunday’s spring training game will only on be on MLBN if you live out-of-market. There is no SNY/WPIX coverage but there is radio coverage on 880 AM. As for Yankees coverage, the game is on the Gotham Sports App, which carries the Yankees, Nets, Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, Devils and Sabres.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Justin Hagenman. Hagenman was drafted by the Dodgers in 2018 and traded to the Red Sox in 2023. He finally made his major league debut last season with the Mets. He pitched in nine games including one start totaling 23 2/3 innings with a 4.56 ERA, 3.77 FIP, 1.099 WHIP and an 89 ERA+. He pitched multiple innings every time he pitched for the Mets last season, saving the bullpen multiple, valuable innings of work. We saw the Mets were aggressive already getting pitchers multiple innings of work in their first spring training game and we’ll see if that pattern continues today with Justin Hagenman. As a bonus challenge for Justin Hagenman, the Yankees are throwing out a regular, major league heavy batting order to start the game.
2. Carson Benge. Leading off for the Mets today is the highest rated position prospect in the Mets system right now. Benge has been ranked No. 19 by Baseball America, No. 10 by Baseball Prospectus, No. 16 by MLB Pipeline, and No. 21 by FanGraphs. He’s coming off of a minor league season where he played across three levels with a .281/.385/.472 with 15 homers and 22 stolen bases.
3. Ryan Clifford. Ryan Clifford (No. 86 Baseball Prospectus) is the last of the prospects left from the Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer trades a couple of seasons ago. Last season Clifford played first and the outfield when he wasn’t the designated hitter. If you look at his time in the field only, he played in the outfield about 40% of the time. In 2024, he had a 133 wRC+ in Binghamton (Double-A) and last season he hit .237/.356/.470 between Binghamton and Syracuse (Triple-A) with 29 homers.

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