Wait, I thought we just did this? Hang on … (checks notes) We are all set! It was not a typo!

If this feels like déjà vu, you are not wrong! After a quick series with the Toronto Blue Jays, the New York Mets will face off with the Miami Marlins in another three-game set starting Monday. Instead of being in the 305, the Mets welcome the Fish to Citi Field.

Coming off a sweep of the Blue Jays (similar to what a certain LA rapper was gearing up to do to a certain Toronto rapper around a year ago), New York will look to keep things rolling. It is an important early-week series for the Mets, as they start a six-game road trip against the Athletics and Twins next.

How do the pitching matchups shape up for this NL East showdown? What is the main storyline for the Mets? And the most important question of all: will the Mets come out on top?

All of these questions will be answered here and now! Follow along as we preview another early week series for your New York Metropolitans!

Kodai Senga (34) – Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Pitching Matchups

Monday: Kodai Senga (0–1, 3.60 ERA) vs. TBD

  • The Mets will once again start a series against the Marlins with one of the best pitchers on its staff. Despite starting slow, Kodai Senga struck out eight batters over five innings pitched in his first start of the year. He only allowed one barrel, had a ground ball percentage of 63.6%, and generated a whiff percentage in the 94th percentile of all pitchers, according to Baseball Savant. While his fastball was not on point, Senga’s forkball generated 1.7 wins above average, while his overall offspeed run value came in at 2.0 (97th percentile on Baseball Savant). In a second start against the Fish, Senga is positioned to settle in further and have an even better performance.

Tuesday: Clay Holmes (0–1, 2.89 ERA) vs. Connor Gillispie (0–1, 3.60 ERA) 

  • Just like Senga, Clay Holmes will have a chance to have an even better performance against the Marlins the second time.In last week’s matchup, Holmes went 4.2 innings and allowed one earned run. He walked two batters and struck out six. The former relief pitcher has danced around trouble well, but much of it has been self-induced; Holmes has a 13.3% walk rate, which slots in at the 29th percentile. With better location and even further comfortability with his pitches, Holmes could have a great first outing at home. On the other side is Connor Gillispie, who gave the Mets issues in his first time facing the team. He allowed one run over five innings, striking out six. New York will now get another shot at the righty, but this time in their home ballpark.

Wednesday: Tylor Megill (2–0, 0.87 ERA) vs. Max Meyer (0–1, 3.09 ERA)

  • The final game of the series is the one worth waiting for, at least when it comes to a pitching matchup. For the Mets, early-season standout Tylor Megill takes the hill. The starter has a 2-0 record and a 0.87 ERA due to refined pitch usage.Megill has slightly lowered his fastball usage and increased the utilization of his slider and sinker; the slider has generated a 39.1 Whiff %, while the sinker has a .154 batting average against it. On the other side for the Marlins is former top prospect Max Meyer. Despite an 0-1 record, Meyer already has 15 strikeouts via an impressive slider and changeup. If New York wants to do any damage, they must hunt mistakes; Meyer’s fastball and sweeper have seen batters hit over .400 against them.

The Main Headline

It would be easy to say that the New York Mets need to start hitting more as a team. Despite stars like Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Juan Soto starting to get hot, the team still has a batting average of .197 and an OPS of .638.

However, I will focus on a specific position: second base.

Brett Baty has been the team’s primary starter, and despite my optimism after spring training, he has been abysmal once again. Baty is hitting .095, has an OPS of .238, and has struck out eight times. He has a GB% of 52.3, an average launch angle of 2.3, and a walk percentage in the bottom one percentage of the entire sport. In limited time, Luisangel Acuña has not been much better; the infielder has a .143 batting average and a .414 OPS in 14 at-bats in the 2025 season.

Both players have shown some interesting flashes in 2025, though Baty has increased his average bat speed to 76.3 miles per hour (96th percentile) and has recorded an OAA of one. On top of great fielding, Acuña has recorded a sprint speed of 29.5 miles per hour (99th percentile), shown great fielding, and increased his walk rate.

But with Jeff McNeil on the mend, the time is now for one of New York’s young second basemen to emerge. Acuña needs to start making better contact to put his speed into play, while Baty needs to make significant changes to his approach to better utilize the swing he showed off in spades during the spring.

I would love to give my typical “it is still early” speech, and it technically could still apply. However, the clock will soon be ticking for Baty and Acuña at the major league level.

Prediction

I was one game off of last week’s prediction, and I do not intend for that to happen again.

In their second series against the Marlins,  I am taking the Mets to win two of three games. Even in less-than-ideal New York conditions, the Mets’ bats will continue to wake up against their division rival. Francisco Lindor will have two extra-base hits in the series, while Jose Siri will hit a home run to show off one of his signature bat flips. Senga and Holmes will notch victories, while Max Meyer will slightly outlast Tylor Megill in a Wednesday pitchers’ duel.