Series Preview: Mets Carry Hot Bats to D.C.

Are the winds of the season slowly starting to shift in favor of the Mets?

After a series victory over the cross-town Yankees, the Mets hold a 10-5 record in May. They sit only six games below .500, hanging around the fringes of the NL playoff picture with more than half the season remaining. And thanks to the contributions of A.J. Ewing, Carson Benge, Juan Soto, and more, the team is showing signs of life that did not exist before. One key example? The Mets broke their 0-91 streak in games where they trailed after eight innings.

Heading into a key series against the Washington Nationals, the Mets have a chance to continue their march toward relevancy in 2026. How do the matchups stack up? And what are the key things to watch this week? It is time to find out! Let us dive into the latest early-week preview for the New York Mets.

Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Monday: Christian Scott (0-0, 3.45 ERA) vs. Jake Irvin (1-4, 5.91 ERA)

Not having his best stuff in his last start against the Tigers, Christian Scott still found a way to battle on the mound. Pitching 4.2 innings, Scott allowed seven hits, two walks, and two earned runs. However, the right-handed pitcher also struck out five batters. Still finding his feet in his return from Tommy John surgery, Scott has flashed some positives, namely his 28.6% strikeout rate and an elite 2.6% barrell rate. Additionally, there are very encouraging signs for Scott’s fastball and cutter going forward. Facing a talented yet inconsistent Washington lineup, I think this could be a fun spot for Scott to show off his arsenal and take another step forward as a pitcher.
Outside of his extension off the mound, not much is going right for Washington’s Jake Irvin as of late. He got rocked in his last two starts, giving up no less than four runs and four hits in each outing. Irvin’s command has been spotty; he is letting hitters barrel his pitches up, and he is average, at best, when it comes to putting batters away (23.2% strikeout rate). This is a great spot for the Mets’ offense to continue to stay hot.

Tuesday: Nolan McLean (2-2, 2.92 ERA) vs. Foster Griffin (4-2, 3.53 ERA)

Nolan McLean is a really damn good pitcher, and he continues to prove it in 2026. Facing the Tigers, the standout starting pitcher gave up a three-run home run that gave Detroit an early lead. How did McLean respond? He proceeded to shut down the Tigers for the next six innings, not allowing another run on his way to earning his second win of the year. While allowing six hits and three walks, McLean totaled seven strikeouts and worked around the other baserunners that he allowed. On the year as a whole, McLean’s 2.92 ERA, 31.5% strikeout rate, and average exit velocity allowed of 86 miles per hour are all impressive. His overall arsenal has also been awesome; McLean’s sinker has been leading the way with a .169 batting average against it and an impressive 21 strikeouts. As has been the case since he was called up to the majors, I am very excited to see how McLean keeps improving in his next start.
Out of the pitchers New York is facing this series, Girffin looks like the one who may give them the most issues. 4-2 on the season with a 3.53 ERA, Girffin possesses a seven-pitch mix that keeps batters off balance. He has found success striking out batters this year, with a high of nine coming in a May 8 start against the Marlins. Girffin has also done a nice job limiting exit velocity, only allowing an average of 87.7 miles per hour. Despite allowing nine runs in his last outing, Girffin may have a soft landing against a New York team that has struggled against lefties. This will truly be a game to see if the Mets have turned the corner.

Wednesday: TBD vs. Zack Littell (2-4, 6.10 ERA)

As of the writing of this article, a starter has not been announced for Wednesday’s game for the New York Mets.
After giving up 22 earned runs in April, Zack Littell has not been a complete disaster to start May. He actually had a very solid outing against the Orioles on May 15, striking out three batters while allowing no runs in five innings. But even with a good outing under his belt, the Mets should have a fun day at the park in this matchup. Littell should not scare any lineup, and if they are locked in, New York should have no issue scoring runs in game three of the series.

Thursday: TBD vs. Cade Cavalli (2-2, 4.05 ERA)

Just like Wednesday, the Mets do not have an announced starter for Thursday’s game against the Nationals.
May, just like April, has been an up-and-down month for Cade Cavalli. Through three appearances, the right-hander has pitched 16 innings, allowed eight earned runs, given up 17 hits, and walked four batters. However, he has also struck out 14 batters, with eight coming in his latest appearance against Baltimore, where he earned the win. New York will have every chance to score off of Cavalli, but the pitcher could also be ready to have a great outing if his stuff is on. This game could be the pivot point that decides who wins the series.

The Main Storyline

Ahead of this series, my main storyline is simple: Can the Mets find their footing after a successful weekend?

Coming back against the Yankees in back-to-back games to secure a series victory, the Mets looked to be finding some semblance of momentum. The lineup has gotten a jolt in a variety of ways, ranging from Juan Soto finding his swing again to A.J. Ewing’s electric start. The back end of the bullpen has been impressive, while the starting pitching has battled to keep the team in games.

None of this matters, though, if the Mets cannot keep the positive momentum rolling. They have to keep taking great at-bats, pitching at a high level, and executing in every facet of the game. New York has had too many occasions where they show signs of life, then reverse course, and regress in almost every area.

2026 is not a lost season for New York yet, but the clock is ticking. The Mets are not in a position to afford many more stumbles this season, and they must keep playing winning baseball to ensure the stadium is not empty in the second half of the season. As a result, the Mets’ ability to find their footing, or lack thereof, will be the main thing I am watching this week.

A.J. Ewing by Berto Carlo

Player to Watch

In the latest early week series for the Mets, I am running it back with A.J. Ewing as my player to watch.

Ewing has hit the ball hard, shown impressive speed, taken phenomenal at-bats, and played some nice defense in center field to start his major league career. He has provided the spark that New York has needed and has produced in key moments, such as his sacrifice bunt to set up Sunday’s walk-off against the Yankees.

Facing the Nationals this week, I want to see Ewing continue to progress as a player. Additionally, how he fares when pitchers adjust to him will be very important to watch. If the outfielder continues to produce, he will continue to help the Mets turn things around and will have a chance to be one of the more impactful call-ups of the MLB season up to this point.