Sunday, June 28, 2026 • 1:40 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
LHP Jesús Luzardo (6-4, 4.00) vs. LHP Cionel Pérez (3-3, 4.99)
SNY

The New York Mets finally snapped their seven-game losing streak Saturday with a 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Now the Mets have a chance to take a series against one of the hottest teams in baseball.

Sunday is a good example of the predicament the Mets’ pitching performance has put the team in. This should have been a Kodai Senga game but his recent performance has sent him to the bullpen. Can the Mets win today’s bullpen game that will probably feature Senga at some point as a bulk reliever?

Mets Lineup

  1. Carson Benge – RF
  2. Juan Soto – LF
  3. Bo Bichette – SS
  4. Eric Wagaman – 1B
  5. Francisco Alvarez – DH
  6. Mark Vientos – 3B
  7. Tyrone Taylor – CF
  8. Brett Baty – 2B
  9. Luis Torrens – C

Starting Pitcher: Cionel Pérez

Cionel Pérez signed as a free agent with the Mets in early May after being released by the Nationals. In 16 innings over 16 games with the Nationals, Pérez had a 6.19 ERA, 5.67 FIP, 1.688 WHIP, and a 68 ERA+. In 10 games, 14 2/3 innings, with the Mets, Pérez has been much more effective with a 3.68 ERA, 4.06 FIP, 1.023 WHIP, and a 114 ERA+.

The Mets have used him for multiple innings of relief several times with his longest outing being 2 1/3 innings against the Cubs earlier this week. He just pitched two innings against the Phillies Friday night holding them to two hits and no runs. The Phillies have the following numbers against him:

Phillies Lineup

  1. Trea Turner – SS
  2. Kyle Schwarber – DH
  3. Bryce Harper – 1B
  4. Alec Bohm – 3B
  5. Brandon Marsh – LF
  6. J. T. Realmuto – C
  7. Bryson Stott – 2B
  8. Derek Hill – RF
  9. Justin Crawford – CF

Starting Pitcher: Jesús Luzardo

Jesús Luzardo has made 16 starts totaling 92 1/3 innings with a 4.00 ERA, 3.12 FIP, 1.300 WHIP, and a 111 ERA+. He’s coming off of a start where he allowed five runs over 6 2/3 innings while striking out 13 batters. It was his second time in his last four starts where he has gone at least six innings but allowed five earned runs. It’s also his third consecutive start with at least eight strikeouts.

The Mets have the following career stats against Luzardo:

  • Francisco Alvarez 0-6
  • Brett Baty 1-3
  • Bo Bichette 2-2, HR
  • Francisco Lindor 7-28, 2 BB, 4 K
  • Ronny Mauricio 0-4, BB, 4 K
  • Juan Soto 7-20, 2B, HR, 5 BB, 3 K
  • Tyrone Taylor 3-9, 2B, K
  • Luis Torrens 2-8, HR, 2 K
  • Mark Vientos 2-15, 2B, 2 BB, 6 K
  • Eric Wagaman 4-10, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 3 K

Game Notes

On X, Mets owner Steve Cohen said he will be, “speaking soon.”

Prior to the start of Sunday’s game, New York Knicks guard/forward OG Anunoby will throw the ceremonial first pitch.

Mets relievers combined to throw 4 2/3 scoreless innings Saturday. The bullpen’s 3.35 ERA is the third-lowest in the majors and the fifth-lowest in MLB. The pen’s 363 strikeouts lead the majors.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Kodai Senga. Senga was bumped out of the rotation after his poor start earlier this week where he allowed seven earned runs over 3 2/3 innings. He has allowed nine home runs in his last five major-league outings leading to a career worst 2.9 HR/9 this season. The Mets are hoping that Senga can recover his pre-injury 2025 form out of the pen. The only bright spot right now are his strikeouts. He has 34 punch outs over 27 2/3 innings which is an 11.1 K/9 (career 10.2).
  2. Lindor Triple Hitter. This is more a statistical anomaly than anything else. Lindor hit two triples early in the season then landed on the injured list a few weeks later. Saturday night, he hit his third triple of the season. He now has more triples (three) than doubles (two) and homers (two). The most he has ever hit in a season is five which he did in 2022.
  3. Can the top of the lineup perform again? The top of the lineup came through for the Mets with Carson Benge and Juan Soto getting on base a combined five times. The first four Mets hitters (Benge, Soto, Bo Bichette, Lindor) combined for four RBIs and five runs scored.