Monday, July 27, 2026 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
LHP Martín Pérez (6-6, 3.38) vs. LHP Zac Thornton (1-1, 1.93)
SNY

The Mets salvaged the last game of the series against the Dodgers on Sunday with a comeback win. This week, the Mets head deep into hug-watch territory with the MLB trade deadline one week away. After Sunday’s game, Freddy Peralta said he probably made his last start with the Mets. New York has an off day on the day of the trade deadline, and will probably have a very different-looking team on August 4 when they take the field in Cleveland.

The Mets and Braves will also have to battle the weather this week. Monday calls for a chance of thunderstorms, with a higher chance of rain on Tuesday. However, Wednesday looks like the worst day for rain.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

  1. A.J. Ewing, RF
  2. Francisco Lindor, SS
  3. Bo Bichette, 3B
  4. Luis Robert Jr., CF
  5. Francisco Alvarez, DH
  6. Jared Young, 1B
  7. Tyrone Taylor, LF
  8. Marcus Semien, 2B
  9. Luis Torrens, C

Starting Pitcher: Zac Thornton

Zac Thornton makes his fifth start on Monday. Over his first four starts, he has tossed 23 1/3 innings with a 1.93 ERA, 2.98 FIP, 0.857 WHIP and a 219 ERA+. He has already accumulated a 1.1 bWAR, which puts him seventh on the Mets pitching staff. He’s trailing starting pitchers Clay Holmes (1.9), Nolan McLean (1.8) and Christian Scott (1.7). In his last two starts, he has allowed zero runs from five hits and three walks over 13 innings while striking out seven batters. This will be the first time in his career facing the Braves or anyone on the Braves roster.

Opposing Lineup

  1. Ronald Acuña Jr., RF
  2. Drake Baldwin, DH
  3. Matt Olson, 1B
  4. Ozzie Albies, 2B
  5. Michael Harris II, CF
  6. Mauricio Dubón, LF
  7. Austin Riley, 3B
  8. Joey Bart, C
  9. Jim Jarvis, SS

Martín Pérez has pitched in 19 games, making 15 starts this season, totaling 85 1/3 innings with a 3.38 ERA, 4.45 FIP, 1.195 WHIP and a 125 ERA+. Pérez had three rough starts in a row leading up to the All-Star break, where he allowed 12 runs, 11 earned, over 13 1/3 innings (7.43 ERA, 8.14 FIP). This includes a start against the Mets where he allowed five runs, four earned, over 4 1/3 innings. He bounced back in his first start after the All-Star Break, allowing no runs on one hit and four walks over four innings against the Padres. The Mets have the following career stats against him:

Game Notes

  • With a scoreless first inning, Zac Thornton can tie Steven Matz for the longest scoreless streak by a Mets left-handed rookie pitcher. With a scoreless first and second inning, Thornton will take sole possession of that record and trail John Maine for the longest scoreless streak by a Mets rookie pitcher (26 innings).

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Marcus Semien. Semien had a huge home run on Sunday to give the Mets some late insurance runs. In his last four games, Semien has gone 2-for-11 with both hits being home runs. He is getting on base at a rate far below last season (.305 vs .263), but his power is somewhat comparable (.364 SLG last season to .344 this year). Hopefully, as he gets healthier, he starts to hit closer to what he did last season.
  2. Bo Bichette. Bichette is one of the more interesting names heading into the deadline. Bichette has opt-outs after 2026 and 2027; however, the price tag attached will make it difficult to move him. It’s difficult to imagine Bichette getting as lucrative a deal next year, but you can’t table the idea of Bichette getting on a hot streak. The Mets have already paid 40 million of the 42 million he’s owed this year. Bichette has had two hits in two games in a row. Since July 3, he has hit .294/.347/.324 over 18 games. He’s getting on base a lot more, but has seen his power drop off a bit.
  3. Tyrone Taylor. We mentioned on Sunday that Tyrone Taylor was a player to watch, and he hit a massive, go-ahead, three-run home run for the Mets. In his last five games, he has gone 5-for-10 with two home runs, a double and six RBIs. He’s only started two of those games! Since returning from the injured list, Taylor is hitting .382/.462/.941 with five home runs over 18 games.

Let’s go Mets!