Saturday, September 5, 2026 • 4:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Anthony Molina (2-0, 3.77) vs. LHP Zac Thornton (3-4, 2.93)
SNY

The Mets, not wanting to be overshadowed by the US Open happening down the road, put on their own show Friday night, smashing five home runs. It was the second consecutive game where the Mets scored 10 runs as their late-season resurgence continues. We’ve also fully hit “next generation” excitement with the rotation. Friday night Nolan McLean got the start. This afternoon it’s Zac Thornton. Tomorrow Christian Scott. Monday afternoon Jonah Tong. It’s 2027 in Queens!

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

  1. Francisco Lindor – SS
  2. Juan Soto – LF
  3. Bo Bichette – 3B
  4. Carson Benge – RF
  5. Jared Young – 1B
  6. Marcus Semien – 2B
  7. A.J. Ewing – CF
  8. Francisco Alvarez – C
  9. Brett Baty – 3B

Starting Pitcher: Zac Thornton

Zac Thornton has made 11 starts this season, totaling 61 1/3 innings with a 2.93 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 1.158 WHIP, and 141 ERA+. In his last two starts, he has allowed three runs from 13 hits and no walks over 11 innings while striking out nine batters. His 5.7 BB% is good for the 91st percentile in the league. The concern right now is hits. Hitters are getting them in bunches, and Thornton is quite average in terms of Hard-Hit% and generating groundouts. It’s part of the reason his xERA is 4.60. This will be his first time pitching against the Giants and anyone on their roster in a Major League game.

Opposing Lineup

  1. Jonah Cox – CF
  2. Rafael Devers – 1B
  3. Bryce Eldridge – DH
  4. Osleivis Basabe – 2B
  5. Turner Hill – LF
  6. Andrew Knizner – C
  7. Shay Whitcomb – 3B
  8. Grant McCray – RF
  9. Christian Koss – SS

The Mets bats will face Anthony Molina this afternoon, who was traded from the Braves to the Giants earlier this season. In two games with the Giants, he has pitched 9 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. Overall this season, he has pitched 14 1/3 innings over five games with a 3.77 ERA, 4.07 FIP, 1.047 WHIP, and a 112 ERA+. He faced the Mets back in June, allowing two runs, one earned, in one inning on three hits and no walks. The Mets have the following career numbers against Molina:

Game Notes

  • Last night Bo Bichette lined a two-run homer in the second. It was his first home run at Citi Field since June 24 (G2) vs.
    Chicago-NL (111 at-bats). He has reached the 15-home run mark for the fifth time in his career. Since August 1, has a .306/.369/.532 (34-111) slashline with five home runs, eight doubles, one triple, 15 RBI, 16 runs and a .901 OPS.
  • Last night, the Mets hit five home runs in a game three times this season (also: 5/14 vs. DET and 8/22 at CHW). It was the sixth time in franchise history the Mets have homered five or more times in a game on three or more separate occasions in a season (also: 2006, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2025).
  • Nolan McLean has recorded 179 strikeouts this season. They are the third-most in a single season by a Mets rookie behind Dwight Gooden‘s 276 in 1984 and Kodai Senga‘s 202 in 2023. His 236 career strikeouts are the sixth-most in franchise history through a Mets pitcher’s first 36 career Major League games.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Mark Vientos. Since returning from the injured list, Mark Vientos has been on fire. He’s going 4-for-10 at the plate with two home runs and only one strikeout. He had five home runs in Syracuse in five games before rejoining the Mets at the end of August. It is really unclear where Mark Vientos fits next year. From the start of June until his injury, Vientos played in 22 games where he hit .164/.242/.382. He had nine hits in 22 games, but four of those nine hits were home runs.
  2. The 20 Homer Club. We are full at the point of the season where we are rooting for nice, round numbers on Baseball-Reference. A hot streak in the final three weeks of the season can help propel a player, and there are three players who are pushing for 20 home runs. Francisco Lindor hit his 16th last night. Bo Bichette hit his 15th. Carson Benge stole his 20th base, and now only needs four more home runs to get a 20-20 season.
  3. Back-to-Back Days. Robert Stock came out in relief Friday night and tossed four pitches to record an out, stopping the game from spiraling away to the Giants. With Jonah Tong joining the rotation on Monday, it seems like Stock is now joining the bullpen. Senga only tossed 10 pitches Friday night to record three outs (and to walk a batter). Theoretically, both players could go again today; will they?

Let’s go Mets!