The main culprit of this loss was not a name you would expect: Freddy Peralta. Based on his pedigree, history as a player, and even certain outings he has had this season, Peralta has been viewed as an upper-level starter.

He, alongside Nolan McLean, is expected to headline the pitching staff and give the Mets the best chance to win games. And in this series, where the Mets had already won a game, it was not unrealistic to expect Peralta to pitch at his highest level. The complete opposite happened.

Peralta utterly imploded over the span of 2 2/3 innings, allowing 10 earned runs on 10 hits. He did not locate his pitches well, he fell behind in counts, and he did not generate any whiffs. Peralta left pitches on platters for the Philadelphia hitters, and they made him pay. Whether it was Bryce Harper starting things off in the first inning or Kyle Schwarber hitting a ball toward the upper deck, the would-be ace failed to match his moniker.

The other pitchers in this game, whether it was Tobias Myers or Cionel Pérez, struggled too. Harper finished with his first career cycle, Schwarber hit three home runs, and the Phillies totaled 17 hits. But when push came to shove, Peralta was the one who set the tone. He was overmatched and outclassed on Saturday, and he was never able to find the best version of himself.

As this season has gone on, though, it is fair to wonder if that version of Peralta exists. There have been great moments and aspects from the right-hander this year, especially when it comes to striking batters out. However, the negatives have been just as glaring. Peralta struggles with command, and it causes everything to snowball for him. There are also moments where his velocity is not where it needs to be, allowing hitters to attack early and put the Mets in early deficits.

Ahead of the trade deadline and an important offseason, Peralta has to find consistency. For him and the Mets to get their deserved outcomes, the right-handed pitcher just simply needs to be much better in every way. If not, things could get much worse as the dog days of summer approach.

On the offensive side of things, the Mets were not great, but it was an effort that was not surprising against an ace like Cristopher Sánchez.

New York did muster some hits in this game. Carson Benge, one of the Mets’ best players, smoked a second-deck, 420-foot home run in the 7th inning with the game well out of reach. Mark Vientos, despite striking out in a critical early-game situation, had a home run and a single. Bo Bichette and Juan Soto had hits, along with Zack Short and Francisco Alvarez.

These hits were never strung together or capitalized on, though. New York would get a few baserunners, but would follow it up with poor at-bats to strand them. The Phillies also made some impressive defensive plays in this game, such as when Bryson Stott robbed Luis Torrens of an RBI single or when Trea Turner robbed Soto of a base hit.

With Peralta imploding on the mound, the Mets never really had a chance to get in a rhythm and find themselves on offense. It was, like many other games this season, one that was lost from the very beginning. Heading into the series finale on Sunday night, the Mets will look to string together a cohesive performance and beat Philadelphia in their home ballpark once more.

On Deck

David Peterson takes the mound in the rubber match against the Phillies Saturday. The lefty’s last start came on May 26, where he allowed six earned runs across five innings to the Reds. The Mets will face Zack Wheeler, who holds a 2.01 ERA in 10 starts.

The two clubs will square off on Sunday Night Baseball. The game will be televised at 7:20 PM on NBC. The game will be broadcast on 880 AM.

The post Peralta’s Implosion Sinks Mets in 15-3 Loss appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

After winning the series against the Atlanta Braves, the Mets are set to take on a National League foe in the Cincinnati Reds. New York is chasing the Reds in the standings, and the series offers the perfect opportunity to do so.

Can New York fare well against the Reds this week? And who needs to perform well for the Mets to do so?

It is time for another early-week series preview, so without further ado, let us dive into it!

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Monday: Tobias Myers</a>”>Tobias Myers (0-1, 4.05 ERA) vs. Chase Burns (7-1, 2.14 ERA) 

• Called back up to the major leagues, Tobias Myers is set to begin New York’s crucial series against the Reds. Despite holding a 4.05 ERA on the year, Myers has had multiple good outings for the Mets in relief and as an opener. He has 26 strikeouts in 33.1 innings pitched, with his fastball and splitter being his two main putaway pitches. Additionally, Myers does not walk batters at a high rate, as he holds a 5.2% walk rate. Monday’s outing is the perfect opportunity for Myers to lay the foundation for the rest of his 2026 season, and I am intrigued to see how he handles the outing. 
• New York faces their toughest task of the series on Monday, as Chase Burns is set to take the mound. The right-hander has pitched at a Cy Young-level in 2026, notching a 2.14 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 75.2 innings pitched. Burns dominates batters with his fastball and slider, with the slider resulting in 60 strikeouts alone. Burns can get tagged with some hard contact, as he has allowed a barrel rate of 9.6%. To win this game, the Mets will need their best overall effort of the series. 

Tuesday: TBD vs. Brady Singer (2-6, 5.61 ERA)

• Christian Scott was supposed to take the mound on Tuesday, but instead landed on the injured list on Monday. The Mets can opt for David Peterson in a bulk role, or look to their Triple-A core once more.
• Brady Singer has had a rough go of things in 2026, to say the least. While not walking batters at a high rate, Singer has allowed a barrel rate of 11.8%, has a strikeout rate of only 16.6%, and has an average fastball velocity under 92.0 miles per hour. New York needs to be aggressive and jump all over Singer in Tuesday’s game; if they do, they will have a great chance to win. 

Wednesday: Nolan McLean (3–4, 4.01 ERA) vs. Nick Lodolo (2-1, 5.21 ERA)

• It was a rough month of May for Nolan McLean, and things have still been a bit shaky in June. After a nice outing against the Padres, McLean only lasted four innings against the Atlanta Braves on June 12. Despite striking out six batters, the right-hander walked four batters and gave up two runs.  At his best, McLean still has some of the best pure stuff in the majors, and even with his struggles, he has only struck out fewer than four batters one time this season. However, the walks and command issues have arguably been the main reason he has not been dominant lately. McLean, despite his success, is still working through his first full season with the Mets. I think the right-hander will find his footing once again, and I think facing the Reds is a great opportunity to have that occur.
• To wrap up this series, the Mets will face an old foe in Nick Lodolo. Outside of mowing down the Mets back on May 25, Lodolo has allowed at least two earned runs in every start. He is allowing hard contact, has not had the best command, and is not generating whiffs as he did back in 2025. To win this game, New York needs to be selective and not get the lefty out of trouble easily. In my opinion, this game will be a nice barometer of where the Mets are heading for the rest of 2026. 

The Main Storyline

Ahead of this series, my main storyline is still all about the Mets’ chase of the NL Wild Card.

After taking two of three games from the Atlanta Braves, New York sits 5.5 games out of a playoff spot. In the next few weeks, the Mets still have three games against the Reds, six games against the Phillies, and four against the Cubs.

As I said last week, this stretch could vault New York back into the playoff discussion. If they can continue to hit and find some rhythm with their pitching, the Mets could easily be right back in the thick of things. If New York cannot continue the positive momentum it has built, a fire sale looks all but likely to come mid-July.

Can the Mets channel the grit and mettle of the world champion New York Knicks? Or will they falter as they have many times this season? This stretch will likely determine which way the season goes, and that is why it is my main headline of the week.

Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

Player to Watch 

In the latest early week series for the Mets, I am concentrating on Nolan McLean. 

For New York to truly get back into the playoff discussion, they need their best players to play at their highest possible level. That truly goes for McLean, who has had his struggles lately.

The right-hander needs to combine his strikeout prowess with better command and location consistently. He needs to find a way to avoid giving opponents the opportunity to attack specific pitches, which mostly comes down to dishing out fewer walks.

Just as New York’s lineup has dictated the team’s failures and successes, McLean’s outings have had the same impact on the pitching side of things. For this week and beyond, I am fascinated to see how the right-handed pitcher fares.

Prediction

In their series against the Reds, I have the Mets winning two of three games.

The post Series Preview: Mets Look to Even Season Series With Reds appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

After a solid showing against the San Diego Padres, the New York Mets host the St. Louis Cardinals for a three-game set. It is the beginning of a stretch where the Mets consistently play National League opponents, setting up an opportunity for New York to vault back into the playoff picture. Quite frankly, it is a slate of games that could define New York’s 2026 season.

There is little time to waste, so without further ado, let us dive into it!

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Tuesday: Freddy Peralta (4-4, 3.63 ERA) vs. Dustin May (3–6, 4.59 ERA) 

• Freddy Peralta had more good than bad in his last start against the Mariners, going six innings while only giving up one earned run. Even while allowing six hits, the right-hander struck out six batters and walked two batters. Peralta’s arsenal, ranging from the fastball to the changeup and the curveball, was working great in Seattle. He struck out at least one batter with every pitch, while he recorded multiple strikeouts with the fastball and slider. As the Mets begin a slate against multiple NL foes, they will need Peralta at his best. He needs to build on his good start in Seattle in the first game of this series. 
• New York, in their first game against the Cardinals, draws what could be a tough matchup in the form of Dustin May. May can still carve through lineups with ease, as evidenced by his totaling nine strikeouts in his last start. And while he has a 4.59 ERA on the season, he has not given up many hard-hit balls (49%) and has an expected ERA of 3.76. How the Mets deal with May’s six-pitch mix will be very interesting to watch over the course of this game. 

Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Wednesday: Christian Scott (2-0, 2.50 ERA) vs. Andre Pallante (6-4, 3.96 ERA)

• Christian Scott is on the verge of taking another leap as a pitcher and has been the best starter on the team the last month and a half. Facing the San Diego Padres in his latest start, Scott went 5.2 innings of shutout baseball, striking out three batters in the process. Location and control have bit Scott, as he walked two batters once again, and holds a walk rate of 11.5%. If he can slightly lower the walk rate, Scott’s impressive fastball, sweeper, and cutter will play at an even higher level. I am excited to see Scott’s continued progress over the course of the season. 
• Finding much more success in 2026, Andre Pallante looks to be another tough task for New York’s lineup. Sporting a 3.96 ERA, Pallante’s best pitch is his slider. The right-handed pitcher has struck out 26 batters with the pitch and has only allowed 15 total hits on 86 plate attempts. Add in Pallante’s 51.5% ground ball rate, and the Cardinals have a pitcher who can strike batters out and not give up fly balls.

Thursday: TBD vs. Hunter Dobbins (1-0, 2.77 ERA)

• As of the writing of this article, the Mets have not announced a starting pitcher for Thursday’s series finale. It wouldn’t be surprising to see David Peterson get some bulk work here.
• To wrap up this series, the Mets will face Hunter Dobbins, formerly of the Boston Red Sox. Only making his fourth start for the Cardinals in this series, Dobbins is coming off an appearance where he struck out six batters over five shutout innings. His sinker has been his best pitch, but Dobbins has relied on six pitches through 13 innings in 2026. A pitcher without too many tendencies to key in on, I am fascinated to see how New York attacks Dobbins on Thursday. 

Carson Benge by Berto Carlo

The Main Storyline

Ahead of this series, my main storyline is all about the Mets’ chase of the NL Wild Card.

Despite the awful level New York has played at for the majority of the season, they are somehow just five games removed from a playoff spot. Expanding things a bit further, they are six and a half games out of the second NL Wild Card spot.

As fate would have it, the Mets’ positive momentum, sparked by Carson Benge and friends, coincides with the team playing many of the teams they are trying to chase down. From today’s date until the end of the month, New York plays the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Toronto Blue Jays.

Outside of the trip to Canada, the Mets have 19 games against teams in the National League. They have nine divisional games and play four of the teams ahead of them in the Wild Card standings.

It is a stretch that could vault New York back into the playoff discussion, especially if they go on a run for the majority of June. On the other hand, it is a slate of games that could bury the Mets for good in 2026.

To keep it short, this group of games will likely help to dictate the ultimate fate of the Mets, one way or the other. For that reason alone, it is my main headline of the week.

Player to Watch 

In the latest early week series for the Mets, I am concentrating on Juan Soto.

As the calendar moves closer to the middle of June, New York will be tasked with many teams that they are chasing in the NL Wild Card standings. Without Francisco Lindor and other contributors in the lineup, Soto needs to find his spark once again to help keep things rolling for the Mets to start off the week.

Whether it is drawing walks or lacing baseballs all over the field, Soto needs to be the catalyst in the middle of the order for New York. The level at which he performs those tasks will dictate how this series goes for New York.

Prediction

In their series against the Cardinals, I have the Mets winning two of three games.

The post Series Preview: Mets Host the Blossoming Cardinals appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

After a decisive sweep of the Miami Marlins, the Mets are out of the NL East cellar as they head out to the West Coast once again. Up first is a three-game set with the Seattle Mariners, who sport one of the best starting rotations in baseball.

There is plenty to dive into, and there is no time to waste! Without further ado, let us dive into the latest series preview for the New York Mets.

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Monday: Austin Warren (1-1, 1.40 ERA) vs. Emerson Hancock (4-2, 2.78 ERA) 

• Rolling with a bullpen game on Monday, the Mets will send Austin Warren to the hill to start things off against the Mariners. Sporting a 1.40 ERA on the year, Warren has a 27.8% strikeout rate and relies heavily on his sinker to get batters out. It will be fascinating to see how this game plays out, but Warren has a chance to start things on a high note for the Mets.
• New York is getting thrown right into the fire to start this series, as they face a great pitcher in Emerson Hancock. Sporting a 2.78 ERA on the year, the righty has found success with his four-seam fastball (.169 BA, 37.8 strikeout rate), sinker, and cutter. Hancock does not throw extremely hard, but he mixes his pitches well and finds a way to get outs. This will be a nice challenge for the Mets’ lineup. 

Tuesday: Jonah Tong (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Logan Gilbert (3-4, 3.69 ERA)

• While it’s not confirmed yet how Jonah Tong will appear (start or bulk role), he will receive most of the pitching duties on Tuesday. Since getting called up, Tong has been rock solid for the Mets. He has been avoiding barrels at a high rate, limiting hard contact (30% hard hit rate), and has kept the ball on the ground (55.0% rate). Tong needs to improve on his control and find a way to generate more whiffs, but he has shown the talent to do so throughout his pro career. Facing the Mariners could be a great spot for the young pitcher to take yet another step in his development. 
• More of your traditional strikeout artist, Logan Gilbert, is a different type of test for the Mets in Game 2 of this series. Utilizing his 100th percentile extension of 7.6%, Gilbert has struck out 69 batters in 68.1 innings pitched. He is not walking batters either, as his rate of 5.8% is in the 87th percentile of pitchers this season. The Mets could do damage if they make contact, as Gilbert’s hard hit rate sits at 45.7%. However, it will be another test to see if New York can force the Mariners’ pitcher into disadvantageous situations.

Wednesday: Freddy Peralta (3-4, 3.55 ERA) vs. George Kirby (5-4, 3.77 ERA)

• The up-and-down season of Freddy Peralta continues. Facing the Marlins once again on May 29, the right-handed pitcher lasted 4.2 innings and gave up seven hits. However, he struck out five batters and only gave up two earned runs. While he has struck out batters in 2026, Peralta keeps having blow-up innings or cannot give the Mets length. For New York to climb out of the cellar, they need the best version of a pitcher seen as a bona fide ace just a year ago. Peralta has the talent to do so, but he needs to execute at a high level consistently. Wednesday will be another chance for the right-hander to try to find that.
• To wrap up this series, the Mets will face another dynamic pitcher in the form of George Kirby. Rocking a 3.77 ERA. Kirby has used his six-pitch mix to generate ground balls (52.3% rate) at an extremely high level. He does not walk batters very much (5.7% rate) and avoids barrels (5.4% rate), while also generating a very high chase rate of 35.8%. While Kirby does not generate strikeouts at a high level, he pitches in a way that could be effective against the contact-focused Mets. Once again, this is a game that will challenge New York.

Carson Benge & A.J. Ewing by Berto Carlo

The Main Storyline

Ahead of this series, my main storyline is whether the Mets can finally keep the positive momentum rolling.

The lineup has started to find depth and consistency. The pitching has been very effective, especially the bullpen. And, as a result, the Mets have started to string together wins.

However, New York has fluctuated between despair and positivity all season long. One week, they will do everything right, and, instead of building on their successes, will fall back to the play that leads to losses. It has worked the other way as well; when all has seemed lost, the Mets have found a way to battle their way to victory.

In a vacuum, the inconsistency of the Mets is not too surprising, especially as they start to rely on younger players as key contributors and deal with injuries. Baseball does not exist in a vacuum, though, and unfortunately for the Mets, they have to overcome one of the worst months a team has had in 2026. They cannot afford inconsistency and must find a way to fight their way back to relevancy. As a result, this is my main storyline of the week.

Player to Watch 

In the latest early week series for the Mets, I am focusing on the “Psycopaths,” also known as Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing.

The duo, between their offense, baserunning, and defense, has been instrumental for the Mets. They play with a high level of energy that has been infectious in the Mets’ clubhouse.

It is unfair, at least in most situations, for the Mets to put so much of the burden on these two rookies. However, both Benge and Ewing are showing that they are more than capable of living up to the moment and expectations. Along with Juan Soto, New York has gone as Benge and Ewing have gone. They have earned the distinction of being the players to watch this week.

Prediction

In their series against the Mariners, I have the Mets winning two of three games.

The post Series Preview: Mets Bring the Hot Bats to Seattle appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

New York was swept out of Miami by the Marlins over Memorial Day weekend, and it was not a pretty showing on offense. Scoring two total runs in three games, the Mets looked lost and overmatched consistently. The pitching did all it could to save the day, but it was to no avail. By the end of the series, New York was firmly back in last place in the NL East.

A new series is on the horizon, though, as the Mets welcome the Cincinnati Reds to Citi Field for a three-game set. What awaits New York in these matchups? And can the Mets get back on track in the right direction?

It is time to find out, as another early-week series preview is here!

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Monday: Nolan McLean (2-3, 2.92 ERA) vs. Nick Lodolo (0-1, 7.20 ERA) 

• Nolan McLean, for really the first time in his career, is coming off a clunker. Facing the Washington Nationals, the right-handed pitcher allowed nine runs, with six of them earned, in 5.2 innings pitched. McLean allowed eight hits and walked two batters, but also managed to strike out five batters. If not for James Wood‘s inside-the-park grand slam, there is a good chance McLean can settle in and record a quality start. Outside of this past blow-up outing against the Nationals, the Mets’ ace has mostly shut down opposing lineups this season. McLean’s arsenal has been rock solid, as has his command outside of the sporadic walk. Returning home to face the Reds, this is an ideal rebound opportunity for the right-handed pitcher. 
• In three starts this year, Nick Lodolo has not been the successful, 20525 version of himself. Holding a 7.20 ERA, Lodolo has not allowed fewer than three runs in an outing in 2026. He has allowed barrels at a very high rate (19%) and is not missing bats at a high rate. The Mets have an opportunity to capitalize on Lodolo’s slow start and string together hits.

Tuesday: TBD vs. Chase Burns (6-1, 1.83 ERA)

• New York has yet to announce its probable starter for the second game of this series.
• Chase Burns has been one of the best pitchers in the sport in 2026, pitching to a 6-1 record and a 1.83 ERA in 10 starts. Burns has a strikeout rate of 28.2%, a whiff rate of 34.7%, and has induced a chase rate of 33.1%. Oh, and his slider alone has generated 44 strikeouts this year. Batters are mustering just a .186 BA against Burns’ fastball (.234 xBA) and a .137 BA against his slider (.148 xBA). Only Juan Soto has a positive run value against the four-seamer in 2026 (plus eight, .310 BA), with Brett Baty next at net zero and a .273 batting average against. Mark Vientos and Soto each have plus one run values against the slider, but are both hitting .231 and .235 against the pitch, respectively.

Wednesday: TBD vs. Andrew Abbott (4-2, 3.97 ERA)

• As of the writing of this article, a starter has not been announced for Wednesday’s game for the New York Mets.
• Abbott had a rough April (7.22 ERA in six starts), but he has been rock-solid in May. Through four starts, the lefty has a 3-0 record and has given up two total earned runs in 22 innings. He has 14 strikeouts in that time as well, using a four-pitch combination that relies heavily on a fastball and sweeper. The Mets have had their struggles against lefties in 2026, hitting just .223/.291/.357 in 42 games.

Carson Benge & A.J. Ewing by Berto Carlo

The Main Storyline

Ahead of this series, my main storyline is once again simple: Can the New York Mets’ lineup find its way once more?

Following a hot streak in the middle of May, the bats cooled off considerably against the Marlins; New York only scored two total runs in their three games in Miami. This quiet offensive performance was for a variety of reasons. Miami’s defense made countless plays, such as Jakob Marsee robbing Carson Benge of multiple extra-base hits.

However, New York’s batters did not execute in the vast majority of situations. They squandered a large number of runners on base and never looked quite comfortable with the strike zone.

The Mets’ pitching, even when they have given up a run here or there, has been rock solid overall. Rather, New York’s momentum has all but stalled due to the disappearance of any consistent hitting production.

There have been plenty of injuries to this roster, and in recent days, New York has dealt with an illness running through their locker room. But as unfair as it may seem, the rest of the team has to step up if New York wants any chance to have a truly good season.

Yes, that means A.J. Ewing will have to continue to be the spark plug. Yes, that means that Carson Benge will have to continue to get on base at a high clip. And yes, that means the likes of Bo Bichette, Brett Baty, and Mark Vientos need to play at a high level.

Until some, or all, of those things happen, the Mets will continue to fall behind in the standings. And as a result, this is my main storyline of the week.

Player to Watch 

In the latest early week series for the Mets, I am focusing on Carson Benge as my “Player to Watch.”

For the Mets to win multiple games in the series, Benege will have to continue to get on base at a high clip. He will also have to cut down on the strikeouts and make consistent contact against the Reds. Benge is a major piece of this lineup, and as unfair as it may be for the rookie, his performance will dictate a lot for this team against the Reds.

Prediction

In their series against the Reds, I have the Mets losing two of three games.

The post Series Preview: Mets Look to Rebound Against Reds appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

On a day where the pitching was great for eight of nine innings, New York’s bats fell silent once again in the 305. And as it has many times, the Mets’ inability to string together at-bats sealed their fate in this one.

Loading the bases in the ninth inning, Devin Williams hung a change-up, which was crushed 416 feet by Heriberto Hernández for the walk-off grand slam. In one swing, the Mets’ pitching staff went from allowing zero runs on the day to four, and saw their team get swept as a result.

Final: Marlins 4, Mets 0
…yeah, that’s a fitting way for this one to end. Heriberto Hernández crushes a hanging changeup for a walk off grand slam. The Mets’ pitching held out for 8 innings, but the lineup’s struggles were too much to overcome. New York goes 0-3 on the weekend. pic.twitter.com/mL0enOSvbl

— Brandyn Pokrass (@BPok24) May 24, 2026

For a large chunk of this game, as stated earlier, the Mets’ pitching was lights-out.

On the hill to start for New York on Sunday was Christian Scott, and despite the lineup faltering the right-handed pitcher took another step toward becoming his best self for the Mets.

Over 5 2/3 innings pitched, Scott only allowed four hits and two walks. He struck out five batters and did not allow a run, dropping his ERA on the season to 3.20.

On multiple occasions, Scott escaped multiple situations where multiple runners were on base with less than two outs. And on each occasion, Scott kept his composure and went right after the Marlins’ batters.

The version of Scott that showed himself on Sunday may not have been perfect, but he was solid and gave the Mets a chance to win the baseball game. If the starting pitcher can continue to progress and build off this start, he will be a great asset to the Mets this season and going forward.

In the bullpen, Huascar Brazobán, Brooks Raley, and Luke Weaver worked around danger and kept the game tied up. On a different day, that would have been enough.

Scott, facing Owen Caissie, struck him out with the sweeper. He then got Kyle Stowers to ground out to end the inning. Really good job by the RHP to escape allowing any runs in the inning. After 3, the score remains 0-0. https://t.co/V2IYA0VgtE

— Brandyn Pokrass (@BPok24) May 24, 2026

However, Sunday’s game was a struggle for the same reason the other two games were. New York’s lineup simply could not get anything rolling on a consistent basis.

Totaling five hits as a team, every inning for the Metropolitans felt like déjà vu. New York would notch a baserunner, and instead of driving in said baserunner, they would squander the opportunity. Whether it was a flyout on a ball with an expected batting average over .400, a back-breaking double play, or a caught stealing, it felt like New York could simply never get that “big” hit. And with the Mets’ pitching shutting down Miami for most of the game, the lack of success was that much more crushing.

Outside of a few weeks in May where the lineup looked to have turned things around, this struggle has been the Mets’ reality in 2026. Some hitters did some positive things in the game, and the series, but the overall unit was not good enough. Until that fact changes, the Mets’ record will not improve.

They cannot, as A.J. Ewing strikes out on a 98.8 MPH fastball from Michael Petersen. Score remains 0-0 heading to the bottom of the 7th. (Also, Bichette's ball had an xBA of .470, while Torrens's ball was .460 for xBA. Not NY's day, or series, once again.) https://t.co/MogS1AoE37

— Brandyn Pokrass (@BPok24) May 24, 2026

Even in the worst of stretches, there are always some positives, no matter how small. And for the Metts, those positives keep coming from A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge.

While Benge did not have his best day at the plate, his walk and stolen base gave the Mets their best chance at scoring in the game against Miami. He continues to battle at the plate, and even when it is not his best day, Benge puts the Mets in a position to make winning plays on the offensive side of the ball.

When it comes to Ewing, the rookie had positive moments on both sides of the game. The center fielder recorded two hits and stole a base, giving New York baserunners multiple times in a game where they were scarce. And in the field, Ewing made an incredible throw to nail Javier Sanoja at the plate, keeping the game tied at 0 in the seventh.

A.J. Ewing does great things on a baseball field every game. What a throw from the CF to nail the runner at the plate, keeping this game a 0-0 tie. #Mets pic.twitter.com/Szi2Lv6lEk

— Brandyn Pokrass (@BPok24) May 24, 2026

These moements are great for the future of the Mets, as Benge and Ewing should share the outfield alongside Juan Soto for the forseeable future. But in the present, they have not been enough to overcome the other struggles the team has faced. Until the overall roster for New York shows improvement, especially on the hitting side, it is hard to see how things can consistently get better.

The post Mets Swept By Marlins Following Walk-Off Slam appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

New York dropped the second game of the series to Miami by a score of 4-1, moving them to 22-30 on the season. It was a game that emphasized the slim margin that New York has to operate within, mainly due to their poor start to the season.

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

New York sent Freddy Peralta to the mound, and unlike many of his starts this season, immediately ran into trouble. Miami jumped on New York’s frontline starter early, as Owen Caissie made it a 2-0 game in the bottom of the second with a double down the right field line. They extended the lead to 3-0 in the third inning, as Liam Hicks took a hanging curveball 389 feet to right field for his 10th home run of the season. Hicks then did it once again in the 5th, making it a 4-0 game.

Despite striking out nine batters across seven innings pitched, Peralta’s stuff was picked up by Miami. The seven hits he allowed were not scattered, but in bunches early in the game. He had two walks and gave up two home runs, meaning that he extended innings for Miami and gave them instant offense. It was enough damage done early against the Mets ace to secure a series win for the Marlins.

However, the pitching cannot be expected to be perfect every game, and the team’s starters will sometimes have days where they give up four runs. As a result, a large portion of the blame on Saturday falls to the starting lineup.

The Mets had three total hits in this matchup against the Marlins. The second hit came on a Tyrone Taylor double in the ninth inning, which was followed by a Mark Vientos single to make it 4-1. Max Meyer dominated over seven innings pitched, striking out eight batters. He did issue three walks and hit a batter, but New York’s lineup did next to nothing with those opportunities.

Following Meyer, Anthony Bender carved up the Mets in his inning, striking out the side on 14 pitches. And while New York got a few more hits in the ninth inning, it was not nearly enough to get them back in the ballgame.

The meager offense has been the storyline of the entire series. The Mets have been held to just three runs over 18 innings against the Marlins. Meyer did enter Saturday’s start with a 2.85 ERA, but Eury Pérez entered Friday’s start with an ERA of 5.33. The past two days were more indicative of April’s struggles than the 7.33 runs averaged over the Mets previous nine games.

It’s hard to label a game as “must win” in May, but Sunday’s series finale sure feels that way for the Mets. Tey need a strong performance to get back on track. Otherwise, the wheels will start to fall off the proverbial bus again, and the Mets will fall back to nine games under .500.

On Deck

Christian Scott gets the ball in Sunday’s finale against the Marlins. The right-hander is coming off his four-inning outing where he allowed three earned runs against the Nationals. The Marlins have yet to announce a starter. First pitch is at 1:40 PM. The game will be televised on SNY and broadcasted on WHSQ 880 AM.

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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.

Prediction

In their series against the Nationals, I have the Mets winning three of four games.

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Following their series with the Diamondbacks, the Mets firmly have the worst record in baseball at 15-25. While the pitching has actually been pretty solid, the lineup has been abysmal for the vast majority of the season up to this point. New York makes any and all pitchers look competent, and there is zero margin for error for any aspect of the team.

Welcoming the Tigers to Citi Field, the Mets have a chance to take a series and inch closer to that vaunted mark of .500. Or, they could be bad once again and get booed off the field by their own fans. What outcome will occur? And what are the main things to watch? Will the latest rookie provide some juice? As always, it is time to find out in the latest series preview for the New York Mets!

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Tuesday: Freddy Peralta (2-3, 3.12 ERA) vs. Jack Flaherty (0-3, 5.56 ERA) 

• A very interesting 2026 season continued for Freddy Peralta in his last start against the Colorado Rockies. The right-handed pitcher threw five innings of shutout baseball, only allowing four hits in the process. However, he only struck out one batter and walked two batters during his innings of work. Like so many players on the 2026 New York Mets, Peralta has had flashes of his usual dominance, especially when it comes to his ability to strike out batters. However, there have been more moments of inconsistency for him, whether it has been him losing command of the strike zone or stalling out earlier than usual in games. The Tigers, like many of his starts this season, pose an interesting test for Peralta, and I am very interested to see how he fares.
• Have things been easy for Jack Flaherty in 2026? Absolutely not. Outside of a 25.9% strikeout rate and an expected batting average allowed of .217, almost all of the pitcher’s underlying and standard statistics have been poor this year. However, Flaherty is coming off an outing against the Red Sox where he struck out 10 batters. And as of late, the Mets have been the fountain of youth and success for opposing pitchers. Unless the Mets’ lineup fully clicks, the right-handed pitcher should be able to find success on Tuesday.

Wednesday: TBD vs. TBD

• As of the writing of this article, a starter has not been announced for Wednesday’s game for the New York Mets. However, based on the rotation up to this point of the season, there is a good chance Christian Scott makes this start.
• Just like the Mets, the Tigers have not announced a start for the second game of this series. Framber Valdez is expected back Wednesday or Thursday after his six-game suspension for throwing at Trevor Story.

Thursday: TBD vs. TBD

• At the risk of repeating myself, the Mets do not have an announced starter for the finale of the series against the Tigers. If the Mets keep their same cycle through the rotation, this game should see Nolan McLean taking the mound.
• Detroit, in the Thursday game of this series, does not have a starter announced for the last game of the series against the Mets.

The Main Storyline

Ahead of this series, my main storyline is less of a question, but more of a statement. That statement, of course, is for the Mets to prioritize playing their young players. 

With A.J. Ewing on his way to Queens, the time is now for the Mets to let their younger players play every day and gain a foothold at the highest professional level. Ewing, outside of some off days here and there, should have the runway to fail and grow as a player. Carson Benge should have the ability to face lefties and play almost every day, giving him a great shot to continue the momentum he has built over the past few weeks.

This can extend to so many other players, ranging from Mark Vientos to even a pitcher like Jonah Tong at the minor league level. New York playing bottom-tier veterans and journeymen is not helping anything; as a matter of fact, one could argue that those players have made things worse. New York has a deep farm system and plenty of players who are either ready for a shot at the majors or will be ready very soon.

The Mets are one of the worst teams in baseball, and there have been no signs of a legitimate turnaround relying on the veterans. If now is not deemed the time to start giving the keys to the younger players on this team, real questions need to be asked about what the direction of the Mets is. As a result, this is my main storyline of the week.

Player to Watch 

In this early week series, the newly called-up A.J. Ewing is my main player to watch.

I am intrigued to see where Ewing plays on defense, especially considering the fact that he can play both the infield and outfield. At the plate, Ewing’s bat speed and contact ability are the main things to watch, as they are potential game-changers for a Mets lineup that needs a spark in the worst way. Overall, Ewing’s play is worth monitoring, and I am very excited to see how he fares.

Prediction

In their series against the Tigers, I have the Mets winning two of three games, thanks to their pitching and (finally) some timely hitting.

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After winning a series against the Los Angeles Angels, New York travels to Colorado to face the Rockies. It is a prime opportunity to start stacking wins and right the ship; however, it is a series that could kill all of the team’s momentum once again.

How does New York stack up for the first early week series of May? And can they continue to build positive momentum?

It is time to find out if the Force is with the Mets (Happy Star Wars Day!) Without further ado, let’s dive into another series preview!

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Monday: Huascar Brazobán (2-0, 1.15 ERA) vs. Tomoyuki Sugano (3-1, 2.84 ERA) 

• Huascar Brazobán will act as the opener for Monday’s game. In his postgame press conference on Sunday, manager Carlos Mendoza said that the Mets would use an opener in this matchup, followed by David Peterson. 
• Is the production of Tomoyuki Sugano real? That is a fantastic question, as the Rockies’ pitcher is a perfect example of the difference between basic and underlying numbers. On the surface, Sugano has been lights out, holding a 3-1 record with a 2.84 ERA. However, he is allowing a hard hit rate of 44.6%, has an expected ERA of 5.54, and has a strikeout rate under 20%. Sugano’s saving grace has been his ground-ball rate and a very low walk rate of 6.9%, which has offset some of the other worrying advanced stats he has accumulated. Pitching at Coors Field on Monday, Sugano will likely be helped by the cold conditions and snow(?!?!) in the forecast. However, this is still a game where the Mets’ lineup needs to do some damage.

Wednesday: Freddy Peralta (1-3, 3.52 ERA)  vs. Michael Lorenzen (2-3, 6.09 ERA)

• Freddy Peralta has been very solid through seven starts, but there is room for improvement for one of New York’s biggest offseason additions. The good from Peralta’s last start against the Nationals was that he only allowed one earned run and struck out six batters. The bad, however, was that he issued three walks and allowed three total runs. Instead of flaming out late in the game, Peralta struggled early on and gave Washington a chance to jump ahead early. The right-hander has had way more positives than negatives in 2026, with his whiff rate (30.1%), strikeout rate (25.6%), and barrel rate (4.8%) standing out as positives. And while I do not expect him to be perfect, Peralta has walked three batters in four of his starts and has not gotten past the sixth inning once. If he can be a bit more consistent with his command while still striking out batters at a high rate, I think Peralta can hit another gear this season.
• Michael Lorenzen went seven innings of work and only allowed one run in his start against the Mets on April 24. In his other starts this season, the Rockies’ pitcher has allowed three runs or more on four different occasions. He also, outside of his start against the Mets, has not gone past the sixth inning. There is literally no reason the Mets’ lineup should not score two runs, at a minimum, off Lorenzen in this game.

Thursday: Christian Scott (0-0, 4.26 ERA) vs. Jose Quintana (1-2, 4.07 ERA) 

• Christian Scott may have begun to find himself again. Facing the Angels in his second start, the right-handed pitcher struck out eight batters and did not issue a walk, but he did hit a batter. Outside of the first inning, where he allowed three hits and two runs, Scott did not allow a hit. His fastball generated four of his strikeouts, his sweeper notched three, and his splitter had one strikeout. The outing was a nice reminder of why Scott had so much hype when he first arrived in Queens for the first time. He has the arsenal to dominate outings and the ceiling to round into a consistently good player for the Mets. How Scott builds upon this outing will be fascinating to watch, and given the team’s start to 2026, the Mets should allow Scott to get as many starts as possible.
• Like Lorenzen, Jose Quintana had one of the best starts of his 2026 season against the Mets. Unlike his teammate, though, the left-handed pitcher has seemingly started to find a bit of a groove. Facing the Braves on May 1, Quintana went six innings, allowed only one run, and struck out three batters. He has done a very good job limiting hard hits (33.3%) and has generated a 31.3% chase rate. New York will have a chance to do some damage, as Quintana is not keeping the ball on the ground and does not strike batters out at a high clip (11.4%). However, Quintana is a left-hander, and the Mets have not hit a lefty since before I was born (a possible exaggeration, but maybe not). This will be a very interesting battle to watch unfold.

Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images

The Main Storyline

After winning a series against the Angels, my main storyline to watch is whether the Mets can build upon their success.

I am keenly watching to see how the lineup moves forward after multiple games where the hitting was successful. Can Bo Bichette and Mark Vientos hit their stride? Can Carson Benge continue to be the spark plug that he has started to show flashes of at the major league level? If the Mets can find some solid ground as a lineup, it would drastically help their fortunes.

On the pitching side of things, New York needs to avoid the blown saves or blowup starts. Outside of the games where the lineup has not shown up, New York’s losses have been via a starter imploding on the mound or the bullpen not getting the job done. Things should not be expected to be perfect, but New York needs to ensure that the pitching at least gives the lineup a chance every night.

Up to this point in the season, New York’s 12-22 record shows they have not been able to do anything positive consistently. They can only start to climb out of the cavern they have dug by playing rock-solid, complementary baseball, and nothing short of that. For all of those reasons, the Mets’ ability to build upon their minimal success from the weekend is my main headline.

Player to Watch 

In this early week series, Mark Vientos is my player to watch. The infielder carried the Mets’ lineup on Sunday against the Angels, hitting two extremely pivotal home runs that helped secure the victory. If, and this is a MAJOR if, Vientos can sustain his production, New York will have gained some real teeth in their lineup out of the blue. It may be a fool’s errand to trust Vientos, but New York needs his production now more than ever.

Prediction

In their series against the Rockies, I have the Mets winning two of three, beginning their slow, arduous climb out of the cellar of the National League. In other words, I am ready to be hurt again.

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