Monday, June 2, 2025 • 10:10 PM
Dodger Stadium • Los Angeles, CA
RHP Paul Blackburn (0-0, -.–) vs. RHP Dustin May (3-4, 4.20)
WPIX • MLBN

The Mets head west to start a four-game series against the Dodgers. At stake is the season tie-breaker. If the Dodgers and Mets both end up as Wild Card teams, the winner of the tie-breaker will earn a more favorable scenario come the playoffs.

Right now, the Mets have a 2-1 season series lead. The Dodgers won the first game of the series after a long rain delay in a game that went 13 innings, depleting both bullpens. The Mets then picked up wins in the next two games, both nationally televised. A win today for the Mets would be their third in a row against the Dodgers and fourth in a row overall.

Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

  1. Francisco Lindor, SS
  2. Brandon Nimmo, LF
  3. Juan Soto, RF
  4. Pete Alonso, 1B
  5. Jared Young, DH
  6. Brett Baty, 3B
  7. Tyrone Taylor, CF
  8. Jeff McNeil, 2B
  9. Francisco Alvarez, C

Paul Blackburn makes his 2025 debut this evening. The Mets acquired Blackburn in a trade at the deadline last year from the Athletics. He had mixed success last season. In three starts for the Mets, he allowed two runs or fewer. He allowed 12 runs in his other two starts, which overwhelmed his season stats (5.18 ERA, 4.69 FIP, 1.562 WHIP, 76 ERA+ over 24 1/3 innings).

Blackburn is coming back from a terrifying injury. He got hit in the hand by a comebacker at the end of August, which initially sidelined him. While he was rehabbing from that injury, it was discovered that he had a spinal fluid leak and needed back surgery. He had a specific version of the surgery that would allow him to continue to pitch. He was ready to go in the spring, but a knee injury sidelined him until now. Over seven starts in the minors, he has pitched 29 1/3 innings with a 3.68 ERA and 1.091 WHIP. The Dodgers have the following career numbers against him:

Opposing Lineup

  1. Shohei Ohtani, DH
  2. Teoscar Hernández, RF
  3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
  4. Andy Pages, CF
  5. Max Muncy, 3B
  6. Michael Conforto, LF
  7. Tommy Edman, 2B
  8. Dalton Rushing, C
  9. Hyeseong Kim, SS

The Mets’ bats will look to keep their power surge going against Dustin May tonight. Over 10 games and 55 2/3 innings, May has a 4.20 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 1.240 WHIP and a 93 ERA+. May missed the Mets a couple of weeks ago. Home runs are the issue for May right now. He gave up at least one home run in every start in May (six homers in five starts), and the homers have essentially determined whether he had a quality or not start. He is hitting his stride with strikeouts, getting 25 punchouts in his last three starts (16 innings). The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

  • Pete Alonso 2-3
  • Brett Baty 1-2
  • Francisco Lindor 0-2
  • Starling Marte 0-3
  • Jeff McNeil 2-3, 2B
  • Brandon Nimmo 1-5, 2 K
  • Juan Soto 1-9, 2B, 3 BB, 2 K
  • Luis Torrens 0-2

Game Notes

  • Before Monday’s game, the team officially activated RHP Paul Blackburn off the IL for his first start of the year. To make room for him, the team announced they optioned RHP Chris Devenski to Syracuse.
  • Brooks Raley, recovering from Tommy John surgery, started facing live hitters in batting practice According to Mike Puma of the NY Post,  he might be in minor league games later this month.
  • Laura Albanese of Newsday reports Sean Manaea threw 29 pitches in live BP Monday. If all goes well after, the Mets will determine if if he needs another session before starting his rehab assignment.
  • Entering Monday, the Mets have won six of their last eight regular season games at Dodger Stadium.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Juan Soto. Hope all the baseball pundits writing negative think pieces about Soto are ready because he’s on a hot streak now. After going hitless in four straight games, he has three extra-base hits in his last three games. This past weekend, he went 4-for-9 at the plate with a double, two home runs, two walks and four runs scored (.444/.583/1.222).
  2. Home runs. Power has been the Mets’ salvation for the last three days. The Mets have hit eight homers. On Saturday, the homers piled onto a big lead. On Sunday, the Mets’ homers played key in a pivotal comeback victory. May has allowed six home runs over his last five starts. The Mets have won the last 26 games in a row where Lindor has homered, and he homered three times over two games this past weekend.
  3. Containing Shohei. Ohtani has seen Blackburn plenty during their AL West days. Ohtani is having another Ohtani season with 22 home runs already (good for second in the league behind Cal Raleigh). The Dodgers’ offense runs through Ohtani who has already scored 63 times (league-leading, Judge is the next closest at 55). The Mets attacked Ohtani head-on a couple of weeks ago, and he went 2-for-13 that weekend with a solo home run and two runs scored.

Let’s go Mets!