Game Chat: Orioles vs Mets, 7:10 PM

Monday, September 14, 2026 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Brandon Young (9-4, 3.71) vs. RHP Jonah Tong (2-1, 4.80)
SNY

A big reunion is happening at Citi Field tonight. Pete Alonso returns to Queens for the first time since signing a massive contract with the Orioles in the offseason. The Mets did not offer fan-favorite Pete Alonso a contract, essentially cutting ties with their franchise home run leader. Alonso comes to town with the Orioles chasing a playoff spot. The Mets are out of it for this season, but have been playing much better baseball for the last six weeks. Should be a fun series with old friends getting to see each other!

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

Francisco Lindor, SS
Juan Soto, LF
Bo Bichette, 3B
Carson Benge, RF
Jared Young, DH
Marcus Semien, 2B
A.J. Ewing, CF
Brett Baty, 1B
Francisco Alvarez, C

Starting Pitcher: Jonah Tong

Jonah Tong has pitched in four games for the Mets this season, totaling 15 innings with a 4.80 ERA, 4.77 FIP, 1.333 WHIP and an 88 ERA+. He allowed four runs over five innings against the Marlins last week in his return to the rotation while striking out seven batters. Tong struck out the side to start the game, allowed four runs in the second inning, and then didn’t allow any more runs for the rest of the start. This will be Tong’s first start against the Orioles, and no one on the Orioles has faced Tong in a major league game.

Opposing Lineup

Dylan Beavers, LF
Pete Alonso, 1B
Gunnar Henderson, SS
Coby Mayo, 3B
Jackson Holliday, 2B
Christian Encarnacion-Strand, DH
Heston Kjerstad, RF
Colton Cowser, CF
Carlos Narváez, C

Brandon Young has made 25 starts, pitching 140 2/3 innings for the Orioles this season with a 3.71 ERA, 4.51 FIP, 1.351 WHIP and a 111 ERA+. He’s coming off a rough start, allowing six runs over 3 2/3 innings to Cleveland. In his last two starts combined, he has allowed nine runs on 12 hits, including three home runs over 10 1/3 innings. Before that, he allowed only three runs over 12 2/3 innings. The Mets hitters have the following career stats against Young:

Brett Baty 2-2, 2B
Bo Bichette 0-3, 2 K
Francisco Lindor 0-3
Christopher Morel 0-2, BB, K
Marcus Semien 1-3, 2B, BB
Juan Soto 1-2, K
Luis Torrens 0-2, K

Game Notes

Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso enter the night sitting at 299 career home runs. Per Sarah Langs of MLB, there has only been one game in major league history where two hitters hit their 300th career home run in the same game. Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye did it for the White Sox in 2009, even going back-to-back.

Three Things To Watch For

Pete Alonso. Pete Alonso is having another Pete Alonso season. He has a 4.1 bWAR, his highest since his 4.4 bWAR in 2022. He is currently leading the American League with 100 RBIs and has smashed 35 homers. His 143 OPS+ is right up there with his 144 OPS+ in 2025. Pete Alonso was lighting the world on fire in a 16-game stretch in the middle of August where he had nine home runs (.484/.543/.952). He’s cooled off a bit since then, hitting only three home runs and slashing .213/.355/.361.
Shaking off Sunday. The Mets’ bats exploded on Saturday, belting six home runs. Sunday was the exact opposite, with the Mets only picking up three hits. Overall, the Mets’ bats have looked pretty good of late and they had a tough pitching matchup on Sunday. Shake it off and come back stronger today.
Milestone watch. Francisco Lindor is one home run away from 300 on his career. Carson Benge is three home runs away from a 20-20 season. Both would be nice career marks to close out the season!