Monday, May 25, 2026 • 4:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
LHP Nick Lodolo (0-1, 7.20) vs. RHP Nolan McLean (2-3, 3.57)
SNY

The Mets are coming off a terrible road trip after a sweep in Miami and hope to turn things around back home. In the last four games, the Mets have scored four runs and have lost the last three. On Sunday, the Mets fell apart in the bottom of the ninth, a game that was 0-0 going into that frame. Things are bleak, and last weekend’s comeback against the Yankees feels like a century ago.

The only thing that fixes this is winning games. For the Mets, that means scoring runs. It’s a dreary Memorial Day in Queens, but maybe the Mets’ bats can provide some sunshine.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

  1. Carson Benge, DH
  2. Bo Bichette, SS
  3. Mark Vientos, 1B
  4. Marcus Semien, 2B
  5. A.J. Ewing, CF
  6. Tyrone Taylor, RF
  7. Nick Morabito, LF
  8. Brett Baty, 3B
  9. Luis Torrens, C

Starting Pitcher: Nolan McLean

Nolan McLean looks to bounce back from his last start, where he allowed nine runs, six earned, over 5 2/3 innings against the Nationals. It was a weird game and felt more fluky than anything else. Overall, McLean has made 10 starts in 2026, totaling 58 innings with a 3.57 ERA, 3.19 FIP, 1.034 WHIP and a 111 ERA+. This will be McLean’s first start against the Reds, and the only hitter on the Reds who has faced McLean is Eugenio Suárez (0-for-2, K).

Opposing Lineup

  1. Blake Dunn, CF
  2. Elly De La Cruz, SS
  3. JJ Bleday, LF
  4. Sal Stewart, 3B
  5. Eugenio Suárez, DH
  6. Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
  7. Spencer Steer, RF
  8. Tyler Stephenson, C
  9. Matt McLain, 2B

Nick Lodolo has only made three starts this season, totaling 15 innings with a 7.20 ERA, 7.48 FIP, 1.533 WHIP and a 61 ERA+. Lodolo has been sidelined with a recurring blister issue that started late in spring training and popped up again the first week of April. He’s coming off his best start of the season, where he allowed three runs from three hits and five walks over 5 2/3 innings. He is not the same pitcher he was last season (3.33 ERA, 136 ERA+). The Mets have the following career stats against him:

Game Notes

Juan Soto sits his second consecutive game with flu-like symptoms.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Hits with RISP. The Mets struggled across the board in almost every offensive category this past weekend. Yesterday, they managed to get five hits and walk five times, an improvement from the back-to-back games wherethey had three hits in each game. They even got runners in scoring position yesterday, but then went 0-for-8 with RISP and stranded 10 runners. Fully demoralizing. There were some positive signs, like Ewing getting his third stolen base and Benge getting his ninth. The Mets have to get runners home this afternoon.
  2. Marcus Semien. The Mets have to get Marcus Semien going at the plate. He’s hitting .214/.263/.297 with a 61 OPS+. His OPS+ has never been this low before, and his .560 OPS is by far the lowest in his career (.750 career OPS). In Miami, Semien went 0-for-10. In the eight games before that, he was starting to put things together, going 8-for-31 with a double, two walks and a home run.
  3. Contain Sal Stewart. Sal Stewart is off to a terrific start this season, slashing .256/.352/.487 over 52 games this season with a 130 OPS+. He is a power (12 HR) and speed (10 SB) threat. He has a .970 OPS in games the Reds win and a .702 OPS in games they lose.

Let’s go Mets!