Thursday, April 38, 2026 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Joe Ryan (2-2, 3.29) vs. RHP Christian Scott (0-0, -.–)
SNY

The Mets look to win a series for the first time in what feels like 37 years tonight!

Last night, the Mets squeaked by the Twins 3-2 to snap their 12-game losing streak. It was a bittersweet end to a tough stretch as Francisco Lindor injured his calf and is now on the injured list. So once again, the Mets head into play tonight with one of their key bats. Ronny Mauricio is rejoining the team, and he’s coming off a tremendous game this week in which he hit three home runs. There’s a lot working against the Mets right now, but hopefully the team can push through!

Photo by: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Mets Lineup

  1. Bo Bichette – 3B
  2. Juan Soto – DH
  3. Francisco Alvarez – C
  4. Luis Robert Jr. – CF
  5. Brett Baty – RF
  6. Mark Vientos – 1B
  7. Marcus Semien – 2B
  8. Ronny Mauricio – SS
  9. Carson Benge – LF

Starting Pitcher: Christian Scott

Christian Scott returns to the majors! Scott made nine starts for the Mets in 2024, pitching 47 1/3 innings with a 4.56 ERA, 4.60 FIP, 1.204 WHIP and an 87 ERA+. He tore his UCL and spent all of 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery. He’s made three starts in Syracuse this season with a 5.27 ERA over 13 2/3 innings. Home runs have been an issue (3), but he has struck out 17 batters. Only Josh Bell (1-for-5, BB, K) has faced Scott in a Major League game before.

Opposing Lineup

  1. Byron Buxton – CF
  2. Trevor Larnach – LF
  3. Josh Bell – DH
  4. Ryan Jeffers – C
  5. Kody Clemens – 1B
  6. Austin Martin – RF
  7. Luke Keaschall – 2B
  8. Brooks Lee – SS
  9. Tristan Gray – 3B

The Mets’ bats draw the ace of the Twins staff, Joe Ryan. Ryan has made five starts this season, totaling 27 1/3 innings with a 3.29 ERA, 2.44 FIP, 0.878 WHIP and a 135 ERA+. Ryan has allowed only three earned runs, four total in his last two starts (13 innings). Last season, Ryan held the Mets to one run over five innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against Ryan:

  • Bo Bichette 3-10, 2 BB, 3 K
  • Francisco Lindor 1-3, K
  • MJ Melendez 1-15, 4 BB, 10 K
  • Tommy Pham 1-5, 3 K
  • Luis Robert Jr. 0-9, BB, 6 K
  • Marcus Semien 1-7, R, BB, 2 K
  • Juan Soto 0-6, 3 K
  • Tyrone Taylor 0-2, 2 K
  • Luis Torrens 0-2, 2 K
  • Mark Vientos 0-2

Game Notes

  • The Mets sent Austin Warren to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Scott.
  • Ronny Mauricio is expected to get most of the playing time at shortstop while Francisco Lindor is on the injured list. Bo Bichette will remain at third base.
  • Carlos Mendoza said he spoke to Mark Vientos about his base-running blunder on Wednesday, and Vientos now understands that he doesn’t have the green light to ignore signs from base coaches. Vientos said after Wednesday’s game that it was his “instinct” to try to score on Marcus Semien’s sixth-inning double despite getting a stop sign from third base coach Tim Leiper.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Juan Soto. Juan Soto went 1-for-3 with a walk at the plate yesterday. His single was the weakest ball that he hit all night, leaving his bat at 74.2 mph but with an xBA of 0.570. His other two outs were loud, though. He had a 104.3 mph lineout with a .680 xBA and a 104.2 mph flyout out with a .730 xBA. Here’s hoping he makes more hard contact this evening!
  2. Sean Manaea. Manaea hasn’t pitched for the Mets since last Friday, and it was his worst outing of the season so far. He allowed five runs on six hits and a walk over four innings. It was a game in which Kodai Senga allowed the Cubs to take the lead early, and Manaea put the game out of reach for the offense at the end. Before that outing, Manaea allowed only three runs on 10 hits with six walks over 12 innings while striking out 10.
  3. Contain Byron Buxton. Byron Buxton has gone 2-for-10 this series, hitting a critical home run in each game. Last night, Luke Weaver was able to get Buxton out to end the game last night, but he’s been a constant threat this entire series.

Let’s go Mets!