We are back! Three up, three down returns for the 2026 New York Mets season.

As we’ve done for several seasons now, we’ll be taking a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly after every series throughout the year.

With Opening Day this Thursday, excitement is very much in the air as we gear up for another year of Mets baseball.

However, before we look too far ahead, let’s take a step back and reflect on spring training and the Grapefruit League schedule.

Let’s kick off the 2026 edition of 3 Up, 3 Down with a camp recap …

Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

3 UP

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED 

At the time of writing, the Mets still haven’t officially announced that Carson Benge has made the Opening Day roster. Why the delay is a good question. However, public announcements aside, it would be a shock at this point if Benge isn’t in the lineup to face the Pirates on Thursday. The prospect entered camp with every chance to make the team, and he did everything asked of him to do exactly that. Benge hit .366/.435/.439/.874 with 15 hits and five RBIs. Furthermore, he showed impressive discipline at the plate, while flashing a plus-plus arm out in the field. All in all, Benge more than looked the part and improved week by week. Even if Mike Tauchman didn’t get hurt, Benge did more than enough to win the right field job.

RESURGENCE LOADING 

The Mets were sunk in 2025 because their starting pitching played party pooper. And Kodai Senga, continuing his downward trend, played a big part in those problems. Therefore, there were a lot of question marks surrounding the righty heading into spring training. And, while you have to take everything that happens in camp with a healthy dose of skepticism, Senga has proven a few doubters wrong over the past few weeks. He was stellar across three Grapefruit League starts, pitching to a 1.86 ERA with 11 strikeouts and just two earned runs allowed over 9.2 innings. Granted, there is still a lot to prove, and Senga needs to both stay healthy and pitch at a high level over the course of a full season. But, still, there was a lot to like, including his pitch arsenal.

If the Mets can get the spring training version of Senga throughout 2026, then the starting pitching should be in great shape.

PITCHING DEPTH

One of the biggest positives to emerge from camp was the pitching depth the Mets now have in the organization. Christian Scott, coming off Tommy John surgery, showed flashes of his upside. He could certainly contribute in the big leagues at some point in 2026. Jack Wenninger pitched to a 2.70 ERA while striking out 10 over 6.2 innings. Will Watson and Jonathan Santucci also pitched well. All showed a lot of upside, and Scott and Wenninger in particular are names to watch in 2026. All of a sudden, the pitching depth looks incredibly strong, and that’s something to be uber-positive about.

Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

TRENDING DOWNWARDS

Are we in full-blown panic mode over Sean Manaea yet? After regressing in 2025, this year’s camp was an important one for the starter. However, rather than settle any lingering concerns, Manaea instead added fuel to the fire thanks to his diminishing velocity. There were some other concerning metrics, too, while he was out-pitched by everyone else in the rotation. As a result, the 34-year-old will now start the season out of the bullpen and in a piggyback role. Of course, Manaea was still working his way back this spring. He had loose bodies in his elbow, which likely impacted a few things. There is also still time to correct the worrying drop in velocity. If he can do that, then that will only further strengthen the rotation. However, if Manaea can’t correct the drop in velocity, and if it continues to diminish, then another conversation may be needed at some point.

LATE INJURY BLOW

Arguably, the biggest roster battle in camp from day one was the fight for the right field job. There was a slew of players all competing for that one spot, with Carson Benge and Mike Tauchman emerging as the leaders in the clubhouse. Before the weekend, it looked all but certain that Tauchman would be on the Opening Day roster in some capacity.

However, the veteran left Saturday’s game with left knee soreness and will now require surgery on a torn meniscus. That’s somewhat of a blow for the Mets, given the value Tauchman brought to the table. He could have been a mentor for Benge, while he showed all spring what he can do at the plate. Furthermore, Tauchman offers more offensive upside than Vidal Brujan, who could now make the Opening Day roster. We will see if Tauchman can win a roster spot once he returns from injury.

END OF THE ROAD?

It doesn’t seem like a stretch to suggest that things really aren’t looking good for Mark Vientos. The third baseman struggled offensively in 2025, and those struggles carried over to camp. He hit just .057/.108/.171/.280 with little to no production. It is also perhaps fair to question Vientos’ decision to play in the World Baseball Classic. After all, he’s been asked to take reps at first base for the Mets, yet he mostly played third for Team Nicaragua in the WBC. Given the uncertainty surrounding first base, it would have been preferable for Vientos to remain in camp and really dedicate himself to learning a new position. In any case, none of that may end up mattering. If a disappointing spring translates to a slow start, then maybe there won’t be much of a role for Vientos in Queens going forward.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Spring Training Recap appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Carlos Mendoza told the media on Sunday that Craig Kimbrel will not the make the Mets’ Opening Day roster.

Kimbrel allowed three runs in six innings this spring, with five strikeouts and five walks. He will be turning 38 years old this May.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Latest Mets News

Spring training has officially come to a close with the Mets dropping their finale to the Marlins 4-3 on Saturday. They will now have three days off for travel back to New York and preparing for the start of the regular season, which begins Thursday at 1:15 p.m. at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It will be Paul Skenes vs. Freddy Peralta making his regular season debut in New York.

Per Max Goodman of NJ.com, the Mets will play an intrasquad scrimmage at Mets camp on Monday first, however. Nolan McLean and Sean Manaea will start for each team and most of the Mets’ regulars will participate. Position players will get a couple at-bats and some relievers will throw as well.

Per Mike Puma of the New York Post, Mike Tauchman has a meniscus tear and will undergo surgery to repair it.

Latest MLB News

According to Craig Mish of Sportsgrid, Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers was diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain and will be out for three to four weeks.

Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Didier Fuentes will spend the first couple weeks of the season with the Braves as a long reliever and then go to Triple-A Gwinnett to work as a starter.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post noted that left-handed pitcher Joey Lucchesi has been granted release by the San Francisco Giants after they signed Ryan Borucki. Lucchesi touched 92 and 94 mph and gave up no runs in his final spring performance on Saturday.

According to Major League Baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies and left-handed pitcher Cristopher Sánchez have agreed to a contract extension through 2032 with a club option for 2033.

Per Marcus Hayes of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daniel Robert was released from the hospital after collapsing following a bullpen session on Sunday morning. This was the second time he’s had a cardiac episode in the last five months.

Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported that the Chicago White Sox are signing catcher Reese McGuire.

According to Jake Rill of MLB.com, three Phillies will undergo MRI imaging on Monday: Dylan Beavers, Heston Kjerstad and Keegan Akin.

Per Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, the White Sox re-signed right-handed pitcher Lucas Sims to a minor league deal.

Thomas Harding of MLB.com reported that Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher RJ Petit underwent Tommy John Surgery on Friday and will miss the entire 2026 season.

Latest on MMO

Alexis Farinacci recapped Jonah Tong’s tough spring finale from Saturday.

Michelle Ioannou and the Metsmerized staff talk Mets record, division winners and playoff predictions in an MMO rountable piece.

Chris Bello discusses Mike Tauchman needing surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

Brandyn Pokrass wraps up the Mets’ 2026 spring training with a recap of the Mets’ loss to the Marlins.

On This Date in Mets History

1978: The Mets traded shortstop Bud Harrelson to the Phillies for minor leaguer Fred Andrews.

2007: Omar Minaya signed Fernando Tatis to a minor league deal.

Born on This Date: Dellin Betances (1988), Mike Remlinger (1966).

The post Morning Briefing: Craig Kimbrel to Be Left Off Roster appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Before heading back up to New York, the Mets wrapped up Grapefruit League action against the Miami Marlins on Sunday. The full lineup was set to be on display, along with a key member of the rotation.

There was plenty to take away from the day’s action and events, so without further ado, let’s dive into it!

Carlos Mendoza Speaks

At his pre-game media availability, Carlos Mendoza announced that right fielder Mike Tauchman has a torn meniscus and will be out “for a while.” The Mets’ manager said that Tauchman, “started feeling discomfort,” yesterday and that it got to a point where he, “couldn’t do it,” anymore. He also added that there is no current timetable for his return and that a date for surgery has not been decided yet.

Carlos Mendoza announced that OF Mike Tauchman has a meniscus tear and “will be out for a while.” Mendoza added that there is no timetable for his return yet and there is no date for surgery yet. #Mets

— Brandyn Pokrass (@brandyn-pokrass.bsky.social) 2026-03-22T15:10:19.324Z

Mendoza, when asked about the bullpen, announced that relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel will not make the Mets’ Opening Day roster. Despite this, Mendoza added that Kimbrel is heavily considering staying with the Mets and praised the reliever’s “character.”

“He’s a total pro. I said it from the beginning, he is on his way to a Hall of Fame career. It is not easy to deliver news to a guy like that. But for him to still consider staying with the team, it goes to show you what we’re building here, who those guys are in that clubhouse, who he is as well.”

"For him to still consider staying with the team, it goes to show you what we're building here, who those guys are in that clubhouse, who he is as well"

Carlos Mendoza on Craig Kimbrel considering staying with the Mets despite not making the Opening Day roster: pic.twitter.com/TAnAcpg2gg

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 22, 2026

When asked about Carson Benge and the spring he has had, Mendoza said he, “looks like a big leaguer.” The Mets’ manager praised Benge’s at-bat quality, ability to make adjustments, and his engagement on defense.

The Mets’ Lineup Shows its Talent

In their final game before the regular season, the Mets showed the type of production their new-look lineup could bring to the table in 2026.

Quiet for the first three innings of the game against Miami Marlins’ ace Sandy Alcantara, New York’s big hitters erupted for three runs to take the lead in the fourth inning of the game.

Francisco Lindor, working his way back from his hamate injury, laced a ball that deflected off the first baseman for a base hit. Juan Soto, in the following at-bat, laced a 105.1 miles-per-hour single to left-center field to give New York two base runners.

On the very next pitch, third baseman Bo Bichette laced a ball down the left field line for a double, scoring Lindor and placing Soto at third base. It continue a great spring for the premier offseason signing, as Bichette has laced the ball to the tune of a .333 batting average and a .913 OPS.

Bo Bichette's RBI double puts the Mets on the board! pic.twitter.com/LX3Qo7tMzZ

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 22, 2026

Following a Jorge Polanco sacrifice fly, Brett Baty extended the lead to 3-1 with a frozen-rope single. No matter who he has faced, the versatile infielder/outfielder has produced at the plate to the tune of a .344 batting average and a .948 OPS. More importantly, Baty has consistently hit the ball hard and made the necessary adjustments. It has been a great start to 2026 for Baty, and if he continues to play this way, he will be a very vital piece for the Mets’ 2026 season.

NY extends its lead in the 4th inning, as a 103.5 single up the middle from Brett Baty makes it 3-1. Yet another productive at-bat from Baty, who is putting a cherry on top of what has been a great spring for him. #Mets

— Brandyn Pokrass (@brandyn-pokrass.bsky.social) 2026-03-22T18:13:22.746Z

If you are talking about the Mets’ lineup this spring, one usually needs to mention Carson Benge, and that continued in the spring training finale against the Marlins.

One to usually hit the ball at a high velocity, Benge laid down a perfectly placed bunt for a base hit off Sandy Alcantara and advanced to second base on a throwing error. When adding in the multiple catches the right fielder made against the Marlins, it was yet another game of the right fielder showing off the full skillset.

In his postgame press conference, the right fielder said he is “happy” with how he carried himself this spring and felt that he got to truly show who he is. Between his on-field play and his overall mentality, Benge has truly gotten better every day. If, or when, he makes the Opening Day roster, I would expect the Mets to benefit heavily from his presence.

Carson Benge, facing Sandy Alcantara, leads off the 5th inning with a drag bunt for a base hit, advancing to 2nd on a throwing error. The top prospect, once again, is showing off the full skillset and talent that he can bring to the table. #Mets

— Brandyn Pokrass (@brandyn-pokrass.bsky.social) 2026-03-22T18:27:07.526Z

Other Notes

• On top of two great at-bats, Bo Bichette looks to be much more comfortable playing third base as compared to the start of the spring. His range looks solid, and he is making good plays on the move. It is a huge credit to Bichette that he has already improved in a month, and it is a good sign for the Mets if Bichette keeps taking these steps over the course of the regular season.
• Despite not having an overwhelming arsenal, David Peterson got the job done over five innings against the Marlins. He located very well, did not allow too much hard contact, and wiggled his way out of trouble consistently.
• Luke Weaver struggled to locate in his outing, walking three Miami batters before getting removed from the game. Otherwise he was lights out this spring. However, the location of his pitches is something to watch over the early part of the season.

The post MMO From Jupiter: Mets Conclude Spring Training Against Marlins appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The New York Mets play their last spring training game Sunday afternoon. On Thursday, the Mets will open the season against Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates in Queens.

Saturday, outfielder Mike Tauchman, who was on the precipice of breaking camp with the Mets as a non-roster invitee injured his left knee. He jogged out to the field before the fifth inning but pulled himself out of the game. It was announced that he will need surgery.

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Juan Soto – LF
3. Bo Bichette – 3B
4. Jorge Polanco – 1B
5. Luis Robert Jr. – CF
6. Brett Baty – DH
7. Marcus Semien – 2B
8. Carson Benge – RF
9. Ben Rortvedt – C

Starting Pitcher: David Peterson

Marlins Lineup

1. Javier Sanoja – SS
2. Liam Hicks – 1B
3. Agustín Ramírez – C
4. Owen Caissie – RF
5. Heriberto Hernández – LF
6. Graham Pauley – 3B
7. Kemp Alderman – DH
8. Jesús Bastidas – 2B
9. Andrew Pintar – CF

Starting Pitcher: Sandy Alcantara

Game Notes

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced that outfielder Mike Tauchman will undergo surgery for a meniscus tear in his knee.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced that right-handed reliever Craig Kimbrell will not make the Opening Day roster.

Three Things To Watch For

1. David Peterson. Peterson is coming off of a rough start against the Washington Nationals where he allowed four runs from five hits and two walks over four innings. In the start before that, he allowed only one run off a solo homer over four innings against the Cardinals. The Mets don’t face the Marlins until late May, so there’s no real reason to hide anything from the Marlins this afternoon. Hopefully, he has a solid outing and leaves spring training with some positive momentum going into the regular season.
2. Ben Rortvedt. As of game time, the Mets have four catchers on their 40-man roster. Hayden Senger was already optioned to the minors Saturday. Veteran Ben Rortvedt was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier in February and does not have any options left. The Mets will have to designate him for assignment before the start of the regular season and hope he slips through waivers. This spring Rortvedt has gone 3-for-21 at the plate with a double and two walks (.208/.190/.399). His best season was 2024 with the Rays where he hit .228/.317/.303 over 112 games with a 0.9 bWAR.
3. Carson Benge. The Mets have not officially announced that Benge made the Opening Day roster, but all signs are pointing to him breaking camp and heading north to Queens. Benge has slashed .368/.442/.447 this spring with five RBIs over 43 plate appearances this spring. The Mets top prospect has been exciting all spring and is coming off of a minor league season where he slashed .281/.385/.472 with 15 homers and 22 stolen bases.

The post Spring Training Game Chat: Mets vs. Marlins, 1:10 P.M. appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Sunday morning Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told the media, including our MMO’s Brayden Pokrass, that outfielder Mike Tauchman has a meniscus tear in his knee and will undergo surgery.

Tauchman left Saturday’s sprinting training game in the fifth inning.

Original Post – 

Mike Tauchman left Saturday’s spring training game in the fifth inning with left knee soreness.

Tauchman took one at-bat against the Astros and grounded out. He appeared injured when running out the groundball, but remained in the game. When running back out on defense in the fifth inning, Tauchman started hobbling, then went back to the dugout. He was replaced by AJ Salgado.

The injury to Tauchman comes right before the Mets break camp to begin the regular season. The 35-year-old was having an impressive spring, slashing .250/.382/.464 with four extra base hits entering Saturday’s game.

Tauchman was in a competition with Carson Benge for the final roster spot in spring training.

The post Mike Tauchman Has Meniscus Tear; Will Undergo Surgery appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The 35-year-old appeared injured first after grounding out in the third inning. He took the field in the fourth, where he went back on a ball in right field and looked even more noticeably in pain after failing to track the ball down.

Mike Tauchman
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Tauchman then went to run out on defense in the fifth inning, but came up lame. He hobbled his way back to the dugout and was replaced by AJ Salgado.

The injury came right as the Mets were about to make a major roster decision before opening day. Tauchman and Carson Benge were battling for the final roster spot on the team, and Tauchman had the best case to start opening day. He was slashing .250/.382/.464 with four extra base hits entering Saturday’s game, and had an opt-out date of March 25. Factor in the potential to manipulate Benge’s service time, and the scale was tipping in Tauchman’s favor.

Outside the Tauchman injury, the Mets’ lineup looked strong against the Astros. They drove in five runs, led by the two former Blue Jays Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette.

SEMIEN DELIVERS!

Marcus comes through with a bases clearing double to put the Mets in front!
pic.twitter.com/28igYsJr5B

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) March 21, 2026

In the sixth inning with the bases loaded, Semien clubbed a bases-clearing double down the left field line. The extra base hit was a positive sign for Semien, who had been quietly struggling in spring despite two homers.

Bichette didn’t drive in any runs, but finished the day 2-for-3. He improved his spring batting average to .324 and his OPS to .881.

Francisco Alvarez also had a nice day at the plate, but more importantly, looked healthy. He finished 1-for-3 with an RBI. He also caught eight innings Saturday, a good sign before the Mets begin their season Thursday.

The Mets’ pitching was solid in Saturday’s matchup against the ‘Stros outside Jonah Tong and Ryan Lambert. Tong started the game, surrendering three runs on six hits through 4 1/3 innings. Tong was optioned to the minors before the start of the regular season, but stayed in major league camp. Lambert also received the same fate as Tong, and struggled Saturday with the major leaguers.

Lambert allowed four hits, two walks, and three runs in his outing, only recording one out. He also served up a home run to Christian Walker.

Notes from Nationals Game

The Mets played a second game Saturday against the Nationals, where they fell 3-1.

Mark Vientos homered in four at-bats, which hopefully sparks his bat heading into the 2026 season. Vientos had struggled mightly before the homer, and after the day, is still only batting .057 with a .279 OPS in 35 spring at-bats.

Benge had a tough day at the plate batting leadoff. He went 0-for-4 with a punchout.

Joander Suarez started the game for the Mets and looked promising. He struck out three in four scoreless innings of work.

On Deck

The Mets have one final spring game left Sunday against the Marlins. David Peterson will take the bump for the Mets across from Sandy Alcantara. The game will be televised by the Marlins on Marlin.TV, and broadcasted by both radio syndicates.

The post Tauchman Injured in Mets 7-5 Loss, Plus Notes From Split-Squad Loss to Nats appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

There are two days and three games left of spring training! Over the last few days, a few things have become clearer for the Mets. The Mets will start the season with a five-man rotation consisting of Freddy Peralta, David Peterson, Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, and Kodai Senga. Jonah Tong and Christian Scott have both been assigned to Syracuse. Also announced was news surrounding Sean Manaea. The lefty will spend the first two turns in the rotation piggybacking other starters. Austin Warren was optioned yesterday, meaning there are only three players left in camp with a legitimate shot at the last bullpen spot. MJ Melendez was assigned to the Syracuse Mets, meaning that Mike Tauchman, Carson Benge, or both will make the Opening Day roster. We are so close to the regular season!

Jonah Tong
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Mets Lineup

1. Carson Benge – RF
2. Mark Vientos – 1B
3. Jared Young – DH
4. Luis Torrens – C
5. Tyrone Taylor – LF
6. Vidal Bruján – 2B
7. Jacob Reimer – 3B
8. Cristian Pache – CF
9. Yonny Hernández – SS

Starting Pitcher: Joander Suarez

Nationals Lineup

1. Nasim Nuñez – 2B
2. José Tena – 3B
3. Keibert Ruiz – C
4. Luis García Jr. – 1B
5. Andrés Chaparro – DH
6. Joey Wiemer – CF
7. Christian Franklin – RF
8. Seaver King – SS
9. Sam Peterson – LF

Starting Pitcher: Cade Cavalli

Saturday, March 21, 2026 • 1:10 PM
Clover Park • Port St. Lucie, FL
RHP Mike Burrows (1-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Jonah Tong (0-1, 10.13)
WPIX

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Juan Soto – LF
3. Bo Bichette – DH
4. Jorge Polanco – 1B
5. Luis Robert Jr. – CF
6. Brett Baty – 3B
7. Marcus Semien – 2B
8. Mike Tauchman – RF
9. Francisco Alvarez – C

Starting Pitcher: Jonah Tong

Astros Lineup

1. Joey Loperfido – LF
2. Isaac Paredes – 2B
3. Cam Smith – RF
4. Zach Cole – CF
5. Kyle Walker – 1B
6. Yainer Diaz – C
7. Cavan Biggio – DH
8. Riley Unroe – 3B
9. Nick Allen – SS

Starting Pitcher: Mike Burrows

Game Notes

• Francisco Alvarez is back in the lineup today for the Mets. He was pulled in Thursday night’s game with lower back tightness but avoided major injury.
• The Mets announced Sean Manaea will begin the season piggybacking other starters. The lefty dealt with multiple injuries in 2025, and has averaged 88 miles per hour on his fastball this spring.
• According to Carlos Mendoza, the final roster spot has not been filled ahead of Opening Day Thursday. Both Carson Benge and Mike Tauchman are battling for the spot, and both are starting today in separate games.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Looming Right Field Decision. A few days ago, the Mets assigned MJ Melendez to the Syracuse Mets. But who is the right fielder on the Mets? As of right now, it looks like there is a possibility that both Carson Benge and Mike Tauchman will be added to the 40-man roster to fill the spot. One possibility of making sure Brett Baty gets more at-bats, is to use him in the infield, getting DH time for the Mets’ plethora of infielders. Both Tauchman and Benge have earned spots on the roster with their performance this month. Tauchman has gone 7-for-28 with three doubles and a home run. Benge has gone 13-for-32 with a double and a triple. The odd man out is Cristian Pache, who also had a tremendous spring (13-for-28, 3 2B, 2 HR, SB, .545 OBP).
2. Last Bullpen Spot. A few days ago, Anthony DiComo reported that there is essentially one spot in the bullpen right now. There are several pitchers who haven’t been assigned to minor league camp yet, competing for that last spot, including Craig Kimbrel, Bryan Hudson, and Richard Lovelady. Hudson just allowed three runs in one inning of relief and has allowed six runs over 3 1/3 innings this spring from five hits and three walks. Lovelady, who started spring with the Nationals, has allowed one run over five innings from five hits and three walks. Both Lovelady and Hudson are on the 40-man roster. Kimbrel is not on the 40-man and has allowed three runs over six innings from four hits and five walks this spring. There is also the possibility the Mets go with no one on this list and sign a pitcher cut from another team.
3. Francisco Alvarez. Alvarez was slated to play the full nine innings Thursday night, but left the game in the fourth inning with back tightness. The game was not carried by SNY or Mets Radio, and with the Spring Breakout game happening at the same time, we had to wait until after the game to find out that it was precautionary and Alvarez would have played through the injury if it were a normal game. The Mets have a great one-two punch with Alvarez and Torrens on the roster, but as soon as one of them goes down, things get a lot murkier, and the depth is tested real fast.

Let’s go Mets!

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Freddy Peralta will start opening day across from Paul Skenes this upcoming Thursday, followed by David Peterson, Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, and Kodai Senga.

Freddy Peralta, Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Peralta getting the opening day nod is confirms news that broke three weeks ago. Mendoza reported that the former Brewer would take the bump February 27, first reported by Laura Albanese of Newsday.

Peterson and McLean round out the top three of the Mets’ rotation. The two will both register their first starts of the new season against the Pirates at home, with Peterson splitting up the two righties in Peralta and McLean.

Bottoming out the rotation is Holmes and Senga. Holmes has looked strong in spring this season, pitching to a 2.84 ERA with 13 punchouts in 12 2/3 innings. Senga also provides tantalizing upside as the fifth starter. When healthy, the 33-year-old has pitched to ace status, and has registered a promising 1.86 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 9 2/3 spring innings.

With the rotation officially coming, Mendoza also stated the plan for Sean Manaea to begin the season. The lefty will be worked slowly to begin the season, piggybacking off one of the five starters. The Mets utilized Manaea similarly in 2025, having him and Holmes piggyback off each other in September.

Whether the Mets decide to insert Manaea into the rotation later in the season is unknown. For now, the rotation will follow a traditional five-man setup.

Final position player update

Mendoza was also asked whether or not the Mets have made a decision on who will fill the final roster spot. The Mets’ manager stated the club hadn’t decided yet, and that the decision will come in the final days.

The last spot is likely to be filled by either Mike Tauchman or Carson Benge. Tauchman signed a minor-league deal with the Mets in the offseason and has produced this spring. He’s slashing .250/.382/.464 with a home run and three doubles in 34 plate appearances. Tauchman also has a March 25 opt-out date in his contract.

Benge has also dazzled in spring. The Oklahoma State product is batting .412 and slugging .500 in 39 spring plate appearances, but doesn’t have a homer in an official game. He could be a candidate to crack the opening day roster, but the Mets could also hold him in the minors until mid-April to receive an extra year of service time.

The post Mets Announce Starting Rotation to Begin 2026 Season appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

What Would the Playing Time Look Like?

The 2026 Mets are not likely to be a team where every player plays 162 games. Per Anthony Dicomo of MLB.com, Luis Robert Jr. will get “regular off-days in hopes of keeping him healthy through October.” This could open up playing time in the outfield with Carson Benge in center field and Mike Tauchman in right field while Robert Jr. has rest days. Benge, meanwhile, has never played more than 116 games in a season and will likely need rest days himself to stay fresh, opening up playing time for Tauchman in the outfield.

Jorge Polanco has not played more than 138 games in a season since 2021, and at age 32 could benefit from rest days throughout the season. Marcus Semien turned 35 last September and is coming off a 2025 season in which he missed the final few weeks of the season with a foot injury. It could make sense to have some workload management for him. Brett Baty has never played more than 136 games in a season and has a history of oblique and hamstring issues. In a 26-week season, say the goal is for each of them to play 140 games. That alone is 66 games across the season (roughly average 2.5 per week) that would need coverage.

An important note is that Mike Tauchman has never been an everyday player in his career. Coming off knee surgery, it is unclear if he can physically handle being an everyday player. Over his last three seasons, he has put up his largest workloads playing:

• 2023 – 108 games and 401 PA
• 2024 – 109 games and 350 PA
• 2025 – 93 games and 385 PA

To be clear, this is not solely due to him missing time from injury. Across those seasons, he averaged 4.44 games per week and 16.94 plate appearances per week he was on the major league roster.

Per Sammon, Mike Tauchman can opt out of his minor league contract on March 25 if he does not make the opening day roster, which will likely be a factor in the Mets’ decision. It is also unknown what playing time promises, if any, the Mets made when they signed him to his contract.

Even with Benge on the roster as the primary right fielder, Tauchman could still play in four to five games a week. He would play in right field when Luis Robert Jr. or Carson Benge need a day off, would be the designated hitter when Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, or Brett Baty need a day off, and would have pinch-hitting opportunities.

What Would the Opening Day Roster Look Like?

Assuming Lindor is ready for opening day, the 26-man roster would have 13 hitters and 13 pitchers as usual, with Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, Carson Benge, Bo Bichette, Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, Juan Soto, and Luis Robert Jr. as the starting lineup. On the bench, you would have Mike Tauchman, Tyrone Taylor, Luis Torrens and Mark Vientos.

The big question comes down to this: do the Mets need an extra outfielder on the roster or an extra infielder?

With Luis Robert Jr. needing to be load-managed and Brett Baty developing into a versatile infielder, you could make the argument that an extra outfielder is the bigger necessity. You could also argue that Baty is that fifth outfielder. He has taken reps in right field, and while he looks like he is still learning the position, he has shown traits that the Mets have pointed to when discussing why they see him as a potential option to take innings in the outfield in 2026. It is unclear if the Mets view him as somebody they would trust to start games there or if he would only be used in certain situations.

Do the Mets Need A Shortstop on the Bench?

Having a bench of Luis Torrens, Tyrone Taylor, Mark Vientos, and Mike Tauchman does not include the typical bench infielder. But is that a necessity for this roster?

With Francisco Lindor on the roster, it may not be. Over the past four seasons, he has played fewer than 160 games once: in 2024, when he played only 152 games due to a back injury. At age 32, it is possible the Mets could prefer he take a few more rest days, but with Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien and Jorge Polanco all having past experience at shortstop, the team can likely find coverage for the one or two games a month Lindor would take a rest day. Brett Baty, meanwhile, has shown that he is capable of playing every infield position, excluding shortstop, providing the coverage the utility bench spot typically covers. The Mets could also still trade infielder Mark Vientos before opening day if the team decided they did want a utility infielder while rostering both Benge and Tauchman.

After reassigning Jackson Cluff and Grae Kessinger to minor league camp, Ronny Mauricio and Vidal Brujan are the only two middle infielders in camp left to compete for that roster spot. It is unclear if either can truly play shortstop at this point in their careers. Ronny Mauricio has only played 33 innings there since his knee surgery, and while he has taken reps there in spring training, the results have been mixed. Brujan, meanwhile, has struggled at the shortstop position in the majors with a negative-4 outs above average and negative-4 fielding run value, and has primarily played second base and in the outfield in his career. If those two are not viewed as either plus defensive infield replacements or starting shortstops, it is unclear how they would make sense for this Mets roster. Mauricio can be optioned while Brujan cannot.

Is Carson Benge Ready?

As of March 17, Carson Benge is slashing .406/.472/.500/.972. Of course, this is a small sample size where the competition is not solely against major league pitching. But there are many things he has shown under the hood that point to him being ready, while a few that could potentially point to him not.

Carson Benge is showing incredible contact traits this spring,

• 91.4% zone-contact rate (87th percentile)
• 18.1% whiff rate (81st percentile)
• 12.8% strikeout rate (84th percentile)

Benge has also made hard contact this spring.

• 110.8 miles per hour max exit velocity (79th percentile)
• 90.8 miles per hour average exit velocity (62nd percentile)
• 104.6 miles per hour 90% exit velocity (51st percentile)

One point of concern is that Benge has only walked three times this spring. He did have a 13.1% walk rate in the minors in 2024, so it should be expected that in a larger sample size, the walks would tick back up. Benge has yet to pull a fly ball in the air, though going to the opposite field has been a big part of his game dating back to college. It is possible the Mets told him in spring training to stick to what he is good at. The biggest concern, though, is his 66.7% ground ball rate. In the minors in 2025, Benge was at a 42.5% ground ball rate, so the Mets likely would prefer to see him cut down on the ground balls in the final few spring training games.

It is also important to remember that these spring training games are only one piece of the pie. Benge has likely taken dozens of at-bats against live pitchers and in simulated games that the public does not have access to. The Mets also have his batting cage data to aid in their decision. Carlos Mendoza described this in an article by Sammon in The Athletic, saying, “I just like the fact he controls the strike zone, uses the whole field, takes pride in putting the ball in play. The power, we’ve seen it. In BP, with the way the ball comes off his bat.”

The Mets have a difficult decision ahead of them, but it does not seem like it absolutely has to be one or the other between Carson Benge and Mike Tauchman.

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Zach Thornton, the organization’s No. 13 prospect according to Baseball America, made his second start of the spring. He allowed four hits and one run over 3 2/3 innings of work. He did not walk any and struck out one. The sinker-ball pitcher averaged around 91 mph on his hard stuff in the start. Through his two spring appearances, Thornton has allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings.

Behind Thornton, Luke Weaver tossed a hitless inning and Brooks Raley recorded one out before the game was delayed and subsequently called off. Both Weaver and Raley remain scoreless in spring action.

Offensively it was a big day despite only getting up to bat five times. The Mets’ offense posted 10 hits and eight runs.

Marcus Semien got the festivities going with a second-inning solo home run. The Mets then struck for five runs in the second inning. Mike Tauchman, Bo Bichette, and Jorge Polanco had run-scoring hits in the inning. Semien and Francisco Alvarez added a pair of sacrifice flys. The Mets then added two more runs in the third inning as Tachman had another run-scoring hit and Semien had his second sacrifice fly of the game.

Notably, Luis Robert Jr. went 2-for-2 and Tachman 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Semein led the way with three runs batted in.

For further context, the Mets did their damage in the contest against 6-foot-7 Grant Rogers. Rogers spent time at the High-A and Double-A levels last season, He has a career 3.64 ERA.

Player of the Game: Mike Tauchman

Veteran Mike Tauchman continued his strong spring training with two hits and two RBIs. He also scored two runs in the contest. After Sunday’s performance, he has his OPS up to 1.100 and is hitting .333 in spring training games.

On Deck

The Mets continue their spring training slate Monday evening with a 6:10 pm ET first pitch against the Washington Nationals. The game is in Port St. Lucie at Clover Park.

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