That division through April looks like the real deal. Every single team is above .500 and chock full of talent. The Pirates have finally put together a competent offense behind their rotation, the Reds have finally developed a rotation behind their star-studded infield, the Cubs are mashing with newcomer Alex Bregman, the Brewers are still winning with infield singles, and the Cardinals are … good?

Yeah, the Cardinals are good. Way earlier than anyone anticipated. JJ Wetherholt looks like the steal of the draft at seventh overall, and enters Saturday’s games with a .824 OPS and seven homers through 32 games. Jordan Walker has also finally found his swing. The COVID draft pick was one of the top prospects in baseball, floated around for quite sometime, and in year four has a .308/.373/.583 slashline and 1.9 bWAR. For reference, Walker has never registered a season with positive bWAR.

The NL Central hasn’t been this loaded since 2015.

Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

1. Braves

Life is all about ebbs and flows. Well after a couple seasons of ebbing, the Braves are flowing.

They hold the best record in baseball at 23-10. They hold the best run differential at +63. They’re second to the Dodgers in team OPS (.789), second to the Yankees in homers (45), and second to none in runs scored (185).

The team is also clutch. Last week alone they saw dramatic, comeback wins. Matt Olson clubbed a walk-off two-run dinger against the Tigers in the ninth. Then Friday saw Atlanta claw back from an early 6-0 deficit against Colorado, capped off by a Michael Harris II go-ahead homer in the ninth.

Anyways, it’s May now. This is the last time I’ll play into the “Atlanta is back” card. They’re legit and look like the only team in the NL who can usurp the Dodgers.

2. Yankees

The Yankees are back in full force.

They had an eight-game winning streak stopped Wednesday via a 3-0 loss to the Rangers, but let’s not overreact — they’re 10-2 in their last 12 games.

And it’s all because of Ben Rice. No, really. This isn’t the first time we’ve highlighted the Dartmouth product either, because he’s still putting up AL MVP numbers into May. Entering Saturday, Rice is slashing .330/.441/.728 with 11 homers and 26 RBIs. His .728 slug and 220 OPS+ leads the majors. He’s the protection for Aaron Judge.

Then there’s the pitching. It still leads the majors with a 3.01 ERA without Gerrit Cole or Carlos Rodon, the latter who struck out eight in 5 1/3 Thursday in a rehab outing.

3. Dodgers

A three-game losing streak for the Dodgers? Looks like their reign of dominance is over.

Anways joking aside, it was an okay week for the Dodgers. They dropped a series to the Marlins for the first time since 2018, and left the bases loaded in the ninth Wednesday to drop the series finale 3-2. There’s nothing really new to highlight with the Dodgers.

We could highlight a good and bad for the club. Hyeseong Kim has quietly slashed .302/.375/.411 in 22 games for the club. That’s a positive with Mookie Betts injured. A negative? Kyle Tucker is batting .237 with a .693 OPS.

Imagine if Tucker had signed and performed like that in Queens? Helps when the fans are making TikToks all game.

4. Cubs

Judging the NL Central teams is incredibly hard right now. But the Cubs look like the frontrunner out of the five teams.

Sure, they’re in first right now. But that’s not why. They have the second-best run differential at +36, and have a loaded lineup of proven guys who have won. That’s no knock on the Brewers, but I’ll take a star-studded lineup over the Cleveland Guardians of the National League.

They did lose two of three in LA last weekend following a 10-game win streak, but Chicago has bounced back with three straight wins over the Padres and Diamondbacks. Mostly due to Seiya Suzuki leading the charge. He’s got a .965 OPS and five homers in 19 games. He’s come back from the WBC injury on fire and could earn himself a lot of money in his contract year.

5. Pirates

Pittsburgh had a horrid week. But not bad enough for me to drop them in the power rankings.

The Red Birds came to town and swept Paul Skenes and co. for four games. The pitching allowed 30 runs over the four games, and the offense produced only 18.

Still, there shouldn’t be concern for the offense or the lineup. They currently have six players with OPS+s over 100, including a 131 OPS+ from Bryan Reynolds through April. If that held, it would be the first time since 2018 the Pirates would finish with six above league-average hitters in their lineup. Last season they had just one.

Also can the Pirates get a closer? Dennis Santana was fun for the first couple weeks, but has stumbled as of late. A reliable, big-name reliever would transcend this team. Maybe a guy like David Bednar? Jokes guys, jokes.

6. Cardinals

From 23 to six. Maybe I don’t know ball.

The Cardinals dominated the Pirates last week, going on the road and taking all four games in the series. Wetherholt was the dominating force for the Red Birds, clubbing two homers and one against Skenes. He’s filled in nicely for Brendan Donovan.

Pay attention to St. Louis going forward. They’re a couple years ahead of schedule under Chaim Bloom, and could transform their team with a strong deadline. The young guys are hitting, and Alec Burleson is driving them in.

Also, for fantasy purposes, check to see if Riley O’Brien is on waivers in your league. The 31-year-old closer has a sparkling 1.17 ERA and is 8/8 in save opportunities.

7. Padres

The path is diverging for the Friars.

They sold their club and switched controlling ownership earlier Saturday, which doesn’t mean anything as of now due to the Padres being one of the league’s biggest spenders.

But that has nothing to do with their ranking on this list. Just important Padres news. The club is 19-12. Mason Miller had his scoreless streak snapped but is still perfect in the ninth. The offense, especially Fernando Tatis Jr., has been lackluster. But they still score enough runs to win.

They have the talent to be much higher on this list. And the record to be top-5. But they need Manny Machado (101 OPS+) and Jackson Merrill (67 OPS+) need to be better.

8. Brewers

I might be doing the same with the Brewers as I did with the Blue Jays last season.

I slept on them. Didn’t believe in them. Refused to rank them for awhile. But I’m getting ahead of the curve this season, and will begrudgingly rank them.

In a loaded NL Central, the Brewers are 17-14 and have the best run differential at +43. Their team leads the majors in stolen bases (38), is fifth in OBP in the majors (.338), and they have thumping bats like William Contreras in the middle of the order to drive guys in.

It’s the same formula every year. Get on base, move runners via bunts and stolen bases, and pray a couple guys hit enough homers to drive them in. It’s good enough to get the team on the list and make the playoffs. But I don’t believe it’ll ever be enough to hoist a World Series trophy.

9. Rays

How about another 19-12 team that nobody is paying attention to?

The Rays have hung around the Yankees for first in the AL East. A team that most, if not none, had better than the Orioles, Red Sox, and Blue Jays. They’re winning behind strong pitching (what’s new), and right now Nick Martinez is pitching to a 1.70 ERA through six starts. His career ERA before joining the Rays from the Reds was 4.16.

Along with Martinez is a healthy Shane McClanahan (3.10 ERA) and Drew Rasmussen (2.64 ERA). The rotation is back in full swing, and a lot of their arms could dominate in a playoff setting. We’ll just have to see if Junior Caminero, Yandy Díaz, and Jonathan Aranda is enough at the plate.

10. Rangers

Texas had a scare last week.

It looked like Brandon Nimmo had gotten injured in a game versus the Yankees, but after being pulled with a hamstring issue, the outfielder eventually jumped back in the lineup.

Losing Nimmo would have been disastrous for the Rangers. Despite registering a .690 OPS over his last 10 games, he leads the Rangers with a 150 OPS+ and is one of the main reasons they jumped out to a hot start.

The Rangers entered Saturday with a 16-16 record. Not great. But they’re second in the division and have a +9 run differential to lead the AL West.

Their pitching is also strong in name. MacKenzie Gore and Nathan Eovaldi have struggled to begin the year, but both have too much raw talent to register ERAs north of four. If they can get one of those guys to take a leap forward, it would help Jacob deGrom at the top with his 2.01 ERA.

Rest of the Field

11. Reds
12. Mariners
13. Diamondbacks
14. Guardians
15. Tigers
16. Blue Jays
17. Marlins
18. Athletics
19. Twins
20. Orioles
21. Phillies
22. Giants
23. White Sox
24. Royals
25. Astros
26. Red Sox
27. Nationals
28. Mets
29. Rockies
30. Angels

Previous Rankings: W4 | W3 | W2 | W1 | OD

The post 2026 MLB Power Rankings: Week Five Update appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Japanese slugger was the most sought-after foreign free agent, then statistics came out that he couldn’t hit velocity, and he had to settle for a two-year, $34 million contract with the White Sox. Well, Murakami is proving just about everyone wrong, and currently is tied with Yordan Alvarez for the major league lead in homers with 11. Oh, and he’s batting .273 with seven homers against fastballs.

It’s fun to highlight White Sox players, because they’ve often been at the bottom of these lists. Might as well mention Everson Pereira while we’re on the South Side too. The former Yankee prospect has a .908 OPS with a .357 OBP and three homers in 49 at-bats.

Other news around the league? The Phillies asked the Mets to politely hold their beer. Philadelphia enters Saturday on a 10-game losing streak, dropping to 8-18 on the season while being outscored 69-26 during the stretch. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber have played like MVPs, but the remainder of the lineup has come up short. The Cubs have also been a benefactor of the Mets and Phillies struggles, as eight of the 22 combined losses between the two NL East rivals have come at the hands of the Cubbies.

Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

1. Dodgers

Are the Dodgers mortal? It sure looks like it over their last seven games.

In the last seven games, LA has gone 2-7 against the likes of the Giants, Rockies, and Cubs. Only one of the loses came against Chicago, with the meat of the stretch coming against two lesser rivals.

There’s still no reason to drop the Dodgers or panic. The club got an excellent performance Thursday from Tyler Glasnow, who punched out nine Giants over eight scoreless innings. The real culprit for their poor stretch is their lack of offense. The club has scored only eight runs over their last four games. Andy Pages has considerably cooled off during this seven-game blip, slashing just .120/.185/.160.

2. Braves

Atlanta is building its case as a World Series contender for 2026.

Did they have the talent to do it? Yeah, obviously. But injuries and underperformance has kept this club from Dodger-level good since 2023. Fast forward to now, and the Braves have built themselves a comfortable lead in the NL East before May.

They’re 9-1 in their last 10 games, which includes four wins over the floundering Phillies. Matt Olson has been the sparkplug for this offseason, and has seven homers, a .944 OPS, and a major league leading 11 doubles in 27 games. Then of course is the pitching, which continues to limit runs and enters Saturday tied for first in the majors in ERA (3.11). Oh, and here’s your weekly reminder that this is all without Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach.

3. Yankees

There was a reason I didn’t drop the Yankees too far last week. They have the talent, and will be OK.

Well since that decision, the Yanks have rattled off a seven-game winning streak, including a three-game sweep of the Red Sox in Boston.

So how have the Yankees dominated this past week. Easy. Pitching and Ben Rice. The lefty slugger from Massachusetts homered in four consecutive games dating back to last week, and has also slugged five homers in last eight games. I’m not joking, if the season ended today, Rice would be the American League MVP. He’s slashing .316/.450/.747 with nine homers and 20 RBIs. Rice is also second in the majors in slugging, OBP, OPS, fourth in homers, and 14th in batting average.

Then there’s the starting rotation. It dominated in Boston. Luis Gil pitched 6 1/3 scoreless Wednesday, Max Fried pitched eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts Thursday, and Cam Schlittler allowed one run over eight innings Saturday. Entering Saturday, the Yankees are tied for the lead in ERA (3.11) in MLB.

4. Cubs

The Cubs might be ranked fourth, but they’re playing like the best team in baseball right now.

Chicago has ripped off a 10-game win streak, catapulting them to the top of the NL Central. Sure, nine of those ten wins have come against the Mets and Phillies, but it’s still a massive accomplishment. They even backed up the performance with a comeback win over the Dodgers Friday night, which saw Alex Bregman and Dansby Swanson club later homers to win 6-4.

During this stretch the offense has been torrential. They’re averaging 7.2 runs per game, and producing despite Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch being invisible. The rotation has also held up during this streak. Edward Cabrera and Shota Imanaga continue to shove and have ERAs under three, plus Javier Assad has looked good in his last two outings, allowing just one run in 6 2/3 combined innings.

5. Pirates

Did everyone see that Oneil Cruz homer off the top of the foul pole in Texas? If not, I give you permission to leave this article.

Seriously though, it’s could finally be the Cruz breakout season that fantasy experts have been waiting for. The lefty is slashing .271/.333/.542 with eight homers and five doubles. The slugging number in that slashline is the most important. The power was always going to be there for the 6’7 Cruz, the question was if he could translate it into in-game power. There were glimpses of it in 2024 when Cruz slugged .449, but April has been promising for the potential breakout candidate.

Of course there’s also the pitching. It’s the backbone of this team. It’s shockingly registered the third-lowest ERA (3.32) in the majors, and has led the Pirates to a 15-11 record and +26 run differential. There’s obviously the big names like Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller, but a breakout arm in the rotation has been Braxton Ashcraft. The 26-year-old has pitched to a 2.43 ERA in five starts, and is striking out 9.7 batters per nine.

6. Padres

San Diego was one of baseball’s hottest teams last week.

They swept a four-game series on the road against the Rockies, came home to sweep the Mariners to claim Eddie Vedder, then traveled to Anaheim to take a three-game series against the Angels.

Overall, the stretch saw the Padres go 9-1 in 10 games. Then earlier this week they won two of three against the Rockies at home. This run of course is aided by timely hitting and one of the best bullpens the sport has ever seen. Mason Miller is working on a 12 1/3 scoreless streak this season, and a 33 2/3 consecutive scoreless streak dating back to August 6 of last season. Another name everyone should learn is Bradgley Rodriguez. The righty has a 0.73 ERA in 12 1/3 innings and wears glasses. The latter makes him cool.

7. Rangers

Texas has been steady this season. They’re 13-13, have a +8 run differential, and are second in a weak AL West.

So why are they so high on this list? Well, the pitching has been elite. Coming into Saturday, they have the eighth-lowest ERA in the majors (3.86), propped up by a vintage Jacob deGrom (2.13 ERA) and young Kumar Rocker (3.48 ERA).

The offense has been middling, and took a hit two days ago when the Rangers placed Wyatt Langford on the 10-day IL with a flexor strain. At least Josh Jung seems to have found his stroke. The third baseman, who was a crucial piece for Texas during their 2023 World Series run, has an .877 OPS through 23 games.

8. Diamondbacks

The Snakes have jumped out to a 14-11 start. And it’s because of their… pitching?

Yeah, the rotation has held up a slow offensive start for the D-backs. Through their first five starts in the rotation, Eduardo Rodríguez has a 2.89 ERA, Michael Soroka has a 2.60 ERA, and Zac Gallen has a 3.51 ERA.

Yet, despite these stellar performances, the Diamondbacks have the 20th-lowest ERA in the majors. And outside Corbin Carroll, Ildemaro Vargas, and Geraldo Perdomo, the entire D-backs lineup is flopping around. In fact most of them have OPS+’s under 100. Still, there’s hope for many D-backs hitters to bounce back and power this team toward a wild-card spot. Especially Ketel Marte, who has a .694 OPS through his first 24 games.

9. Brewers

Brandon Woodruff this. Jacob Misiorowski that. How about Chad Patrick?

The 27-year-old has a 2.35 ERA in 23 innings, and leads a strong rotation in ERA. The aforementioned two starters have also been great. Woodruff has a 3.77 ERA in his comeback year, and Misiorowski leads starters with a 14.2 K/9 and has a 3.04 ERA.

Outside the pitching, the offense has mustered enough runs. Brice Turang has a .900 OPS entering Saturday and Garrett Mitchell has put up a more than respectable .804. Just imagine what the lineup will look like when Christian Yelich returns from the 10-day IL.

10. Twins

Well, the Twins have lost six of their last seven. That’s what I get for slotting them at five last week.

They got swept by the Reds, dropped a series to the Mets, and lost Friday 6-2 to the Rays. So why are they still here?

The lineup is strong, especially when this healthy. We always talk about Royce Lewis and his potential, Byron Buxton as a superstar when on the field, but let’s give some flowers to Ryan Jeffers. The catcher is one of the most underrated catchers in baseball, and has a .889 OPS entering Saturday. He’s had an OPS+ above 100 dating back to 2023, and hit a clutch grand slam Thursday in a loss to the Mets.

The major question mark will be the rotation. Joe Ryan allowed seven earned runs Thrusday to the Mets, but is usually among the best in the AL. Mick Abel is on the IL right now, but when he was pitching, he was striking out 10.2 batters per nine to go with his 3.98 ERA.

Rest of the Field

11. Marlins
12. Tigers
13. Orioles
14. Guardians
15. Reds
16. Mets
17. Rays
18. Phillies
19. Mariners
20. Athletics
21. Angels
22. Astros
23. Cardinals
24. Blue Jays
25. Giants
26. Red Sox
27. Royals
28. Nationals
29. Rockies
30. White Sox

Previous Rankings: W3 | W2 | W1 | OD

The post 2026 MLB Power Rankings: Week Four Update appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets and Yankees both struggled mightily last week, costing the Bombers a few spots on the top 10 and the Mets to fall off the list. The Amazins’ have dropped nine games in a row after starting 7-4 and fundamentally look like one of the worst teams in baseball. And the Yankees got swept by the Rays, split a series with the Angels, and survived the Royals Friday with a late homer from Ryan McMahon.

It’s been rough for two teams projected to be among the best in their leagues. But they’re not the only “power houses” struggling. The Mariners and Astros are both 8-13 after positive starts, the Phillies are 8-11 and are on a three-game losing streak, and the Tigers are 10-10 despite a positive run differential.

Instead, it’s been teams that were supposed to be bottom feeders dominating early. The Twins through three weeks especially have been undeniably good. So much so I put them on the list. The Angels have also been right there with Minnesota, surging thanks to a renaissance from Mike Trout in the Bronx last week.

All this is the long way of saying the list has gone through another metamorphosis. And will continue to throughout the first month or so of the season. Remember last year when the Braves were regulars in the top-10 till May?

Also, before we get into the list, I want to personally attribute a portion of this article to Garret Anderson. The all-time great passed away at 53 Friday, shocking the baseball world. On the field, Anderson holds the Angels franchise record for games played (2,013), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489), grand slams (8), and RBIs (1,292). Anderson was also a crucial piece for the Halos in 2002, helping the club win its first and only World Series. He passed away from a heart attack and is survived by his wife and three children.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

1. Dodgers

We all knew the Dodgers were going to be insanely good. But it’s April 18, and the club still hasn’t lost to a National League team.

They swept the Mets last week behind dominant performances from Justin Wrobleski and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, then went to Colorado to play a snow game with the Rockies Friday. And yes, they won that game 7-1.

The usual suspects are dominating again, but I want to point out Dalton Rushing. The 25-year-old has scorched the baseball to begin the season, slashing .529/.556/1.353 with four homers in 17 at-bats. Yeah, you read that right. Four homers in 17 at-bats.

2. Braves

Atlanta is back in full force.

The club has started 13-7 in their first 20 games, getting production from their entire roster. Everyone in their lineup outside Michael Harris II has an OPS+ above 100. The pitching rotation features five arms with ERA+’s over 120, including Bryce Elder who leads the NL with a 0.77 ERA. The bullpen has four arms with ERAs in the ones. Oh they also lead baseball with a +53 run differential.

It’s been an incredible start for a team trying to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2025. And they’re still waiting for Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach to come back.

3. Pirates

Is placing the Pirates all the way to three aggressive? Yeah. But they have the firepower to stay.

Everybody knows about the treachorous staff the Pirates throw at the league, but the offense has finally clicked for Pittsburgh. The additions of Brandon Lowe (184 OPS+) and Ryan O’Hearn (149 OPS+) have infused runs into this lineup, Bryan Reynolds has bounced back from a mediocre 2025 with an .810 OPS, and Oneil Cruz is finally blossoming into a superstar with a .313/.382/.588 slashline, six homers, and nine stolen bases.

The offense has been steady. And the pitching staff led by Paul Skenes can carry this team through the ineviatable offense woes they go through later in the season.

4. Yankees

The media has been hyperfixated on the Mets. But the Yankees have been equally as bad.

They dropped a series to the Athletics at home, were swept by the Rays on the road, then returned to the Bronx to split a series with the Angels. All and all, they went 2-7 and endured a five game losing streak.

Still, the club stays this high on the list due to their underlying numbers. They’re 11-9 and are the only team in the AL East with a positive run differential. Max Fried and Cam Schlittler are carrying a despondent offense, which is really being carried by Ben Rice (1.205 OPS) and Aaron Judge (.929 OPS).

5. Twins

Minnesota? The Twins?

Yeah, in case you weren’t paying attention, the Twins are among the best teams in baseball right now. Trevor Larnach and company last weekend swept the Red Sox out of Minneapolis, including a game where they walloped Garrett Crochet for 10 earned runs.

It’s been a fun start for the Twins. And the decision to keep Joe Ryan may lead to a fun summer. The rotation is strong behind Ryan, which features a ressurgent Taj Bradley (1.25 ERA) and righty Mick Abel (3.98 ERA), who was one of the returns for closer Jhoan Duran.

6. Padres

Mason Miller. Korn. What else do you need?

Seriously, have you seen what Miller is doing. The flamethrower hasnt’ allowed a run in 9 1/3 innings, has a 22.2 K/9, and a -1.45 FIP. If the season ended today he would be the NL Cy Young winner.

Miller has spearheaded the best bullpen in baseball. Behind him are David Morgan, Bradgley Rodriguez, and Wandy Peralta, all who have ERAs under two. It’s been a winning formula for San Diego the past two seasons, and with the offense still finding its groove, the ‘pen has been the backbone for this 13-7 San Diego team.

7. Rangers

Jacob deGrom has a 2.21 ERA. Brandon Nimmo has a .313/.396/.538 slashline with four homers. The Mets must be good!

All joking aside, Nimmo and the pitching staff has led the Rangers out of the basement of the AL West. They’re 11-9, have a +17 run differential, and could make a run toward the division if their rotation stays healthy.

The Rangers have the fifth best team ERA in baseball (3.38), 12th best team OPS (.714), and seventh most homers (23). That’ll play.

8. Diamondbacks

Is Corbin Carroll the most underrated player in major league baseball?

I’m serious. With all the Shohei Ohtani hype around baseball, it’s easy to forget about the other superstars in the league. Carroll has quietly put up a .308/.395/.585 slashline with two homers, six doubles, and a major league leading three triples. He might win an MVP one day.

Him and José Fernández (122 OPS+) are carrying a cold D-Backs offense right now, which is getting bailed out Eduardo Rodríguez (1.96 ERA) and Michael Soroka (2.78 ERA).

9. Cubs

Chicago might be the hottest team in baseball right now.

They’ve scored 10 or more runs in three straight games, leading to a series win over the Phillies on the road and a win Friday over the Mets. Despite being in last in the NL Central, they have the best run differential among their rivals and second best expected record.

Nico Hoerner has been the biggest surprise this early season. He spent the offseason trying to improve his power output, which has led to three homers and a .973 OPS in 19 games. Hoerner has only clubbed seven homers the past two seasons. His career high was 10 in 2022.

10. Guardians

Cleveland has been trading wins and losses in the early season. Mostly due to their struggling ‘pen.

Coming into Saturday, the bullpen’s 5.55 ERA is 25th in baseball. It’s blown numerous leads already, including Friday where Shawn Armstrong and Erik Sabrowski blew a six scoreless inning outing from Tanner Bibee.

Fortunately for the Guardians, the offense and starting pitching has done enough to mitigate. José Ramírez is breaking out of a early, short slump and Angel Martínez has a 122 OPS+. Daniel Schneemann has also done a fantastic job, putting up video game numbers early (.313/.353/.563).

Rest of the Field

11. Brewers
12. Phillies
13. Mets
14. Mariners
15. Astros
16. Marlins
17. Orioles
18. Rays
19. Tigers
20. Angels
21. Reds
22. Athletics
23. Giants
24. Blue Jays
25. Red Sox
26. Cardinals
27. Royals
28. Nationals
29. Rockies
30. White Sox

Previous Rankings: W2 | W1 | OD

The post 2026 MLB Power Rankings: Week Three Update appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Jonah Tong made his 2026 season debut Friday in the Syracuse Mets’ Opening Day game. He threw four innings of scoreless baseball, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out four. He threw 73 pitches (42 strikes). The Mets won 3-1 over Worcester to kick off the minor league season.

Jonah Tong via Syracuse Mets

Latest Mets News

The Mets (1-0) play their second game of the season against the Pirates (0-1) at 4:10 p.m. ET on Saturday. David Peterson will face Mitch Keller as both make their 2026 debuts.

Ben Rortvedt and Vidal Bruján, both DFA’d by the Mets prior to Opening Day, passed through waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse. Lefty reliever Bryan Hudson, who was also recently DFA’d by the Mets and nearly claimed the final bullpen spot, was claimed off waivers by the White Sox and is no longer part of the Mets organization.

Latest MLB News

The Orioles signed pitcher Shane Baz to a five-year, $68 million contract. Baltimore sent a haul to the Rays for the 26-year-old this offseason and now lock him up for the foreseeable future. Baz went 10-12 with a 4.87 ERA in 2025.

Outfielder Jason Heyward announced his retirement on Friday. Heyward spent 16 seasons in Major League Baseball with six teams. He was a one-time All-Star, a five-time Gold Glover, and a World Series champion on the iconic 2016 Cubs team.

The Dodgers hired legendary pitcher Clayton Kershaw as a special assistant. His exact role isn’t too clear yet, but he will remain with the Dodgers after a Hall of Fame playing career with the organization.

Latest on MMO

Kai Chang analyzes starter Freddy Peralta‘s Mets debut.

Jack Markowski highlights the Mets’ offense from the first game of the season.

On This Date in Mets History

Born on This Date: Brad Emaus (1986), Paul Wilson (1973), Craig Paquette (1969).

The post Morning Briefing: Jonah Tong Throws Four Scoreless in Season Debut appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

David Stearns’ new-look lineup started off the season with a bang, piling up 11 hits, including two homers, a triple and a double. They shockingly drove reigning Cy Young award winner Paul Skenes out of the game before he finished an inning. Every Met but Lindor drove in at least one run, and the shortstop walked three times and scored three runs. They showed off a new offensive approach based on making contact and strong plate discipline, drawing nine walks against seven Pirates pitchers.

The Mets offense got the hit parade started against Skenes in their first turn at bat, though not without some help. After a Bo Bichette sacrifice fly drove in their first run, Brett Baty lined a bases-clearing triple over the head of center fielder Oneil Cruz, who took a wrong first step in. Cruz gave the Mets another gift on the very next batter, losing Marcus Semien’s fly ball in the sun to let Baty score, putting the Mets up 5-2.

Rookie Carson Benge had a major league debut to remember, smashing a solo homer in the sixth. Francisco Alvarez made it back-to-back with a blast of his own, giving the Mets an 11-5 lead.

Despite the offensive barrage, the win didn’t come without some heartburn. New ace Freddy Peralta wasn’t totally sharp in his Mets debut, giving up a first-inning two-run homer to Brandon Lowe, who then homered again in the third to get the Pirates within 5-3. Peralta went five innings, allowing four runs on six hits and no walks, along with seven strikeouts.

Tobias Myers, who was acquired with Peralta, allowed just one run on one hit in his three innings in relief. But Luis Garcia, another new Met, gave Pittsburgh some life in the ninth by allowing two runs before striking out Cruz to end the game. Mets pitchers didn’t walk a single batter.

The Mets are now 42-23 all-time on Opening Day, the best winning percentage of all teams despite losing their first eight in 1962.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Benge got a curtain call after his homer, and also gets the nod here by joining Kaz Matsui as the only Mets ever to homer on Opening Day in their MLB debut. He also had two walks, a steal, and two runs scored.

“I kind of blacked out rounding first,” Benge said after the game. “I don’t really remember too much.”

ON DECK

After an off day on Friday, the Mets and Pirates resume their three-game set on Saturday with David Peterson (9-6, 4.22 ERA in 2025) going up against righty Mitch Keller (6-15, 4.19 ERA in 2025). First pitch is 4:10 PM ET and the game airs on SNY.

The post Benge Homers, Mets Batter Skenes In Opening Day Win appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The 2026 Mets officially take the field for the first time this afternoon!

In 2005, the Mets signed Carlos Beltrán and Pedro Martínez. They rolled into the season with the slogan “The New Mets”. They should bring that slogan back this year with the amount of roster turnover. The Mets rank 28th in how much of the 2025 roster is returning in 2026. Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette join Francisco Lindor in the infield. Luis Robert Jr. and Carson Benge join Juan Soto in the outfield. Freddy Peralta makes an Opening Day start in Queens. Devin Williams and Luke Weaver will now close out games. Meet the Mets! There are a lot of new faces to learn!

Francisco Lindor (12) Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

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. Francisco Alvarez – C

Starting Pitcher: Freddy Peralta

The Mets’ trade for Freddy Peralta was a real turning point of the offseason. Peralta is coming off a career season where he made 33 starts totaling 176 2/3 innings with a 2.70 ERA, 3.64 FIP, 1.075 WHIP and a 154 ERA+. He faced the Pirates three times last season, totaling 15 1/3 innings, allowing five runs, four earned (2.35 ERA) while striking out 18 batters. The Pirates have the following career numbers against Peralta:

• Joey Bart 1-2, HR, BB
• Oneil Cruz 1-13, HR, 3 BB, 4 K
• Henry Davis 0-7, BB, 4 K
• Nick Gonzalez 2-10, 2B, HR, 4 K
• Spencer Horwitz 2-7
• Brandon Loew 1-5, K
• Ryan O’Hearn 1-6, BB, 3 K
• Marcell Ozuna 4-20, 2 2B, 2 BB, 6 K
• Bryan Reynolds 15-39, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 5 BB, 13 K
• Jared Triolo 1-9, 2 K
• Nick Yorke 0-1, BB, K

Opposing Lineup

1. Oneil Cruz – CF
2. Brandon Lowe – 2B
3. Bryan Reynolds – LF
4. Marcell Ozuna – DH
5. Ryan O’Hearn – RF
6. Jared Triolo – SS
7. Spencer Horwitz – 1B
8. Nick Gonzales – 3B
9. Henry Davis – C

Starting Pitcher: Paul Skenes

The Mets’ bats have a tough assignment on the first day of the season. Paul Skenes, the unanimous 2025 Cy Young winner, is a favorite to repeat this season. Over 32 starts last season, he totaled 187 2/3 innings with a league-leading 1.97 ERA, 2.36 FIP, 0.948 WHIP and 217 ERA+. He also allowed a league-leading 0.5 HR/9 and put up a 7.7 bWAR. This includes a start against the Mets where he allowed only one run over six innings in a game the Pirates eventually lost 4-3. The Mets have the following career stats against Skenes:

• Francisco Alvarez 0-4, BB, K
• Brett Baty 0-2, K
• Bo Bichette 1-3, K
• Francisco Lindor 2-6
• Jorge Polanco 1-4, BB, 2 K
• Juan Soto 0-3, BB, 2 K
• Mark Vientos 2-3, 2B, K

Game Notes

• Despite dropping their last two openers, the Mets still have the best Opening Day winning percentage in MLB history with a 41-23 record (.641).
• This is Freddy Peralta’s second Opening Day start at Citi Field – he allowed just one run on one hit in six innings for the Brewers in 2024. Peralta started against the Yankees on Opening Day last year, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings.

Three Things To Watch For

1. 2026 Milestones. Several Mets hitters should reach personal milestones this season. Here are the big ones: Juan Soto 1000 walks, Bo Bichette 1000 hits, Marcus Semien 1000 runs scored and Francisco Lindor 300 home runs. While no franchise Mets records are expected to fall this season, Francisco Lindor and David Peterson look to move up several prominent lists this year. Francisco Lindor has scored 503 runs as a Met and should pass Mike Piazza (532) and Ed Kranepool (536) to get to 11th on the list. He should also pass Carlos Beltrán and Dave Kingman in home runs to get to sixth on the all-time list. David Peterson can end up as a top 20 Mets pitcher in a few categories.
2. Battle of the fWAR Projections. The Pirates, anchored by Paul Skenes and several other rising arms, project ninth in pitching fWAR this season at 17.2, a few spots above the Mets (15.7). The Mets are projected to have the second-best offensive fWAR (31.7) while the Pirates are near the bottom of the league (20.9). Similar to how the Mets beat Skenes last season, their path to victory runs through getting Skenes out of the game as fast as possible and then feasting on the bullpen, while suppressing the Pirates’ bats.
3. An Opening Day Debut. The Mets’ top position prospect made the roster! Carson Benge has exploded on top prospect lists before this season (Baseball America #19, MLB.com #16, Baseball Prospectus #10). He tore up spring training, going 15-for-41 with a double and a triple (.435 OBP) and comes off a season in which he hit .281/.385/.472. Welcome to the show!

Let’s go Mets!

The post Game Chat: Pirates vs Mets, 1:15 PM appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

PITCHING MATCHUPS

• Thursday: Paul Skenes (10-10, 1.97 ERA in 2025) vs. Freddy Peralta (17-6, 2.70 ERA in 2025): Skenes enters the 2026 season as the betting favorite to win the Cy Young in the National League for the second consecutive season. He is coming off a few strong performances in the WBC with Team USA, allowing just one earned run in 8 1/3 innings. Skenes took the no-decision in his only start against the Mets last year in mid-May. Peralta will take the ball at Citi Field for the first time as a member of the Mets on Opening Day. Peralta is quite familiar with the Pirates as a former Milwaukee Brewer, pitching to a 3.36 ERA in 99 innings against Pittsburgh. Peralta is a perfect 4-0 with a 2.70 ERA in four career starts at Citi Field.
• Saturday: Mitch Keller (6-15, 4.19 ERA in 2025) vs. David Peterson (9-6, 4.22 ERA in 2025): Keller’s name has been in trade rumors for a number of years. The Pirates had interest at last season’s trade deadline, but decided to keep him around. Keller has good career numbers against the Mets, pitching to a 2.06 ERA over 39 1/3 innings. Peterson has a point to prove in 2026 after the way things unfolded for him down the stretch last season. He was the ace of the rotation in the first half, but the consistency quickly dwindled after the All-Star break. The Pirates gave Peterson fits in 2025, as he allowed seven earned runs over 10 2/3 innings.
• Sunday: Carmen Mlodzinski (5-8, 3.55 ERA in 2025) vs. Nolan McLean (5-1, 2.06 ERA in 2025): Mlodzinski is not a name many expected to see pitching in the first series of the year for the Pirates. With Jared Jones on the IL to begin the season, an opportunity has been presented to him. Length will be a key talking point with Mlodzinski. He completed at least five innings in just three of his 12 big league starts last season. McLean burst onto the scene in the second half of last season, making eight starts down the stretch for the Mets. He couldn’t have been much better, allowing two earned runs or less in seven of those eight starts. McLean went 2-0 with an astonishing 0.37 ERA in four starts at Citi Field in 2025.

WHAT’S THE STORY?

The storylines are endless as the Mets begin their 2026 season. Players making their team debuts, players making their MLB debuts. The list goes on and on. My focus is on the team as a whole, but more specifically, how they execute late in games when trailing. Last season, they didn’t win a single game when entering the ninth inning with a deficit. That was one of the many reasons why they missed the playoffs, despite having the second-highest payroll in baseball.

Changes were necessary, and changes were made. Will their roster revamp in terms of personnel result in more wins and a playoff berth? Time will tell. But with the additions of Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco, the Mets are clearly putting an emphasis on putting the ball in play, especially in high-leverage situations. Let’s see if those new additions make a significant impact in that department.

PREDICTION

The Pirates are a better team than many will give them credit for. With an improved lineup, they have the talent to be in the mix for a playoff spot in 2026. That being said, the Mets are the better team opening the season at home. Citi Field will play a role in setting the tone for this season. I expect a game or two to be close late, but the Mets will take two of three.

The post Series Preview: Mets Open Season Against New-Look Pirates appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets’ 2026 Opening Day matchup against the Pirates will be nationally televised as part of NBC and Peacock’s Opening Day doubleheader. The game will air at 1:00 p.m. ET on March 26 and will be followed by the Diamondbacks and Dodgers at 8:00 p.m. ET. The game is likely to feature this new-look Mets team against Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes. The Mets will be on NBC and Peacock four total times during the 2026 season.

Photo by Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

Baseball America updated its list of the top 10 Mets prospects. Starter Nolan McLean, unsurprisingly, is listed as the Mets’ top prospect, followed by Carson Benge and Jonah Tong.

Keith Hernandez and SNY are reportedly in the early stages of contract negotiations that would keep Hernandez in the SNY booth for three more years.

Latest MLB News

Max Kepler was suspended 80 games for testing positive for Epitrenbolone, a performance-enhancing drug. Kepler, whose free agency took a hit, was a lifelong Twin before signing with the Phillies ahead of the 2025 season. He recorded a .691 OPS in 127 games.

Former Met Ryne Stanek signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals. Stanek spent the second half of 2024 and all of 2025 with the Mets. He recorded a 5.30 ERA in 65 innings a season ago.

Former Met Nick Madrigal signed a minor-league deal with the Angels. Madrigal was signed as a Jose Iglesias replacement prior to the 2025 season, but he injured himself and did not appear in a game.

Sidney de Jong, a former member of the Netherlands national baseball team, passed away at 46. de Jong appeared in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic tournaments and had a crucial hit that led to a game-winning rally in a 2009 matchup against the Dominican Republic.

Latest on MMO

Rafael González profiles starter Kris Bubic as a potential trade target for the Mets.

Jack Markowski breaks down the latest rumors, including Ketel Marte likely staying in Arizona, and the Yankees making a new offer to Cody Bellinger.

On This Date in Mets History

Born on This Date: José Castillo (1996), Rico Garcia (1994), Kevin Baez (1967), Jim Lindeman (1962), Mario Díaz (1962), Kelvin Torve (1960).

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Opening Day to Air on NBC and Peacock appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

In a worrying continuation of their recent slide, the Mets were swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend. Yes, swept by the Pirates. Not only that but New York was outscored 30-4 by its lowly opponents.

As a result, the Mets are now 3-13 in their last 16 games. That’s not good to say the very least. Overall, this team will finish the month of June 12-15.

It was a nightmare weekend all around. The starting pitching continues to regress with alarming speed. The offense looks lifeless. And, perhaps more concerning is the fact that the entire team and coaching staff look out of ideas.

Even a players-only meeting on Saturday wasn’t enough to stop the slide.
And, on that note, let’s unpack all the ugly from a horrific weekend in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Juan Soto Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

3 UP

OFF DAY

Look, let’s be honest – there isn’t a single positive to draw from what was a nightmarish weekend. But given that this feature is called ‘3 Up, 3 Down’, we need to at least try. Therefore, let’s start with the fact that the Mets are off on Monday. Why is that good? Well, firstly, the bullpen gets a bit of a breather. Secondly, the entire team has some time to figure out what exactly is going wrong and why. With no game, the Mets can instead go back to the drawing board, regroup, reset and refocus. After all, they have a tough stretch coming up with the red-hot Brewers, followed by the Yankees.

HANGING ON IN THERE

Despite this recent horrible skid, not all is lost for the Mets. At the time of writing this, New York is only 1.5 games behind the Phillies in the NL East. The Mets also still hold the top Wild Card spot in the National League. That’s something to cling to. After all, despite a nightmare June and despite being embarrassingly swept by the Pirates, the Mets are still alive and well. Sometimes, it helps to focus on the bigger picture.

STAYING HOT

While the offense stunk this weekend, Juan Soto still made massive strides in the right direction. The superstar hitter got on base in all three games in Pittsburgh, hitting a home run in the opener and finishing the series with a pair of RBIs. As a result, Soto will finish June hitting .322/.474/.722 with a 1.196 OPS. That’s significant because Soto’s 1.196 OPS is the second-highest in a single calendar month in franchise history. Only Darryl Strawberry‘s 1.209 OPS in June 1990 is better. That’s just how good Soto has been this month. And he was the only bright spark for the Mets over what was a dark weekend.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

NEW LOWS

The Mets were already mired in an all-time slump heading into the weekend. But, then, things took a turn for the worse in Pittsburgh. Going up against the worst-scoring team in the NL – a team that was on pace to lose 100 games – the Mets stunk the building out. They didn’t put up any fight on the way to being swept in embarrassing and alarming fashion. They were outscored 30-4 by a team that has struggled to score runs all season long. The pitching imploded. The offense never showed up. And New York has now lost 13 of its last 16 games. This team looks lost right now. And that’s not good for a group that’s supposed to be a World Series contender. If the wheels continue to fall off, the inexcusable no-show in Pittsburgh will no doubt go down as the defining point in a horrific stretch.

NOSEDIVE COMPLETE

There is seemingly no stopping the current pitching free-fall that is directly contributing to this current slide. The starting pitching continued to be a problem in this series. David Peterson allowed five runs in just 4.2 innings in the opener. Paul Blackburn lasted just over an inning, giving up three runs on six hits on Saturday. And, in the finale, Frankie Montas was shelled for six runs in only four innings. As a result, the Mets have now gone 12 straight games without a starting pitcher recording an out in the sixth inning. Consequently, the bullpen continues to operate under unsustainable strain. That showed against the Pirates. Combined, the pen gave up 16 earned runs on 20 hits and eight walks in the three games. Unless something gives on the pitching side, the Mets could continue to be in big trouble.

WEAK STRENGTH

Not helping the pitching is the fact that the offense is so hit-and-miss. What was supposed to be the strength of this teamis rapidly turning into a fatal flaw. The Mets could only score four runs against one of the worst teams in baseball throughout the weekend. That tells you all you need to know. Furthermore, this lineup couldn’t even solve its RISP woes against bad opposition. In the three games against the Pirates, the Mets went a combined 2-for-22 with runners in scoring position, leaving a whopping 24 runners stranded on base.

Also adding to the offensive struggles this weekend was the fact that Francisco Lindor went 1-for-12 in the series. The returning Mark Vientos could only go 1-for-13. Meanwhile, Lindor, Pete Alonso, Soto and Brandon Nimmo went a combined 2-for-15 with four strikeouts in the finale. And the bottom of the lineup continues to fail to contribute on a consistent enough basis. All in all, the Mets have a lot of fixing to do if they want to return to true contender status.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Endure House Of Horrors In Pittsburgh appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Prior to Friday’s game against the Pirates, the Mets made a number of roster moves which can be found here. Of note, Griffin Canning was placed on the 60-day injured list while Mark Vientos was activated from the IL. One of the moves made, however, was the team decided to release former top prospect Alex Ramírez from Double-A.

Ramírez was once one of the Mets’ most promising prospects, particularly after the 2022 season when he posted a .782 OPS with 30 doubles, 11 home runs and 21 stolen bases across High-A and Double-A. His play had fallen off dramatically over the past few seasons, however, and he had just a .602 OPS in Double-A this year.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Latest Mets News

The Mets (48-35) dropped their series opener against the Pirates (33-50), 9-1. David Peterson had a second consecutive rough outing, while Juan Soto hit his 20th home run of the season.

The Mets announced on Friday that Griffin Canning underwent surgery for his ruptured Achilles. Canning will miss the rest of the season.

Geoff Pontes of Baseball America listed Mets prospect Jonah Tong in his article of 10 pitching prospects who had standout data for the month of June.

Latest MLB News

Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who currently leads the majors in home runs, has agreed to participate in this year’s Home Run Derby. He joins Ronald Acuña Jr., who will be the hometown participant, as the second known participant in the event.

Angels manager Ron Washington will not return to the team in 2025. It was announced last week that Washington would go on indefinite medical leave, and they have now announced that will extend through at least the end of the season.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, former Met J.D. Martinez currently has a non-guaranteed offer on the table from the Texas Rangers. Martinez has been working out in Miami in case the right deal comes along.

The MLB Draft League and Cape Cod League will play in an exhibition game against each other on Monday, June 30. Citi Field will host the game.

Latest on MMO

David Melendi writes about Dedniel Núñez‘s brilliant performance out of the bullpen in Thursday’s win over the Braves.

On This Date in Mets History

1975: The first manager in Mets history, Casey Stengel, made his final Shea Stadium appearance on this day 50 years ago at the team’s Old Times Day. Stengel, who was 85 at the time, would pass away just three months later.

Born on This Date: Richard Hidalgo (1975), Joe Sambito (1952).

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Release Alex Ramírez appeared first on Metsmerized Online.