Baseball began Wednesday night with the Yankees defeating the Giants 7-0, kicking off an exciting 2026 season. The Dodgers still have a target on their heads coming off back-to-back World Series rings, and will look to be the first team to three-peat since the Yankees from 1998-2000.

Meanwhile, the other 29 teams will look to dethrone the champs, especially in the National League, which features a loaded resume of teams. The Mets, Phillies, and injury riddled Braves will compete for an NL East title, the Reds bolstered their roster by re-signing Eugenio Suarez to battle the Cubs and Brewers for the NL Central, and the Giants will have a full season of Rafael Devers to try and keep up with the Padres and Dodgers, who have mainly fought for the NL West the past two seasons.

Will anyone knock the Dodgers off? Probably not. They spent another offseason reloading their roster with All-Stars, signing Edwin Díaz away from the Mets and winning the arms race for Kyle Tucker. But if anyone in the NL can’t end their season prematurely, maybe the Yankees and Aaron Judge can in the American League.

Still, it’s too early to be talking about October. It’s March. And I know you all missed these absolutely, positively correct power rankings every week. This season, every article will include a link to the old power rankings at the bottom of the article. Let’s kick off 2026 with a fresh top-10.

Juan Soto
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

1. Dodgers

Until they’re dethroned, the champs are No. 1.

The Dodgers loaded up again to go for a third consecutive World Series. They signed the best closer in Díaz after their bullpen was suspect in the playoffs, and poached Tucker away from the Cubs, Yankees, and Mets in free agency to shore up their offensive hole in the outfield.

They’re incredibly talented, but also banged up. This, funnily enough, might be the only time they sit in first on the power rankings. Their strategy of coasting to a playoff spot, then attacking with a healthy roster in October has worked the last two seasons.

That being said, there are some questions surrounding the Dodgers. Is Mookie Betts going to bounce back from a .732 OPS in 2025? What does Freddie Freeman offer in his age-36 season? And can the rotation provide enough to survive a strong division that holds the Giants and Padres?

2. Blue Jays

I won’t lie. I incorrectly slept on the Blue Jays the entire 2025 season. I won’t make the same mistake twice.

This roster is loaded, and the front office bolstered it in the offseason. The Jays inked Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million contract in the offseason, shoring up third base with a righty that OPS’d 1.014 with the Yomiuri Giants last season in Japan. They also signed power-throwing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal to lead a strong rotation already headlined by Kevin Gausman and rookie Trey Yesavage.

The Jays are ready to make a push at another pennant. And with power in their lineup and rotation, they’re positioned to win a tough division that features the Yankees, Orioles, and Red Sox.

3. Mariners

Seattle quietly had an impressive offseason. They traded for Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals, a gap-to-gap lefty bat who will fit nicely in T-Mobile Park.

They also signed Josh Naylor, who they acquired at last year’s deadline, to play first again, spacing out their big right-handed bats in Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena. The lineup is intimidating, even after losing Suarez and Jorge Polanco in free agency.

Of course, the talk of the roster is their loaded pitching. The lineup features four arms that could win the Cy Young. Take your pick against Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, Bryce Miller, or Luis Castillo, it most likely won’t end well. Then there’s the bullpen, which is anchored by the most underrated closer in the game: Andrés Muñoz. The flamethrower put up a 1.73 ERA and 38 saves in 62 1/3 innings, and has a cohort of strong options behind him in Matt Brash, Jose A. Ferrer, and Gabe Speier.

4. Phillies

Philadelphia is running it back with the same core for 2026. Which isn’t necessarily bad.

The club won 96 games last year and took home the NL East. They also re-signed Kyle Schwarber, who clubbed 56 homers last season and drove in 132 runs. So what is there to complain about?

The fan base will say this core hasn’t done anything since 2022. And that’s fair. But they did add Adolis García, who could return to his 2023 form, and will insert Justin Crawford into their lineup at center, the son of former major leaguer Carl Crawford who batted .334 with 49 stolen bases in Triple-A last season.

Additions were also made in the bullpen. Philadelphia signed Brad Keller, acquired Jonathan Bowlan from the Phillies, and will get a full season from Jhoan Duran and José Alvarado, the later who was suspended in 2025 for steroids. It has the potential to be the best ‘pen in the sport.

Pair that with a starting rotation that’s led by Cristopher Sanchez and Jesús Luzardo, and you’re in business. This team is good. World Series level good. Oh, and did I mention they’ll be adding Zack Wheeler and Andrew Painter at some point this season?

5. Yankees

The Bombers are poised to make a run at their 28th World Series title.

They’re the favorites again to win the AL, and it’s for a good reason. Judge is the best right-handed hitter of all-time (argue with a wall), and he’s backed up by household names in Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Giancarlo Stanton.

The narrative is the same as always with the Yanks. Health. Will Stanton play this season? Can Chisholm stay on the field? Can Bellinger and Trent Grisham play, and repeat their phenomenal 2025 seasons? If they can, they’ll push for the AL East title.

Pitching health will also be a storyline this season. Gerrit Cole is returning from Tommy John at 35, yet was sitting at 96 miles per hour Tuesday. If he can return, Cole has the juice to compete for a Cy Young. Luis Gil‘s return will also be massive for the Yankees, and give them much-needed depth. It’s reported the Yankees will begin the season with a four-man rotation, but a rotation that sends Max Fried and Cam Schlittler out will be fine to begin the first two weeks of the season.

6. Mets

The narrative of the Mets’ offseason was that they got worse. I disagree.

The lineup lost Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo, yes. But they added Polanco, Bo Bichette, and Luis Robert Jr. It’s deeper, and contact-oriented. Emphasis on contact-oriented. Too often last season, Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto would get on base, then jog back to the dugout after consecutive strikeouts to end the inning. It’s completely rethought. And they removed two players in their top four who swung and missed a lot.

Also, remember the rotation is set to be healthy in 2026, and features a true ace in Freddy Peralta. That takes pressure off rookie Nolan McLean to pitch like a No. 1, allows David Peterson to slot into the third spot and hopefully return to his 3.06 first-half ERA, and Kodai Senga to be a No. 4 starter with No. 1 stuff. It’s all in front of them.

Plus if it doesn’t work out, the rotation has depth. Sean Manaea is waiting in the wings, Tobias Myers has the potential to be a back-end guy, and Jonah Tong and Jack Wenninger are close to being major league starters. Last season, the rotation faltered. 2026 won’t see the same issue.

The fate of the season truly hangs on the bullpen. Is Devin Williams still among the best closers in baseball? Or did New York break him? And what are they going to get out of Luke Weaver? If one of those two arms don’t produce, this team’s in trouble.

7. Cubs

Give Chicago credit. The ownership has been blasted due to missing the playoffs since 2018 (COVID doesn’t count), and they added this offseason after an NLDS appearance in 2025.

The big signing was Alex Bregman. He’ll man third base and is coming off his third All-Star appearance in 2025, where he clubbed 18 homers and OPS’d .821 in 111 games with the Red Sox. Combine that with a loaded offense featuring Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Nico Hoerner, and Michael Busch, and the Cubs are positioned to score more runs than in 2025 (793).

Don’t sleep on the rotation either. They traded for Edward Cabrera from the Marlins, who has always had the stuff to develop into a top-of-the-rotation arm. And even if he doesn’t, the rotation is top-heavy with Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga, and Matthew Boyd.

8. Red Sox

Boston has made moves the last couple of offseasons to build a championship team. Now, they’re ready to push for a pennant.

The young core of Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela will be the cog that turns the wheel for the Red Sox, and veteran bats of Trevor Story, Jarren Duran, and Willson Contreras will carry the weight.

The rotation will also limit runs, headlined by Cy Young candidate Garrett Crochet and young-budding star Brayan Bello, and finished by veteran additions in Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez. They’re talented, but find themselves in the toughest division in baseball.

9. Giants

San Francisco had a weird 2025. They went 81-81 despite a threatening roster, and missed the playoffs with an experienced manager in Bob Melvin.

I’m willing to bet on the 2026 Giants being a playoff-caliber team. The lineup is dangerous with Devers, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, and Heliot Ramos, plus the additions of Harrison Bader and Luis Arraez should help lengthen it.

The rotation also is playoff caliber. Logan Webb is never talked about despite consistently pitching like an ace, and Robbie Ray made 32 starts last season and pitched to a 3.65 ERA. Round that out with Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser, and this team has the arms to compete with the top teams in the West.

The bullpen is a little suspect compared to the All-Star names on the Padres and Dodgers 40-man rosters. Ryan Walker registered a 4.11 ERA last season and will be the closer heading into 2026. Plus, the Giants should do themselves a favor and call up Bryce Eldridge.

10. Royals

Kansas City finalizes the first top-10 of 2026. And it’s not hard to love them.

They’re led by the best shortstop in baseball in Bobby Witt Jr., and rounded out by other impressive infielders in Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino.

It’s a scary top-three in the lineup. But the 4-6 are just as strong. Salvador Perez is coming off another 30-homer season, Jac Caglianone slashed .304/.448/.522 in spring, and Jonathan India provides a solid floor. Add in Carter Jensen as well, the Royals’ exciting top prospect.

The rotation also has a great floor. Seth Lugo looks to bounce back after an average 4.15 ERA and Cole Ragans is only one year removed from looking like an ace. The bullpen will also hold leads, primarily due to Carlos Estévez and Nick Mears, who was acquired from Milwaukee.

Rest of the Field

11. Padres
12. Orioles
13. Guardians
14. Braves
15. Tigers
16. Brewers
17. Astros
18. Rangers
19. Reds
20. Diamondbacks
21. Rays
22. Athletics
23. Pirates
24. Marlins
25. Nationals
26. Twins
27. Cardinals
28. Angels
29. White Sox
30. Rockies

The post 2026 MLB Power Rankings: Opening Weekend appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images

Marte, 37, signed a four-year, $78 million contract with the Mets before the 2022 season and represented the Mets in the All-Star Game in his first year in New York. He played in 118 games that season, slashed .292/.347/.468, hit 16 home runs, and stole 18 bases.

Age, injuries, and inconsistency reduced Marte’s role in the three years that followed, but he was a clubhouse leader who Juan Soto called “literally the leader of this team” last August.

“I feel like he’s actually the captain of this team,” Soto told Mike Puma of the New York Post. “He’s bringing everybody together. He’s bringing the energy that we need. He’s a guy who has been stepping up every single time, it doesn’t matter what. He’s actually the real deal of the team. He’s the model of the team. Everybody, when they want to talk and get to know something or have a conversation, they can go to him. He’s actually the real deal.”

Marte was an All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner in Pittsburgh, where he spent the first eight years of his 14-year career. He is the active MLB stolen base leader with 361.

The post Royals Sign Starling Marte appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Position: SP B/T: R/R
Age: 35 (11/17/1989)

2025 Traditional Stats: 19 G (19 starts), 113 IP, 2.95 ERA, 1.088 WHIP, 7-5, 99 K, 33 BB
2025 Advanced Stats: 139 ERA+, 22% K%, 7.3% BB%, 4.56 xERA, 4.28 FIP, 4.06 xFIP, 1.2 fWAR, 2.8 bWAR

Contract Status: $15 million player option for 2026

Rundown

For much of his time in New York, Seth Lugo made a living as a high-leverage reliever. He struck out as many as 104 batters in a season and even got occasional reps as the team’s closer. However, after the 2022 season, Lugo set out to become a starting pitcher like he was when he first debuted. He signed a two-year deal with a player option with the Padres, and after posting a solid season over 26 starts, he opted out and inked a three-year contract with the Royals.

Since joining Kansas City, Lugo has been one of the more effective pitchers in baseball. He made his first All-Star Game in 2024, finishing second in Cy Young voting with a 3.00 ERA and 181 strikeouts over a career-high 206 2/3 innings. In 2025, he got off to a decent start to the season, but has posted a 2.38 ERA in 53 innings since June 6. Lugo currently ranks 10th in the AL in ERA and opponents’ batting average, and ninth in WHIP.

On the surface, Lugo is keeping pace with his magnificent 2024 season. However, his underlying metrics seem to indicate he may be due for regression. He has a FIP of 4.28, an xERA of 4.56, and an xFIP of 4.06. His 22% strikeout rate is slightly higher than his 2024 mark, but his walk rate has increased from 5.7% to 7.3%, the highest it’s been since 2021. Furthermore, his 45.7% hard-hit rate and 90.5 mph average-exit velocity are the highest marks of his career. His ground-ball rate has fallen to a career-low 38.7%, while his 28.3% fly-ball rate is the second-highest of his career, only behind his 2019 season. His opponents’ .245 BABiP is the lowest it’s been since his rookie season. Lugo gave up just 16 homers in 2024, but he’s already served up 17 long balls in 2025. However, 12 of those home runs have come with no one on base. Lugo has an 85.3% strand rate, and hitters are batting just .203 with one homer against him with runners in scoring position.

Part of the reason Lugo is still effective is his deep arsenal — he’s thrown 10 different pitches at least 10 times this season. His velocity is down across the board, but his sinker and slider have both shown improvement. While his sinker doesn’t generate whiffs at a high rate (only 13.8%), it has registered just a 36.5% hard-hit rate, and he’s allowed just two home runs on the pitch. His slider, which he uses less frequently, has a whiff rate of 30.2% and hitters are just 4-for-26 with two extra-base hits against it. Six of the home runs Lugo has allowed have come against his four-seam fastball, which opponents have tagged for a 50% hard-hit rate and .529 xSLG, and opponents have a hard-hit rate of 48.3% against his curveball.

While he might have sacrificed the mid-to-high 90s fastball he had in Flushing, Lugo has transformed into a workhorse. He has pitched at least six innings in 13 of his 19 starts this season, working into the seventh inning six times. He’s allowed three runs or fewer in 16 of his starts as well. In 2024, Lugo threw at least six innings 25 times, completing seven innings on 13 occasions. So far in 2025, Mets starters rank 24th in the majors in innings pitched and are averaging just over five innings per start.

Package

Despite his strong production over the last two seasons, Lugo might not cost as much as other arms on the market. He’s in his age-35 season and seems likely to decline his $15 million player option for 2026, making him a rental.

Mets Receive

• Seth Lugo

Royals Receive

• RHP Jack Wenninger (No. 11 prospect per Mike Mayer)
• OF Eli Serrano III (No. 12 prospect per Mike Mayer)

Recommendation

The Mets have just one starting pitcher–David Peterson–who has averaged six innings per start in 2025. Lugo can provide the team with a veteran arm that can go deep into games and likely won’t cost any of the team’s top prospects. This is a move the Mets should strongly consider to give the starting rotation some stability for the rest of the season.

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Despite failing to clinch the sweep, New York took two out of three from the Royals in Kansas City. As a result, the Mets head into the All-Star break with a 55-42 record. Furthermore, they’ve won seven of their past 11 games and three of the past four series.

We will be taking stock of the first half in a special 3 Up, 3 Down on Tuesday, but for now, let’s recap everything from the series in Kansas City…

Jul 13, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea (59) pitches during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

3 UP

RETURN OF THE KINGS

There wasn’t a lot to get excited about in the series finale on Sunday. However, seeing Sean Manaea make his long-awaited return was a welcome boost for everyone connected with the Mets. The lefty replaced Clay Holmes and proceeded to allow one earned run on five hits with no walks and seven strikeouts over 3.1 innings. Yes, Manaea did allow the winning run that prevented New York from sweeping the series. Other than that, however, Manaea showed a lot of promise in his 2025 debut. The Mets will now hope that the veteran can build on that and carve out a successful second half.

Manaea wasn’t the only key piece of the rotation to have made his return this past weekend. Kodai Senga also made his comeback on Friday, giving the Mets their top two pitching weapons back. Senga’s return was a successful one as he delivered four shutout innings on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Now, granted, the right-hander did face a boatload of traffic in his first start back, but he was able to navigate through that adversity and come through unscathed. Being able to tough out an outing even when you don’t have your best stuff is the hallmark of a great pitcher. Now back, Senga is a real X-Factor for the Mets as we get ready for the second half. If he can stay healthy and continue to pitch at a Cy Young level, then this rotation will be in good shape.

UPWARDS TRAJECTORY

The weekend series in Kansas City provided the Mets with a slew of positives on the starting rotation front. Not only did Senga and Manaea make successful returns, but Frankie Montas continued to look really good. The right-hander was lights out in his start on Saturday. He allowed just one run on four hits with five strikeouts across five innings. It was easily his best start of the year. Montas’ stuff looked incredibly sharp, all of his pitches were working, and he gave his offense a solid platform to build on. All in all, Montas has looked better and better with each start he’s made. As a result, he’s now on a positive upward trajectory heading into the All-Star break. If he can continue improving with every start, then this rotation could look formidable once again.

STAYING HOT, HOPE & MILESTONES

We’re going to finish off this section with three positives in one. Because, well, why not? Let’s start with Mark Vientos. The third baseman has been mired in an all-time slump for all of 2025. Those struggles continued when he struck out with the bases loaded in the third inning of Friday’s opener. However, when offered a shot at redemption in the eighth, Vientos took it. The slumping slugger hit a three-run, bases-clearing double to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead. It was without doubt the biggest hit of the entire year for Vientos. He followed that up by going a combined 3-for-7 in the final two games of the series, including hitting a triple on Sunday. Hopefully, the heroics on Friday unlocked something for Vientos, who will need to hit like he did in 2024 in the second half of 2025.

Elsewhere, Juan Soto stayed hot with two home runs, three runs scored, three RBIs, and two walks in this series. Soto now has 23 home runs at the All-Star break, matching the previous career-high he set at the halfway mark last year with the Yankees. Finally, Francisco Lindor made some history by recording the 200th stolen base of his career on Saturday. Consequently, he joined an exclusive club, becoming just the third shortstop in MLB history to tally 200 stolen bases and 200 home runs. Derek Jeter and Jimmy Rollins are the other members of that prestigious club.

Clay Holmes (35) Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

RIGHT BACK ON THE IL

This has been a frustrating period for Jesse Winker. As soon as he returned from the IL, he was back on it again. It was announced prior to the series opener against the Royals that Winker was put back on the IL with lower back inflammation. The veteran will be treated with medication over the next several days before being reevaluated. Having already missed two months with a strained oblique, Winker will no doubt be unhappy that he’s back on the shelf again. It also isn’t great news for the Mets. Winker’s bat is needed in the middle of that lineup, especially considering how inconsistent the offense has been so far. Hopefully, the All-Star break will be the tonic Winker needs to get himself right and healthy in time for the second half.

LOAD MANAGEMENT

One of the biggest Mets storylines heading into the second half will be Clay Holmes. More specifically, how the Mets will manage the reliever-turned-starter in the second half and down the stretch. In his latest start on Sunday, Holmes pitched well, allowing two earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts and one walk over five innings. Heading into the break, the righty has now pitched 103 1/3 innings. His previous career-high for innings pitched in a season was 70 in 2021. Therefore, the Mets are going to have to walk an incredibly fine line with Holmes and the innings he pitches the rest of the way.

FINISHING SLOW

Once again, the Mets failed to sweep a series, and once again, the offense was to blame. The lineup went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners stranded on base. It was the fourth time in five games that the Mets had failed to score at least four runs. Furthermore, New York is now averaging 4.39 runs per game, which ranks 14th in Major League Baseball. We are now at the All-Star break, and we’re still waiting for this offense to really come alive on a consistent basis. The continued struggles with RISP should be raising major alarms inside the front office. This offense needs to figure it out, and fast.

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Jul 13, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea (59) pitches during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Coming out of the bullpen isn’t completely foreign to Manaea, who had previously done it 30 times in his career. Sunday’s starter, Clay Holmes, made a living as a reliever before this year, though, so it was somewhat puzzling that the Mets made the decision to piggyback Manaea. Take the fact that the Mets have also been wary of Holmes’s innings total this season, the first-half finale could’ve served as an easy opportunity to skip a start for the righty.

Nevertheless, the Mets held firm to their plan, and you can’t say it was ineffective. After pitching Edwin Díaz for two innings on Saturday, hoping that Holmes and Manaea could split Sunday’s nine, they did just that, giving up just three runs as a duo. Unfortunately, the Mets’ stagnant offense only brought home two, and New York dropped its first-half finale for the tenth straight season.

Manaea gave up just a single run in his 3 1/3 innings, on a softly hit walk-off single by Nick Loftin. Manaea struck out an impressive seven, throwing his four-seam fastball about two-thirds of the time, and his patented sweeper the other third, save for a change-up to Bobby Witt Jr.

Any concerns of a velocity drop coming off injury were diminished, at least for one afternoon. Manaea averaged 93 mph on his fastball, up 0.8 mph from 2024. More impressively, he threw his sweeper 80.3 mph on average, an increase of 2.6 mph. With a whiff rate of 42 percent against the Royals, Manaea held steady his ability to miss bats with his lowered arm slot, despite the lack of a high-90s fastball.

“It was really good to be back,” Manaea said postgame, “Fastball and slider felt really good.”

The Mets are now set up for the first time in 2025 with the top five members of the starting rotation all healthy at the same time. With the trade deadline just 17 days away, the team now will have a clearer ability to assess if starting pitching will be on the wish list, along with the more obvious needs of a late-inning reliever and a bat to help the top-heavy lineup.

The post Sean Manaea Shines in Long-Awaited Return appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Juan Soto scored from first on the double, sliding around the catcher just ahead of the tag to give the Mets a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning. The big hit came after Pete Alonso struck out with the bases loaded and nobody out and broke the bat over his knee. It also got Huascar Brazobán off the hook after he coughed up a tie-breaking, two-run home run to Bobby Witt Jr. in the seventh inning.

The Mets (54-41) exploded for four runs in the ninth on back-to-back home runs – a three-run blast by Francisco Lindor and a Soto solo shot – that made the final score misleading.

The game marked the return of Kodai Senga, who used excellent pitching, quick reflexes and a little bit of luck to escape jam after jam after jam.

Senga, returning from a strained right hamstring that he suffered covering first base on June 12, threw four scoreless innings and gave up four hits, walked two and struck out four. It was his 31st-straight start allowing three earned runs or fewer. The Royals missed chances to end that streak right from the start.

Kansas City (46-49) had runners on second and third with nobody out in the first. Senga struck out Vinnie Pasquantino, caught a Maikel Garcia line drive back to the mound (78.6 mph exit velocity) and fanned Salvador Perez.

Senga caught a break on the Garcia line drive because he tried to double off the runner at third and the ball got away, but third baseman Ronny Mauricio stepped on runner Jonathan India‘s hand as he was trying to reach for the base and he was in too much pain to advance.

The Royals had two on and two out in the second, but Senga retired India when Mauricio made a nice play on a hot shot (82.4 exit velocity) to third that he fielded backhanded on a short hop. With two on and two out in the third, Senga threw four consecutive ghost forks to rookie Jac Caglianone, and he chased the last one for strike three.

The Mets scored their first run when Alonso worked an eight-pitch walk with the bases loaded in the third inning. Vientos came up after Alonso and struck out to end the frame, then broke the bat. Vientos may have been upset with a questionable called strike earlier in the at-bat that had manager Carlos Mendoza arguing with umpire Jim Wolf.

The Mets had a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning when Nick Loftin hit a ball off the end of the bat into left field. Brandon Nimmo could have played it safe and let it fall for a single, but he tried to make a diving catch with two outs and Perez on first. He failed to come up with it, the ball got behind him, and Perez scored.

Stat of the Game

It was the sixth time the Mets won a game this year when trailing after seven innings.

Player of the Game

Vientos was 2-for-5 with the big three-run double. Honorable mention to Senga, who threw 42 of 67 pitches for strikes and lowered his ERA to 1.39. Welcome back.

On Deck

Frankie Montas (1-1, 6.14 ERA) faces Michael Lorenzen (5-8, 4.61 ERA) in the penultimate game of the first half. Lorenzen’s career ERA is 4.06, but it’s 2.61 in 41 1/3 career innings vs. the Mets. First pitch is at 4:10 p.m. ET on SNY.

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The Mets look to end the first half of the season on a strong note against the Kansas City Royals. After beating the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees in consecutive series, the Mets dropped a doubleheader (and the series) to the Baltimore Orioles yesterday.

Right now, it feels like the Mets are bit depleted, but there’s good news! Tonight, they get Kodai Senga back for his first start since June 12, and Sunday they get Sean Manaea back for his season debut!

Kodai Senga (34) Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

1. Brandon Nimmo – LF
2. Francisco Lindor – SS
3. Juan Soto – RF
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Mark Vientos – DH
6. Jeff McNeil – 2B
7. Ronny Mauricio – 3B
8. Luis Torrens – C
9. Tyrone Taylor – CF

Kodai Senga returns to the Mets tonight! He was having a tremendous season, pitching 73 2/3 innings over 13 starts with a 1.47 ERA, 3.19 FIP, 1.113 WHIP and a 261 ERA+, before injuring his hamstring in early June and being diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. He allowed four runs (three earned) over 3 2/3 frames in his rehab start last week.

The Royals have the following career stats against Senga:

• Maikel Garcia 3-4
• Jonathan India 2-3, 2B, K
• Kyle Isbel 2-3
• Salvador Perez 1-3, 2B, 2 K
• Bobby Witt Jr. 2-3

Opposing Lineup

1. Jonathan India – DH
2. Bobby Witt Jr. – SS
3. Vinnie Pasquantino – 1B
4. Maikel Garcia – 3B
5. Salvador Perez – C
6. Jac Caglianone – RF
7. Nick Loftin – 2B
8. John Rave – LF
9. Kyle Isbel – CF

The Mets’ batters will face off against one-time friend Michael Wacha tonight. He had a 6.62 ERA over eight games and 34 innings for the 2020 New York Mets. He’s become a very consistent pitcher over the last four years, consistently putting up an ERA in the 3’s. This season, he has pitched 101 innings over 18 outings with a 3.83 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 1.287 WHIP and a 108 ERA+. He’s coming off of a rough stretch where he he has allowed 12 earned runs over his last three starts (15 IP, 7.20 ERA, 4.55 FIP).

The Mets have the following career numbers against Wacha:

• Pete Alonso 3-6, HR
• Brett Baty 2-3, 2B
• Francisco Lindor, 1-2, BB
• Jeff McNeil 2-5
• Brandon Nimmo 1-2, 2B, BB
• Juan Soto 4-9, 2B, 2 K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-2
• Luis Torrens 2-4, K
• Jesse Winker 5-15, 5 K

Game Notes

• Brandon Sproat’s scoreless streak with Triple-A Syracuse has now reached 18 innings.
• The Mets placed Jesse Winker on the 10-day IL with back inflammation and recalled Jared Young. Additionally, the club sent down Justin Hagenman and designated Rico Garcia for assignment while also bringing Austin Warren back up to the major leagues.
• Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that an MRI on Starling Marte’s knee produced “encouraging” results and that the hope is for him to return right after the All-Star break.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Hitting with RISP. The Mets have struggled immensely with RISP this season. Yesterday, the Mets went a combined 2-for-19 in those situations. Although the bullpen couldn’t finish the first game or keep the Mets in the second one, the bats just gave the team nothing to work with, leaving 14 runners on base. Having at least one inning with a crooked number will go a long way for morale and setting the tone this weekend.
2. The Bullpen. The Mets used five relievers yesterday. That number is low because newly-named All-Star David Peterson pitched seven innings. Brandon Waddell and Justin Hagenman were able to complete five innings in the second game. The bullpen yesterday just didn’t get the job done, and it’s safe to assume they may receive extra work with Senga still ramping back up to full strength.
3. Juan Soto. Soto stole his 11th base of the season yesterday. He’s now only one stolen base away from matching his career high of 12, which was set in 2019 and 2023. Soto still currently leads the league with 75 walks (five ahead of Rafael Devers) and is ninth in OPS at .901. Sounds like an All-Star to me.

Let’s go Mets!

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Their opponent, the Kansas City Royals (46-48), are well off the pace in the American League Central. They’re 13 games back of the Detroit Tigers, who have played outstanding baseball all season. Scoring runs has been a problem for the Royals. Their 3.41 runs per game is the second-worst mark in baseball, only ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Mets will look to keep Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez quiet this weekend.

Let’s take a look at some notes ahead of the three pitching matchups.

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PITCHING MATCHUPS

• Friday: Kodai Senga (7-3, 1.47 ERA) vs. Michael Wacha (4-9, 3.83 ERA): For the first time since June 12, Senga will be on the mound for the Mets. That should provide a massive boost. Before he got hurt last month, Senga was in the conversation for the National League Cy Young Award, and deservedly so. He made one rehab start for Double-A Binghamton last Saturday, allowing three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. Senga is 2-2 with a 2.00 ERA in six road starts. Wacha has been solid for the Royals over the last year and a half, but he is in the midst of a pretty rough stretch. He is 1-5 with a 5.85 ERA since the start of June. The former Met has allowed four runs or more in three of his last five starts. Wacha is 5-4 with a 3.76 ERA in nine career outings against New York.
• Saturday: Frankie Montas (1-1, 6.14 ERA) vs. Michael Lorenzen (5-8, 4.61 ERA): Montas has had a bumpy start to his time with the Mets. After a brutal performance against the Pirates on June 29, he was a bit better his next time out. He went 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits vs. the New York Yankees last Saturday. The home run ball has hurt Montas, though, as he’s given up four in his last two starts. Montas is 3-2 with a 3.31 ERA in seven career appearances (five starts) against the Royals. Lorenzen re-signed in Kansas City after a strong second half with the team in 2024, helping the Royals advance to the ALDS. He is coming off his best start of the season, throwing seven shutout innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks last Sunday.
• Sunday: TBD vs. Noah Cameron (3-4, 2.56 ERA): It has been all but confirmed that both Clay Holmes and Manaea will pitch in the series finale. The main question is who will be the starter and who will come out of the bullpen. Manaea’s return is going to be the big story, though. Last season, he proved to be the Mets’ most important starter, especially after the All-Star break. Manaea made six appearances (five starts) on his rehab assignments, pitching to a 6.27 ERA in 18 2/3 innings. In addition to Seth Lugo, Cameron has shined in the Royals’ rotation. The rookie left-hander has been superb since making his debuting on April 30. He’s turned in six quality starts, including five to begin his career. Cameron is 2-3 with a 3.93 ERA in six home starts.

WHAT’S THE STORY?

There are plenty of ways to answer this question right now. My eyes will be on Mark Vientos this weekend. Starling Marte is on the injured list, and it appears Jesse Winker will be joining him after injuring his back on Thursday. In the short-term, that opens up an opportunity for someone to grab a significant role as the team’s designated hitter. Vientos needs to take advantage.

Ronny Mauricio has started to get more comfortable, and Brett Baty‘s bat has come back to life while providing strong defense at both second and third base. All of a sudden, a clear role for Vientos is not there, at least for now. After a breakout season in 2024, this is not what anyone could have expected. Since returning from the injured list on June 27, Vientos is slashing .118/.118/.147 with just one extra base hit.

The Mets may go big-fish hunting at the trade deadline. If they do, their group of young position players will draw interest. For years, it seemed like Baty would be the one to go. Now, could Vientos be moved in a deal for a quality arm? Who knows. Right now, Vientos needs to put together good at bats, and that starts in Kansas City this weekend.

PREDICTION 

The Royals are back within striking distance of a Wild Card spot after winning seven of their first nine games in July. Right now, they are playing better baseball than the Mets. I think it will be a tight series, especially with the inconsistencies of both lineups. With the duo of Senga and Manaea returning, I give the slight edge to the Mets. They will end the first half by taking two of three in Kansas City.

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No, really guys. That wasn’t a joke.

The AL Central has dominated baseball the last week in a half. The five teams are a combined 31-11 in May, and if you take out the White Sox’s modest 4-5 record, they’re 27-6.

Multiple teams are on long winning streaks. The Tigers have notched five in a row, the Twins six, and the Royals seven. The Guardians are on a smaller three-game win streak, but are 8-2 in their last 10 and 6-2 in May.

It’s been a fun ride. And one of the Central teams has earned a spot on the list because of it.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

1. Dodgers

The boys in blue from Los Angeles continue to roll. They’re 7-3 in their last ten games, taking series on the road from the Braves and capping off an impressive comeback win Friday against their division rival D-backs.

Shohei Ohtani clubbed another ninth-inning homer in Friday’s 14-11 win over the Snakes, bringing his slashline to .304/.408/.655 with his major league-leading (tie) 12 homers and four triples. Freddie Freeman has also been elite since coming back from injury, slashing a ridiculous .366/.436/.703 with eight homers.

Overall, the Dodgers are 26-13, have the best team OPS in the National League (.804) and have scored the second most runs in the majors (220) behind the Cubs. Oh, and did I mention they’ve had this success with recent injuries to Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernández?

2. Mets

The Mets ran into some bad luck last week, losing two one-run games in a doubleheader to the raging hot Cardinals, in which Juan Soto was robbed of a homer.

But how have the Mets done since the day/night sweep in St. Louis? Well, they took a series against the dangerous D-backs, then went home to Queens to stifle the best offense in baseball in a 7-2 win.

The pitching continues to be elite. They have the second-best ERA in the majors (2.82) and the best overall in the NL. Meanwhile, Soto is heating up, and has five home runs in the month of May. And we’re only nine days through.

3. Tigers

I like to champion myself as a baseball guru. I consume an unhealthy amount of baseball media. Why is NO ONE talking about Detroit?

They have the third-best team ERA in baseball at 2.90. They’ve scored the fourth most (210) runs in baseball. Reigning AL Cy Young Tarik Skubal has a 2.08 ERA and leads the AL in strikeouts and K/9. Every position player in their lineup outside Justyn-Henry Malloy has an OPS+ over 100.

The Tigers are by far the best team in the AL. And they’re playing like it as well, with their 26-13 record and 7-1 mark in May.

4. Padres

The Friars had a great week. They swept the Pirates on the road, and had a close series in New York with the Yankees that resulted in a series loss.

Still, the Padres continue to play to their strengths and are 24-13. The triple-headed monster of Robert Suarez, Jason Adam, and Jeremiah Estrada continue to cominate in the pen, the rotation of Michael King, Nick Pivetta, and recently Dylan Cease are among the best in baseball, and the offense spearheaded Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado have scored just enough runs to win ball games.

The club as a whole has only scored 156 runs, which is 18th in baseball. But the club just got Jackson Merrill back, who’s slashing .539/.571/.923 with a homer in his return.

5. Cubs

The Cubs’ offense has held them up in the young 2025 season, but their flaws are starting to show.

The rotation is patched up with loose band-aids since losing Justin Steele. Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd have carried the freight, but the rest of the field has ERAs that start with four.

The result? A series loss to the Giants at home and a 7-2 loss to the Mets on the road. The offense is still the best in baseball, and has the most runs scored in the sport (225). Top-prospect Cade Horton was promoted to make a start Saturday against the Mets, and should help with his 1.33 ERA through six Triple-A starts this season.

6. Giants

San Francisco continues to keep pace with the Dodgers and Padres.

They took a four-game series at home against the Rockies, but backed it up with an impressive series win against the Cubs on the road, which included a 14-5 thumping in Game 2.

Logan Webb continues to dominate with a 2.61 ERA in eight starts, but Robbie Ray has also bounced back with an impressive 2.84 ERA and 9.3 K/9 to help anchor the rotation.

The offense has also contributed, with elite production from the trio of Heliot Ramos, Jung Hoo Lee, and Mike Yastrzemski in the outfield. They, combined with the rest of the field, have scored the 10th most runs in baseball and led the club to a 24-15 record. This team could really take off if Willy Adames started hitting. Or if they traded for a rental at first base sometime this season. Maybe Ryan Mountcastle or Ryan O’Hearn if the Orioles continue to struggle.

7. Yankees

The Yanks had two tough series losses to division rivals in the Orioles and Rays, but had a nice showing at home with a series win over the Padres.

Aaron Judge has “cooled off” in his last seven games, and I put that in quotes because despite batting only .259, the Judge is still slugging .633 with two homers in that span. The real show was stolen by Jasson Domínguez, who clubbed three homers Friday night against the Athletics. Overall, the team has a major league-leading 66 homers and .819 OPS.

The rotation has also gotten help from Carlos Rodón, who has a 2.96 ERA and 10.5 K/9 through eight starts, and Will Warren, who pitched 7 1/3 strong innings against the A’s Friday.

8. D-backs

The Snakes are an average 5-5 over their last ten games, but it’s a product of circumstance.

They’ve faced the Mets, Phillies, Mets again, and now the Dodgers to end April and kick off May. They’ve also been without A.J. Puk, Justin Martinez, and Corbin Burnes. Tough to beat some of the best teams in baseball without your three best pitchers.

Still, they took a series against the Mets on the road, and avoided series sweeps by the very same Mets at home and Phillies on the road. The offense has still scored a dominant 202 runs, but the pitching, again hurt by injury, has allowed 200. They had a promising 5-3 win against the Dodgers Thursday behind 6 1/3 scoreless innings from Brandon Pfaadt, and almost held on for a wild 8-3 comeback against the Dodgers Friday. This team will see better days once Ryan Thompson and Kevin Ginkel aren’t pitching for the last six outs.

9. Mariners

Welcome back, Seattle!

The Mariners had another solid week, taking a series from division rivals in the Rangers and Athletics. They’ve got a +28 run differential to start Saturday morning, and are first in the AL West with a 22-15 record.

The offense has been rolling lately, despite taking a brutal Friday night loss to the Blue Jays in which the M’s left the bases loaded late with nobody out. And Andrés Muñoz hasn’t allowed an earned run in 18 innings pitched.

The M’s look like a postseason team early. And they have another threshold to unlock once the starting rotation taps into the back of their baseball cards.

10. Royals

The Royals made a massive jump from No. 16 on last week’s list to be here.

They’re on a seven-game win streak. They’ve won 16 of their last 18 games. It’s been an insane run, which has been backed by their pitching.

During this winning span, the Royals have climbed to the top and have the best team ERA in the majors (2.91). Kris Bubic in particular has been elite, pitching to a 1.69 ERA through 48 innings. Seth Lugo has also been fantastic, as usual, and has a 2.84 ERA in his age-35 season.

The bullpen has also contributed to this run, with Daniel Lynch IV, Lucas Erceg, and John Schreiber all holding ERAs below two to start Saturday morning. Carlos Estévez has also been a concrete in the closer’s role, with a 2.50 ERA and 11 saves.

The offense, on the other hand, is as expected. Bobby Witt Jr. is playing like an MVP and has a .318/.392/.519 slashline with five homers, 13 stolen bases, and 16 doubles through 40 games. The rest of the field, outside Maikel Garcia who has an .878 OPS in his third full season, has a collective OPS+ under 90. If this team sticks around the entire summer, they’ll be the prime candidate to add another bat to the lineup.

Rest of the Field

11. Phillies
12. Guardians
13. Reds
14. Red Sox
15. Astros
16. Twins
17. Braves
18. Cardinals
19. Blue Jays
20. Rangers
21. Brewers
22. Athletics
23. Rays
24. Nationals
25. Orioles
26. Pirates
27. Angels
28. Marlins
29. White Sox
30. Rockies

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According to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated, the Mets discussed a deal with the Royals around the Winter Meetings that would send Starling Marte to Kansas City in exchange for reliever Hunter Harvey. The Mets would have paid down some of Marte’s contract in this situation, but it never gained any traction.

The Mets are open to moving Marte and are likely still in the market for a reliever, even after making an impact signing to the bullpen on Friday.

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Latest Mets News

The Mets signed lefty reliever A.J. Minter to a two-year, $22 million deal with an opt-out after year one. Minter pitched in just 39 games a year ago but had a 2.62 ERA and has a career 3.28 ERA in parts of eight seasons with the Braves.

The Mets officially announced that they signed outfielder and designated hitter Jesse Winker to a one-year deal. It was reported on Thursday that he would be returning.

2024 Triple-A Syracuse pitching coach Grayson Crawford announced on LinkedIn that he has been promoted to assistant pitching coordinator with the Mets.

Howie Rose joined the Awful Announcing Podcast to discuss the Mets, MLB’s pitch clock, and his call for Pete Alonso‘s ninth inning home run in Game 3 of the Wild Card series.

Former Met Kevin Plawecki is entering the coaching world, as he will become an instructor in the Arizona Fall League.

Latest MLB News

Coveted free agent Rōki Sasaki announced on Instagram that he is signing with the Dodgers. The 23-year-old is considered one of the best pitchers in the world and was sought after by the Mets this offseason. The signing bonus on Sasaki’s deal is for $6.5 million.

According to Jim Bowden on an episode of Foul Territory, the former general manager believes multiple teams could look into asking MLB to investigate the Dodgers for having a pre-cut deal with Sasaki.

The Blue Jays acquired center fielder Myles Straw and international bonus pool money from the Guardians in exchange for cash or a player to be named later. The Guardians will send the Blue Jays $1 million this year, $1 million next year and $1.75 million at the end of next year in addition to $2 million in international bonus pool money. That money was supposedly to be for Rōki Sasaki before he chose the Dodgers.

After missing out on Sasaki, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reports the Blue Jays have been in contact with Anthony Santander. Talks picked up Friday morning, but a deal has not yet been reached.

The A’s signed reliever José Leclerc to a one-year, $10 million deal. He had a 4.32 ERA a year ago, but he owns a career 3.27 ERA in parts of eight seasons with the Rangers.

The Mariners signed former Mets minor leaguer Shintaro Fujinami to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. Fujinami pitched mostly for Triple-A Syracuse in 2024, earning a shaky 5.94 ERA.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said the team plans to address the third base position internally, with 2024 third baseman Isaac Paredes now in Houston. That would seem to take Chicago out of the sweepstakes for Alex Bregman.

The Cubs also announced that Sammy Sosa and Derek Lee are being inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame.

Infielder Jake Burger announced that he will wear No. 21 with the Rangers in honor of his daughter who has Down Syndrome.

The Braves claimed reliever Amos Willingham off waivers from the Nationals. Willingham pitched mostly for Washington’s Triple-A team in 2024, recording a 3.69 ERA in 55 appearances. The Braves also DFA’d Allan Winans, a former Mets minor leaguer.

The Brewers signed reliever Elvin Rodríguez to a one-year deal with a club option for 2026. To make room on the 40-man roster, Milwaukee DFA’d JB Bukauskas. Rodriguez spent 2024 in the Japan Central League, where he pitched to a 1.74 ERA in 49 appearances.

Kenny Serwa, who has gone viral on the internet for his high-80s knuckleballer, signed a professional contract with the Tigers. He played independent ball in 2024.

Latest on MMO

Mathias Altman-Kurosaki lists five Mets prospects who could help the major league team in 2025.

On the latest MMO Weekly, Sal Manzo, Mathias Altman-Kurosaki and Christian De Block discuss the Mets re-signing Jesse Winkerand all of the latest Pete Alonso news.

Brian Wright makes the Hall of Fame case for Curtis Granderson.

On This Date in Mets History

2013: Mike Piazza missed out on making the Hall of Fame by nearly 100 votes, securing just 57.8 percent of the vote in his first year on the ballot. He would have needed 75 percent of the vote to be inducted. It would take three more years for Piazza to be inducted, when he received 83 percent of the vote in 2016.

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