Not much is going right in Mets world right now, but one source of excitement is the debut of Nolan McLean on Saturday. One of the Mets’ most highly touted pitching prospects in recent memory, McLean will see his first major league action and will wear jersey No. 26 in the Mets’ second game against the Mariners.

In a corresponding move Friday night, the Mets designated Paul Blackburn for assignment, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Blackburn provided the Mets five innings of relief in his most recent outing, which came Wednesday. It was his first MLB appearance since June 28, with an IL stint due to a right shoulder impingement in between.

Blackburn had a 6.85 ERA in 23 2/3 MLB innings this season. He had an even 6.o0 ERA over 48 innings in his Mets career.

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The Mets’ first game against the Mariners was dreadful, as New York fell 11-9. The bats were on display, but the Mets blew a 3-2 lead and a 6-4 lead as their pitching woes continue to persist among the entire staff. Per Anthony DiComo and Sarah Langs of MLB.com, this is just the second time in the last 17 years the Mets have blown a lead in seven consecutive games.

Jonah Tong joined the latest Meet at the Apple podcast to talk about his rise as a prospect and his breakout 2025 season.

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Phillies closer Jhoan Durán had to leave the game after taking a comebacker to the foot. The Phillies later announced that X-rays came back negative.

The Pirates recalled former Met Colin Holderman from their Triple-A team. Holderman had a 9.00 ERA in 14 major league games this year before being called back up.

Statcast added new updates to how you can view Fielding Run Value. You are now able to sum by team, split by month, filter by date, and more.

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Kai Chang details the continued struggles of Ryan Helsley.

On This Date in Mets History

Born on This Date: Roger Cedeño (1974), Rick Reed (1964), Mike Jorgensen (1948), Gene Woodling (1922).

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Carlos Mendoza announced the Mets’ pitching schedule for the first two games of the NLDS on Friday. Mendoza surprisingly announced, rather than Tylor Megill or David Peterson, that Kodai Senga would get the ball for Game 1, making just his second start all year. Mendoza then announced that Luis Severino will pitch Game 2 on the road on regular rest.

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Start times for NLDS Games 3 through 5 were announced:

• Game 3 (Tuesday): 5:08 p.m. ET
• Game 4 (Wednesday): 5:08 p.m. ET
• Game 5 (Friday): 4:08 p.m. ET

Jeff McNeil and his wife, Tatiana, welcomed their second child, a daughter named Serena.

Former Mets first baseman Lucas Duda was hired as the hitting coach for Lipscomb University’s baseball team.

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Phillies manager Rob Thomson announced that Cristopher Sánchez will pitch Game 2 at home for the Phillies, partly because Thomson expects Citi Field to be a “pretty hostile environment.” Sánchez has been much better at Citizens Bank Park than on the road this year, owning a 2.21 home ERA and a 5.02 road ERA.

Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Joe Musgrove will undergo Tommy John surgery. It’s a brutal blow for Musgrove and the Padres, as Musgrove was pitching brilliantly lately, but he exited his last start in the Wild Card round against the Braves early and he’ll now be out through at least 2025. The Padres will have to continue their World Series hunt without him.

Anthony Rizzo will not be on the ALDS roster for the Yankees. The first baseman has been out with fractured fingers on his right hand.

The Reds officially announced they agreed on a contract with legendary manager Terry Francona to be the team’s next skipper. It is a three-year deal with a club option for the 2028 season.

The Twins announced that Thad Levine, their general manager, is departing the organization to pursue other opportunities, both in and out of baseball. Levine spent the last eight seasons as the Twins’ general manager, serving most of his tenure under president of baseball operations Derek Falvey.

According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Braves plan on picking up the team options on Marcell Ozuna ($16 million), Travis d’Arnaud ($8 million), and Aaron Bummer ($7.25 million). Ozuna had another fantastic season (39 HR, .925 OPS) while d’Arnaud (.739 OPS) and Bummer (3.58 ERA) were both solid.

Per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano will sign with an MLB team as an international free agent in the offseason. Sugano, who will be turning 35 next week, went 15-3 with a 1.67 ERA in 24 starts for the Yomiuri Giants in 2024.

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Jack Markowski relives Pete Alonso‘s rollercoaster of a night on Thursday, from his dropped pop-up in foul territory to his season-saving home run in the ninth inning.

Christian De Block recaps the stellar outing from Jose Quintana to help keep the season alive in Thursday’s do-or-die game.

On This Date in Mets History

1986: The Mets capped off their regular season with a 9-0 victory over the Pirates. It was the Mets’ 108th win of the year, finishing with a 108-54 record.

2023: Mets general manager Billy Eppler resigned from his position due to an investigation into his alleged manipulation of the injured list. Eppler was originally set to remain in the organization under new president of baseball operations David Stearns, but he felt it would be unfair to burden Stearns with the investigation.

Born On This Date: Rey Sánchez (1967), Brent Gaff (1958), Dennis Bennett (1939).

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On Friday, the Boston Red Sox signed starter Lucas Giolito to a two-year, $38.5 million contract that includes an opt-out after the 2024 season. Giolito, who had a 4.88 ERA across three teams in 2023, is a reclamation project for the Red Sox but has proven to be durable in his career, a desirable attribute even if the product on the mound in 2023 didn’t live up to expectations.

Several reports in recent days and weeks pointed to Giolito as a potential option for the Mets, and Tim Healey of Newsday confirmed the Mets’ interest in the veteran starter on Friday. According to Healey, the team was among the most aggressive for his services and did indeed offer him a contract before Giolito decided on Boston. Now the Mets will continue to look elsewhere, likely not for high-end starters, as they aim to fill out the rest of their rotation for the 2024 season.

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Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the White Sox signed former Met Chris Flexen to a one-year contract. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported that he would be making $1.75 million in 2024 with the chance to make an additional $1 million.

According to Enrique Rojas of ESPN, the Blue Jays have taken the lead in the race for Cuban pitcher Yariel Rodríguez. Rojas notes that Rodríguez is close to making a decision on where he will play in 2024. He most recently pitched professionally in Japan in 2022, where he compiled a 1.15 ERA in 54 2/3 innings. He also pitched for Team Cuba during the World Baseball Classic earlier this year.

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Mojo Hill and Jorge Eckhardt argue whether the Mets should sign J.D. Martinez or Justin Turner.

Brian Wright makes a Hall of Fame case for Carlos Beltrán.

The latest Mets Madness Series Recap sees the 1969 Mets matched up against the 1997 Mets.

On This Date in Mets History

1969: Nearly three months after the Mets won the first World Series in franchise history, general manager Johnny Murphy suffered a heart attack which proved to be fatal as he passed away weeks later. Murphy was one of the main architects of the Miracle Mets, bringing manager Gil Hodges to the club and overseeing one of the biggest upsets in World Series history when the Mets bested the heavily-favored Orioles.

Birthdays: Ralph Milliard (50)

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Good morning, Mets fans!

Max Scherzer threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Friday and it went well enough that he is now expected to start for the Mets on Sunday against the Nationals. Scherzer has been dealing with neck spasms and they have evidently calmed down enough. With that, the probable starters for the Mets’ next few games are Joey Lucchesi later today, Scherzer tomorrow, then David Peterson on Monday and Justin Verlander on Tuesday in what will be his first start at home for the Mets.

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The Mets defeated the Nationals in the first game of a four-game series on Friday, 3-2. Francisco Lindor was the difference with a massive three-run single, and four scoreless innings from the bullpen allowed the Mets to secure the victory.

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Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic wrote about how mental health is coming more into focus in Major League Baseball. Former big league catcher and current Syracuse Mets’ bench coach J.P. Arencibia talked about his struggle with panic attacks during his playing days, saying “There wasn’t really (an) example that would tell you, you’re open to speak freely.'”

Former Met Chris Bassitt threw a complete game shutout against the Braves on Friday night, allowing just two hits and throwing 103 pitches for the second complete game of his career.

Drew Rasmussen of the Rays was diagnosed with a flexor strain and was placed on the 60-day IL.

The Rockies claimed pitcher Chase Anderson who last pitched with the Rays this season.

The Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League signed former big leaguer Alex Dickerson and pitcher Wladimir Pinto.

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Michael Mayer recapped impressive minor league performances from Mike Vasil and Gary Sánchez.

Michael Famulari wrote about Francisco Álvarez and his recent hot stretch.

The latest MMO Weekly discussed Álvarez as well as when we could see Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio promoted.

On This Date in Mets History

Birthdays: Mychal Givens (33), Bobby Valentine (73)

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MLB Network continued their series of Top Ten Right Now on Wednesday night by ranking the top ten best-starting pitchers in MLB.

On the list were Mets of the past and present, filling four total spots. Jacob deGrom was ranked ninth on the list despite starting 26 games in the last two seasons and posting a 3.08 ERA in 2022. Zack Wheeler was ranked after deGrom as the eighth-best starting pitcher in MLB. Wheeler had another dominant year in Philadelphia in 2022, posting a 2.82 ERA and 144 ERA+ in 26 starts.

The first actual Met to appear on the list was Max Scherzer, ranked as the fourth-best starter in MLB. While Scherzer dealt with injury throughout 2022, he still started 23 games, recording a 2.29 ERA, 169 ERA+, and 10.7 SO/9. His dominant statistics can be credited to his amazing control, and at age 38, Scherzer was in the 96th percentile for BB% and 83rd percentile for Whiff%.

Ahead of Scherzer was the newly acquired Justin Verlander, ranked as the second-best starter in MLB. Verlander had the best season of his career at age 39, leading MLB with a 1.75 ERA, 220 ERA+, 0.829 WHIP, and .818 winning percentage, while also leading the AL with 18 wins and 6 hits per nine. Like Scherzer, Verlander displayed elite control of the zone, recording 1.5 BB/9 and landing in the 94th percentile for BB%.

Here is the rest of the top ten starting pitchers list made by MLB Network:

1. Corbin Burnes
2. Justin Verlander
3. Carlos Rodón
4. Max Scherzer
5. Sandy Alcantara
6. Shohei Ohtani
7. Max Fried
8. Zack Wheeler
9. Jacob deGrom
10. Julio Urías

The 2023 year will be exciting to watch as Verlander and Scherzer will be in the same rotation again since 2014. The two of them are still dominating MLB in their late 30s and hope to lead the Mets to a World Series championship.

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The name of the game for the Mets this offseason is pitching. New York lost three members of its rotation to free agency and now face the task of re-stocking it with frontline talent, which will likely be done through free agency. There are a number of intriguing options, some familiar and some not, that have become targets for the Mets and could theoretically fill that top-of-the-line role for the team in 2023 and beyond. With that being said, let’s take a look at those players and see how they could fit on the roster.

Let’s go through each of the main options individually, starting with Jacob deGrom. In a season where he made just 11 starts due to a stress reaction on his right scapula, deGrom didn’t quite live up to the historic precedent he had set in his prior few campaigns. Of course, that isn’t to say he struggled by any stretch of the imagination in 2022 though, as he recorded a 3.08 ERA to go with 2.2 fWAR, 14.27 K/9 and a 1.54 xFIP in those 11 starts.

From 2018 to 2021, deGrom made 91 starts while racking up 23.4 fWAR to go with a 1.91 ERA, three All-Star nods and two Cy Young awards. It marked one of the more dominant stretches of any player in recent memory and led to him being universally recognized as the best pitcher in baseball. There have been some trials and tribulations as the result of injury since he went down with a UCL sprain in July of 2021, but there’s little doubt about his ability.

The risk in giving out a record-breaking contract to a 34-year-old pitcher that has dealt with durability issues is apparent, but truthfully there should be little hesitation from the Mets in terms of bringing him back. He has proven that he can handle the spotlight and dominate under the bright lights and he also appears to be comfortable in New York. He has cemented himself as one of the greatest players in franchise history, and there is no reason why he shouldn’t be back with the team in 2023 and beyond.

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When talking about Justin Verlander’s free agency, there are some interesting parallels to Max Scherzer’s from last offseason. Both were older pitchers coming off of Cy Young-caliber seasons with long track records of success that also were seeking multi-year deals at a high average annual value (AAV). As we know, Scherzer ultimately found a home with the Mets and signed a three-year deal worth $130 million, and perhaps Verlander could follow suit in New York.

Verlander, in 28 starts this season, recorded a 1.75 ERA and 6.1 fWAR en route to both a World Series ring with the Houston Astros and the third Cy Young Award of his prolific career. What makes all of his accomplishments even more remarkable is the fact that he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020 at the age of 37 and essentially missed two full seasons before returning and acting like nothing ever happened in 2022.

When talking about his potential contract situation, there are skeptics when it comes to wondering how much longer Verlander can produce at a high level and whether or not giving him a big-money deal would backfire. He will be 40 on Opening Day in 2023 and his recent injury history is a bit concerning, but at the same time his Statcast data remains elite and he has learned to limit both the long ball and walks to combat his decreasing strikeout percentage. Verlander presents the most risk out of any of the high-profile starters in this free agency class due to the contract he will command and his overall profile as it relates to his longevity, but at this present moment, he is one of the best pitchers in the sport.

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Carlos Rodón has quickly emerged as one of the better front-line starters in the game. He had a breakout campaign in 2021 with the Chicago White Sox where he recorded a 2.37 ERA to go with 4.9 fWAR and 12.55 K/9. From there, he reached free agency and curiously wasn’t offered a qualifying offer before signing a two-year, $44 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. In 2022, he made 31 starts and produced a 2.88 ERA and 6.2 fWAR and made both his second-consecutive All-Star team and top-six finish in Cy Young voting.

Rodón, who exercised an opt-out in his contract with the Giants, figures to earn the longest-term deal among starting pitchers on the open market due to his age (29) and recent production. He does have a long history of injuries though, as he missed most of 2017 with bursitis in his left biceps and inflammation in his left shoulder before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2019. There were also some concerns about his medicals from interested teams heading into 2022, but he was cleared and went on to pitch a full season. There are plenty of reasons to believe that his recent resurgence is for real, and he should be a reliable ace for any team that signs him.

Finally, let’s talk about Kodai Senga. Senga is a Japanese pitcher that has spent part of 11 seasons with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball and earned a 2.59 ERA in over 1,000 innings pitched. The 29-year-old is also a three-time NPB All-Star and five-time Japan Series champion while also being selected to represent Japan at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, where he was named to the All-World Baseball Classic team. He has gained notoriety for his velocity, as he has reportedly touched 101.9 MPH with his fastball, as well as his highlight-worthy splitter/forkball hybrid that has aptly been nicknamed the “Ghost Fork”.

Senga, who is coming off of a 2022 season where he recorded a 1.94 ERA, has had a number of suitors, including the Mets, since being posted by the Softbank Hawks. The main question surrounding him is how he will transition into MLB from NPB, as he has had his fair share of control issues and it’s never a sure thing that any player will have a seamless transition into the league. Interested organizations will fall in love with his sky-high potential and experience as an ace in Japan, but those concerns make him a high-risk, high-reward gamble.

The obvious solution for the Mets is to bring back deGrom. There appears to be mutual interest and he simply is the best option on the market even ignoring all of the reasons listed above. If New York can’t convince him to stay in the Big Apple, then pivoting to Verlander or Rodón as their top-of-the-rotation pairing with Scherzer is the most sensible option. We know the Mets have talked to Verlander and Rodón via Zoom and talked to Senga in person.

It’s hard to imagine the Mets ponying up for two of those top-three guys considering just how much payroll would have to be dedicated to the front of the rotation. As a result, bringing in one of them along with Senga is likely the most realistic option, as Senga won’t require the type of monetary commitment that the others would. It’s also possible that the team sees Chris Bassitt as a fit and decides to pair him with one of the other options on the market, and perhaps re-signing both him and deGrom to “run it back” would make the most sense for all involved.

All in all, the need for frontline pitching and the Mets interest in every starter that fits those criteria has opened up several possibilities for how they maneuver this offseason.

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