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The Mets' redemption tour begins on Thursday afternoon after a major bust in the 2025 season.
After falling one win short of a playoff spot, Opening Day marks the start of a new era for the Mets after the front office cleaned house of a major chunk of their core and coaching staff after last season.
The returning talent, led by Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, along with star-studded newcomers Bo Bichette and Freddy Peralta, will be charged with the task of bringing the Mets back to the playoffs.
And the leadership is optimistic heading into a new campaign.
"Talent, people, the relationships and how determined these guys are. That's one thing that stuck out throughout camp was the compete — how much they want it," Carlos Mendoza said. "Now we gotta go out there and do it on a consistent basis. Excited about how camp went and where everyone is at and ready for Thursday."
With the Mets set to being their season at 1:15 on Thursday against the Pirates at Citi Field, here is everything you need to know ahead of the 2026 season:
What to know: The only major question remaining with the Mets lineup heading into their first regular season matchup was answered on Monday afternoon when Mendoza revealed that 23-year-old rookie Carson Benge earned the right field spot after an electric first major league camp.
There remains some uncertainty about the final bench spot, with Vidal Brujan, Jared Young and Cristian Pache among the final roster contender. Brujan's candidacy is a little more tenuous given Francisco Lindor's health after he underwent left hand surgery.
The Mets are likely to platoon the first base, designated hitter and right field spots over the course of the season. With the Mets set to face right-hander Paul Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young winner, on Thursday, Brett Baty is the logical option at designated hitter.
Closer: Devin Williams RHP
What to know: For a large portion of spring training, it appeared that the Mets would be entertaining a six-man rotation, given the overwhelming health of the club's pitching staff. That will not be the case, though, Mendoza revealed on Saturday.
Sean Manaea, who had an incomplete spring and saw his velocity dip, will begin the season out of the bullpen in a piggyback role. The veteran left-hander will not have a set day that he will pitch but will be expected to pitch several innings in relief.
Kodai Senga, who struck out 11 batters in 9⅔ innings with only two earned runs against, will be counted upon to pitch on normal rest as necessary.
INFs Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, Vidal Brujan; RHPs Freddy Peralta, Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Tobias Myers, Luis Garcia, Joey Gerber; LHP Bryan Hudson; OF Luis Robert Jr., MJ Melendez
1B Pete Alonso; OF Brandon Nimmo, Cedric Mullins, Jose Siri; OF/DH Starling Marte, Jesse Winker; INF/OF Jeff McNeil, RHP Edwin Diaz, Frankie Montas, Ryne Stanek, Tyler Rogers, Gregory Soto, Brandon Sproat, Max Kranick; INF Luisangel Acuña, Jett Williams
Reed Garrett (Tommy John surgery), A.J. Minter (lat surgery), Tylor Megill (Tommy John surgery), Justin Hagenman (fractured rib), Dedniel Nuñez (Tommy John surgery), Grae Kessinger (hamstring), Mike Tauchman (meniscus)
A season ago, Francisco Lindor sidestepped his usual slow start as he produced a .872 OPS through April. But the Mets shortstop had an unusual spring as he spent the majority rehabbing from left hand surgery to repair a fractured hamate bone.
Lindor appeared in five Grapefruit League games this spring after playing in 19 in each of the last two seasons. While Lindor looks poised to be in the Opening Day lineup, the recovery from a hamate bone injury has had a tendency to sap some power in the hand.
The production of Lindor ahead of Juan Soto and Bo Bichette remains one of the main keys to the success of this Mets team's offense. Lindor is coming off his first All-Star campaign with the Mets. He slashed .267/.346/.466 with 31 home runs, 86 RBI and 117 runs in a league-leading 644 at-bats a season ago.
As the Mets faded down the stretch in the 2025 season and missed the playoffs, the starting rotation was one of the biggest catalysts for that collapse.
The Mets went eight games under .500 after the All-Star break as the club's starters threw the second-fewest innings and produced the fourth-worst ERA in baseball.
Nolan McLean, who was called up in late August, was one of the few outliers. The 24-year-old, who will step into a preeminent role this season, worked an average of six innings in his eight starts, managing a 2.06 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and striking out 10.9 batters per nine innings.
The front office addressed that need even further by trading two of the system's top five prospects to the Brewers to bring in Freddy Peralta. The 29-year-old will lead the rotation after last season was his third straight with at least 200 strikeouts and 30 starts.
When Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Rangers and Pete Alonso decided to sign with the Orioles, the Mets offense lost a combined 63 home runs, 168 runs and 218 RBI off last season's team.
Many of the replacements — Bichette, Jorge Polanco and Marcus Semien — are not going to bring the same power numbers but offer a tougher at-bat for opposing pitchers and a knack for putting the ball in play. In fact, that trio combined to strike out 266 times a season ago, compared to the 303 strikeouts by Nimmo and Alonso.
Bichette and Polanco will be major cogs in the Mets offense, expected to bat third and cleanup behind Lindor and Alonso to start the season. Bichette's .311 batting average was second in the AL last season, along with the 18 home runs, 94 RBI and 78 runs he provided.
The switch-hitting Polanco hits both righties and lefties well. He popped 26 home runs with 78 RBI, 64 runs and 30 doubles last season while batting .265.
That tandem will also be counted upon at new positions, with Bichette occupying third and Polanco at first this season.
McLean enters the season as one of the top contenders for the NL Rookie of the Year, and he could very well have company in Carson Benge, his former Oklahoma State teammate.
The 23-year-old Benge earned his spot on the major league roster after going 15-for-41 with five RBI and five runs. He'll be a regular contributor in right field.
Jonah Tong, who made five starts last season, will begin the season in Triple A but is likely to be counted upon at some point this season in a depth role.
The Mets have a slew of hard-throwing prospects who could eventually factor in the bullpen, including Dylan Ross, Ryan Lambert, or in a multiple-inning role, like Jonathan Pintaro.
Mendoza took accountability after the Mets floundered to an 83-win season and missed the playoffs a season ago.
It was a major fall from grace after the Mets' massive surge, 89-win season and trip to the National League Championship Series in 2024. That success might have been what kept Mendoza clear of the chopping block while nearly his entire coaching staff was let go last offseason.
The Mets skipper is in the final year of his three-year contract and could need to prove that he can lead the Mets back in line with their lofty expectations to earn a longer-term stay in Flushing.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets 2026 season preview, lineup and rotation predictions
Continue reading...
After falling one win short of a playoff spot, Opening Day marks the start of a new era for the Mets after the front office cleaned house of a major chunk of their core and coaching staff after last season.
The returning talent, led by Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, along with star-studded newcomers Bo Bichette and Freddy Peralta, will be charged with the task of bringing the Mets back to the playoffs.
And the leadership is optimistic heading into a new campaign.
"Talent, people, the relationships and how determined these guys are. That's one thing that stuck out throughout camp was the compete — how much they want it," Carlos Mendoza said. "Now we gotta go out there and do it on a consistent basis. Excited about how camp went and where everyone is at and ready for Thursday."
With the Mets set to being their season at 1:15 on Thursday against the Pirates at Citi Field, here is everything you need to know ahead of the 2026 season:
Projected Mets Opening Day lineup
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- Francisco Lindor, SS
- Juan Soto, RF
- Bo Bichette, 3B
- Jorge Polanco, 1B
- Luis Robert Jr., CF
- Brett Baty, DH
- Marcus Semien, 2B
- Carson Benge, RF
- Francisco Alvarez C
What to know: The only major question remaining with the Mets lineup heading into their first regular season matchup was answered on Monday afternoon when Mendoza revealed that 23-year-old rookie Carson Benge earned the right field spot after an electric first major league camp.
There remains some uncertainty about the final bench spot, with Vidal Brujan, Jared Young and Cristian Pache among the final roster contender. Brujan's candidacy is a little more tenuous given Francisco Lindor's health after he underwent left hand surgery.
The Mets are likely to platoon the first base, designated hitter and right field spots over the course of the season. With the Mets set to face right-hander Paul Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young winner, on Thursday, Brett Baty is the logical option at designated hitter.
Projected Mets starting rotation
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- Freddy Peralta, RHP
- David Peterson, LHP
- Nolan McLean, RHP
- Clay Holmes, RHP
- Kodai Senga RHP
Closer: Devin Williams RHP
What to know: For a large portion of spring training, it appeared that the Mets would be entertaining a six-man rotation, given the overwhelming health of the club's pitching staff. That will not be the case, though, Mendoza revealed on Saturday.
Sean Manaea, who had an incomplete spring and saw his velocity dip, will begin the season out of the bullpen in a piggyback role. The veteran left-hander will not have a set day that he will pitch but will be expected to pitch several innings in relief.
Kodai Senga, who struck out 11 batters in 9⅔ innings with only two earned runs against, will be counted upon to pitch on normal rest as necessary.
Mets newcomers
INFs Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, Vidal Brujan; RHPs Freddy Peralta, Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Tobias Myers, Luis Garcia, Joey Gerber; LHP Bryan Hudson; OF Luis Robert Jr., MJ Melendez
Players not returning from 2025
1B Pete Alonso; OF Brandon Nimmo, Cedric Mullins, Jose Siri; OF/DH Starling Marte, Jesse Winker; INF/OF Jeff McNeil, RHP Edwin Diaz, Frankie Montas, Ryne Stanek, Tyler Rogers, Gregory Soto, Brandon Sproat, Max Kranick; INF Luisangel Acuña, Jett Williams
Players starting 2026 on the injured list
Reed Garrett (Tommy John surgery), A.J. Minter (lat surgery), Tylor Megill (Tommy John surgery), Justin Hagenman (fractured rib), Dedniel Nuñez (Tommy John surgery), Grae Kessinger (hamstring), Mike Tauchman (meniscus)
3 Keys to the NL Playoff Race
Will Francisco Lindor be right?
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A season ago, Francisco Lindor sidestepped his usual slow start as he produced a .872 OPS through April. But the Mets shortstop had an unusual spring as he spent the majority rehabbing from left hand surgery to repair a fractured hamate bone.
Lindor appeared in five Grapefruit League games this spring after playing in 19 in each of the last two seasons. While Lindor looks poised to be in the Opening Day lineup, the recovery from a hamate bone injury has had a tendency to sap some power in the hand.
The production of Lindor ahead of Juan Soto and Bo Bichette remains one of the main keys to the success of this Mets team's offense. Lindor is coming off his first All-Star campaign with the Mets. He slashed .267/.346/.466 with 31 home runs, 86 RBI and 117 runs in a league-leading 644 at-bats a season ago.
Can Freddy Peralta, Nolan McLean lead starting rotation?
As the Mets faded down the stretch in the 2025 season and missed the playoffs, the starting rotation was one of the biggest catalysts for that collapse.
The Mets went eight games under .500 after the All-Star break as the club's starters threw the second-fewest innings and produced the fourth-worst ERA in baseball.
Nolan McLean, who was called up in late August, was one of the few outliers. The 24-year-old, who will step into a preeminent role this season, worked an average of six innings in his eight starts, managing a 2.06 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and striking out 10.9 batters per nine innings.
The front office addressed that need even further by trading two of the system's top five prospects to the Brewers to bring in Freddy Peralta. The 29-year-old will lead the rotation after last season was his third straight with at least 200 strikeouts and 30 starts.
Is the Mets' new core, led by Bo Bichette, enough of a spark?
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When Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Rangers and Pete Alonso decided to sign with the Orioles, the Mets offense lost a combined 63 home runs, 168 runs and 218 RBI off last season's team.
Many of the replacements — Bichette, Jorge Polanco and Marcus Semien — are not going to bring the same power numbers but offer a tougher at-bat for opposing pitchers and a knack for putting the ball in play. In fact, that trio combined to strike out 266 times a season ago, compared to the 303 strikeouts by Nimmo and Alonso.
Bichette and Polanco will be major cogs in the Mets offense, expected to bat third and cleanup behind Lindor and Alonso to start the season. Bichette's .311 batting average was second in the AL last season, along with the 18 home runs, 94 RBI and 78 runs he provided.
The switch-hitting Polanco hits both righties and lefties well. He popped 26 home runs with 78 RBI, 64 runs and 30 doubles last season while batting .265.
That tandem will also be counted upon at new positions, with Bichette occupying third and Polanco at first this season.
Mets rookie watch
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McLean enters the season as one of the top contenders for the NL Rookie of the Year, and he could very well have company in Carson Benge, his former Oklahoma State teammate.
The 23-year-old Benge earned his spot on the major league roster after going 15-for-41 with five RBI and five runs. He'll be a regular contributor in right field.
Jonah Tong, who made five starts last season, will begin the season in Triple A but is likely to be counted upon at some point this season in a depth role.
The Mets have a slew of hard-throwing prospects who could eventually factor in the bullpen, including Dylan Ross, Ryan Lambert, or in a multiple-inning role, like Jonathan Pintaro.
Manager's report: Carlos Mendoza
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Mendoza took accountability after the Mets floundered to an 83-win season and missed the playoffs a season ago.
It was a major fall from grace after the Mets' massive surge, 89-win season and trip to the National League Championship Series in 2024. That success might have been what kept Mendoza clear of the chopping block while nearly his entire coaching staff was let go last offseason.
The Mets skipper is in the final year of his three-year contract and could need to prove that he can lead the Mets back in line with their lofty expectations to earn a longer-term stay in Flushing.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets 2026 season preview, lineup and rotation predictions
Continue reading...
