The three star rookies stole the show for the Mets on Monday
Nolan McLean, Carson Benge, and AJ Ewing continue to offer reasons to believe in the short-term future
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets beat the Padres 2-1 in the opener of their home series (Box)
RHP Nolan McLean started for the Mets and had a weird outing. At one point he allowed seven straight Padres to reach base safely, but remarkably limited San Diego to a skinny run on six hits and four walks across six innings
3B Bo Bichette and CF Luis Robert Jr. each drove in a run in the first inning
RF Carson Benge became the first Met in history to gun down two runners at the plate in one inning, when he threw out both Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado trying to score on singles to right field
LF A.J. Ewing also got into the fun, throwing out Xander Bogaerts at the plate in the 2nd inning
The Mets are the only major league team since at least 1920 to throw out three runners at home plate in the first two innings of a game
David Stearns said on Monday the plan remains for Andy Green to return to the Mets front office after the 2026 season (NY Post)
Roster Moves 📰
INF Christopher Morel (#28) selected to the Major League roster
INF Gabriel Arias designated for assignment
Play(s) of the Game ⭐️
This is going to have to be the play(s) of the game because they happened nearly simultaneously and were both clearly equally impactful.
Nolan McLean was struggling early in this one, as the Padres were hitting him early in the first inning. With two on and one out, Ty France blooped a single into right, then Carson Benge fielded and fired a strike to the plate to easily gun down Jake Cronenworth. The very next batter, Jackson Merrill, also singled to right, and this time Benge threw out Manny Machado trying to score.
The sensational Mets rookie now has nine outfield assists and three in his last four games.
This doesn’t include Aj Ewing’s, outfield assist in the second inning, which was fantastic too.
The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
On the latest edition of the Just Mets Podcast, Rich flew solo and recapped the Mets 4-2 week against the Braves and the Nationals, and talked about their ability to compete with a lot of this group in 2027.
SUBSCRIBE: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Down on the Farm 🌾
All Mets minor league affiliates were off on Monday.
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (55-69) vs. Padres (66-58)
Where: Citi Field — Flushing, NY
Starters: LHP Zac Thornton (3-3, 2.78 ERA) vs. LHP Robbie Ray (10-7, 3.28 ERA)
When: 7:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
The Mets rookies continue to steal the show, and take runs away! ✍️
The back half of the Mets’ 2026 season was always going to be about the continued development of their new nucleus of young talent, but in the case of the team’s three uber-talented rookies—Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, and Nolan McLean—each night seems to bring even more optimism for the future.
Benge and Ewing unquestionably have entrenched themselves as 2/3 of the Mets’ starting outfield for years to come, and with each passing day, Benge is increasing his odds of being named the National League Rookie of the Year in a few months.
In New York’s series opener against the Padres on Monday night, the 23-year-old star rookie went 1-for-3 at the plate, but he stole the show on defense.
A pitcher in college at Oklahoma State, Benge’s strong arm in right field has been a weapon for the Mets all season long. But Monday night was something different altogether.
The Padres bats came out hot in the top of the first inning, and they quickly put men on first and second with one out. Ty France dunked a hit into right field, Jake Cronenworth rounded third and headed home, and Benge gunned him down by at least 20 feet. The very next batter, Jackson Merrill, laced a hit into right that Benge raced in to pluck off the grass and fire home again, this time nailing Manny Machado at the dish to end the inning.
He became the first Met in history to throw out a pair of runners at the plate in a single inning, and his prowess on both sides of the ball just continues to wow.
Then there’s his college teammate, McLean, who had arguably the strangest start of his Major League career last night, but arguably his best this season all things considered. At one point, he allowed seven straight Padres to reach base, but only one of them scored thanks in large part to Benge, Ewing and his own assist at the plate on a comebacker. After a turbulent first two frames, though, McLean was able to settle in and gut his way through six strong innings—the 10th time in his last 11 outings that he went at least six frames.
McLean has the stuff and makeup to be a legitimate top-of-the-rotation starter, and last night was very reminiscent of a vintage Jacob deGrom outing, where he just didn’t have it early but rallied to finish with a tremendous outing. And I say it might’ve been his best start of the season because of how it started, how he had to figure out a way through those muddy first two innings, and then the way he dominated over the final four innings of his outing. It was a character-building outing for McLean, who is certainly the best rookie pitcher in the National League this year and among the best starters in the game since his major league debut a year ago.
And how about A.J. Ewing?
The speedy sparkplug has cemented himself as the Mets’ leadoff hitter, and even in the midst of a mini slump, he’s still finding ways to contribute. Ewing had a hit and scored a run in the first inning, and channeling his inner Bengie, he too threw out a runner at the plate trying to score on an outfield hit.
This trio, along with Zac Thornton and Christian Scott, is the primary reason the Mets are still so optimistic for 2027. Those guys, along with a healthy Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Bo Bichette—assuming he does not opt out— and potential finds for their bullpen in Nate Lavender, Daniel Duarte, and Jefry Yan give the Mets a strong base to work with as they look towards a busy (and uncertain) winter.
Around the League 🚩
Pete Alonso blasted his 28th home run but the Orioles ultimately lost to the Rays 7-6
Alec Burleson drove in both of the Cardinals runs in a crisp 2-1 victory over the Reds
Christopher Sanchez went six strong innings, allowing just one run, en route to his 16th win in the Phillies 6-5 victory over the Marlins
In an odd situation coming out of Arizona, Ketel Marte reportedly did not show up to the team’s game at Fenway Park with the Red Sox, resulting in the Diamondbacks placing him on the restricted list
For all its occasional ugliness (see pending lockout and labor negotiations), the way baseball is organized creates some moments that bring a sense of optimism and rebirth. The whole structure around a hard trade deadline and the soon to happen September roster expansion opens a window into the future that transforms a lost season into “wait till next year!”
The pain and fractured loyalties from the off-season trades, deadline clearance, and “who are these guys?” transforms into “OK, this is who we are and what we got, let’s just play ball together.” No pressure, no expectations, just let it all air out. Not much to lose and the survivors have the biggest stage there is to show their stuff. “I can do this” takes over.
Cool that it’s kind of by design. Good fun. And when do Pitchers & Catchers report?
Steve
Odd circumstances in a game such as last night's remind you that even in the midst of a dreadful season, there can be a little magic that gives you hope. So many things could have gone wrong in this game that would have turned it into "Oh well, it was fun sweeping the Nationals, but now we are playing good teams." Yet everthing (including Padres' fly balls to the warning track with the bases loaded) went right. A fun night. We often have trouble with Robbie Ray but let's hope the train keeps rolling one more night.