Game Chat: Dodgers vs Mets, 7:10 PM

Friday, May 28, 2025 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
LHP Clayton Kershaw (0-0, 11.25) vs. RHP Griffin Canning (5-1, 2.47)
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What a difficult past week it’s been schedule-wise for the New York Metropolitans! The first place New York Yankees, followed by the second place Boston Red Sox and now the first place Los Angeles Dodgers! Whew!

For the first time in a while, the Mets will play a team tonight with a better record. This will also be the first time the two sides will play each other since the 2024 NLCS.

The Dodgers will face a Mets team trying to break out of a rut. The club’s offense finally came through with runners in scoring position in their last game on their way to beating the Red Sox 5-1. Can the Mets light up Clayton Kershaw tonight?

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Starling Marte – DH
3. Juan Soto – RF
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Brandon Nimmo – LF
6. Tyrone Taylor – CF
7. Francisco Alvarez – C
8. Brett Baty – 3B
9. Luisangel Acuña – 2B

Griffin Canning has a 2.47 ERA, 3.86 FIP, 1.289 WHIP and a 157 ERA+ over 47 1/3 innings (nine starts) this season. In his last six outings, he has a 1.67 ERA and 3.48 FIP over 32 1/3 innings while striking out 33 batters. Before his last start against the Yankees, which was the only game the Mets won that series, we talked about how there was a warning sign mounting for Canning – home runs. He had allowed home runs in back-to-back starts, and it happened again in the Bronx, bringing his total to four over his past three appearances.

The Dodgers have the following career numbers against Canning:

• Mookie Betts 3-7, 2B, HR, BB, K
• Tommy Edman 1-4, BB, K
• Freddie Freeman 1-5, K
• Kiké Hernández 1-4, 2B, BB
• Teoscar Hernández 4-9, 2B, HR, 3 K
• Max Muncy 0-9, 2 BB, 5 K
• Shohei Ohtani 0-3, K
• Andy Pages 1-1
• Miguel Rojas 0-2, BB
• Will Smith 2-4, 2B, BB

Opposing Lineup

1. Shohei Ohtani – DH
2. Mookie Betts – SS
3. Freddie Freeman – 1B
4. Will Smith – C
5. Teoscar Hernández – RF
6. Max Muncy – 3B
7. Andy Pages – CF
8. Michael Conforto – LF
9. Tommy Edman – 2B

Clayton Kershaw looks to bounce back from his first start this season, in which he allowed five runs on five hits and three walks over four innings against the Los Angeles Angels. Last season, he made seven starts totaling 30 innings with a 4.50 ERA, 3.53 FIP, 1.500 WHIP and an 88 ERA+.

Kershaw has been limited by various injuries over the last couple of seasons, but he’s still an absolute baseball legend. The Mets have the following career stats against him:

• Pete Alonso 1-7, 2 BB, 2 K
• José Azócar 1-2, 2B, K
• Francisco Lindor 2-8, 3 K
• Starling Marte 4-22, BB, 9 K
• Jeff McNeil 1-8
• Brandon Nimmo 0-8, 3 K
• Juan Soto 3-14, HR, 2 BB, 4 K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-5, 3 K
• Luis Torrens 1-3, K

Game Notes

• As reported by MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, the Mets released right-handed pitcher Sean Reid-Foley on Friday. He went unclaimed on outright waivers during spring training and was sent to Triple-A Syracuse, where he posted a 8.36 ERA in 15 appearances this year. Over 50 career major league outings with New York, Reid-Foley logged a 3.75 ERA.
• Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters before the game that right-hander Frankie Montas will begin a rehab assignment on Saturday with High-A Brooklyn, while fellow right-hander Paul Blackburn is in line to pitch his final rehab start on Tuesday for Syracuse. Neither has appeared in a big league game so far this season. For more, check out our story!
• Mark Vientos was scratched from tonight’s game with abdominal soreness. Acuña will now bat ninth and play second base while Baty slides over to the hot corner and hits eighth.

Three Things To Watch For

1. The home run battle. On Wednesday night, the Mets hit their first home run in eight days (thank you Francisco Lindor!). The team’s schedule has been insane this month in terms of home run-mashing opponents. They’ve have faced the Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, Yankees and now the Dodgers, all of whom are in the top-five for homers hit this season. Canning has started against all four clubs. This is going to be another weekend where the Mets need their stars to blast some balls to the Van Wyck and Whitestone Expressways.
2. Francisco Lindor. Lindor was in the midst of a rough week before Tuesday. Over six games, he had gone 1-for-22 with a double and three walks. The Mets as a team went 2-4 over that stretch. In his last two contests, however, he has gone 3-for-8 with a double, home run and three stolen bases. Lindor has also been a much better hitter at home (.386/.429/.693) than on the road (.200/.291/.309) this season.
3. Brett Baty. Baty saved the Mets on Wednesday night. He went 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs. More importantly, he had the Mets’ first hit with RISP in what felt like a long time. Baty now has 14 RBIs on the year, good for No. 6 on the team, despite playing in only 32 games and having less than 100 at-bats so far.

Let’s go Mets!

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