Morning Briefing: Mets Set for Three Straight Rookie Starts

Good morning, Mets fans!

Beginning with Saturday’s game against the Reds, the Mets are about to enter a three-game stretch where Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean will start for New York.

Sproat’s outing will be his major league debut, while Tong and McLean have put a jolt into a Mets team that badly needed it — McLean has had a historic four-start stretch to begin his career, while Tong looked great in his first outing last Friday. The Mets will be hoping all three can perform in big games against the Reds and Phillies.

Latest Mets News

The Mets (76-65) defeated the Reds (70-71) 5-4 in their series opener in Cincinnati Friday night. The Mets got out to an early 4-0 lead but quickly saw that shrink to 5-4. Edwin Díaz found trouble in the bottom of the ninth by loading the bases with no outs, but he miraculously got out of it with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to earn the win.

With the win, the Mets are now six games ahead of the Reds in the NL Wild Card race, but just four games ahead of the Giants, who have surpassed the Reds with a recent hot streak. The Mets also remain six games behind the Phillies, who won on Friday, in the NL East.

Prior to Friday’s game, the Mets optioned starter Kodai Senga to Triple-A and activated Francisco Alvarez from the injured list. Senga’s expected to make a couple of starts in Syracuse to hopefully get right after he has been largely ineffective since returning from the injured list. Meanwhile, Alvarez rejoined the starting lineup Friday and went 1-for-4.

Mike Petriello of MLB.com wrote about Juan Soto‘s recent success with runners in scoring position and how he’s been able to reverse his fortunes from earlier in the season.

Former Cub Adbert Alzolay, who is currently in the Mets’ system rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, posted a video to X of himself facing live batters.

FOCO released a Mets cowboy hat, which can be purchased for $50.

Latest MLB News

Tigers reliever Kyle Finnegan is being placed on the injured list with a right adductor strain. Finnegan has yet to allow a run in 14 1/3 innings since being traded to Detroit at the trade deadline. The Tigers also activated Parker Meadows from the injured list.

The Red Sox placed reliever Jordan Hicks on the injured list with right shoulder tendinitis. Hicks had a brutal 8.20 ERA in 21 games since coming over from the Giants in the Rafael Devers trade.

On Saturday, the Oakland Ballers of the Pioneer League will become the first professional sports team to be managed by AI. Manager Aaron Miles will defer all decision-making to artificial intelligence, including the starting lineup, when to bring pitchers in from the bullpen, and when to use pinch hitters.

Latest on MMO

Gabe Herz writes about McLean emerging as the potential ace of the Mets’ staff.

Johnluke Chaparro breaks down the 2025 season for Brandon Sproat and whether he’s ready for the big leagues.

On This Date in Mets History

Born on This Date: Donnie Hart (1990), Jerry Blevins (1983), Alex Escobar (1978).

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