After New York was called for a three-second violation with 13.8 seconds left, Carleton’s 3-point attempt went hard off the backboard without hitting the rim. But Barker battled for the rebound and put it back before her teammates piled on top of her in celebration.

Carla Leite added 21 points and six assists for Portland (1-1). Luisa Geiselsoder and Kamiah Smalls each scored 13 points and Barker finished with five points in 22 minutes off the bench.

All five starters for New York (2-1) scored in double figures. Rookie Pauline Astier scored a season-high 24 points and Marine Johannes added 18. Jonquel Jones finished with 17 points, Breanna Stewart had 16 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks, and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added 10 points

The teams combined for 28 made 3-pointers, with Carleton hitting one with just under three minutes left for a 94-91 lead. Then Johannes tied it at 94 with 1:54 left on an off-balance 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down.

New York was short-handed again. Sabrina Ionescu, who did not play due to a left foot injury, was seen before the game in an Oregon sweatshirt giving her former Duck coach Kelly Graves a hug.

Portland had another big crowd on hand after marking the second largest for a home opener in WNBA history with 19,335 on Saturday.

Up next

New York stays in Portland to play the second game of a back-to-back on Thursday.

Ewing filled the box score, going 1-for-2 with a triple, three walks, two RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base. His energy was present from the start and he even became the first player in Mets franchise history to triple in their debut.

The 21-year-old walked in his first plate appearance on seven pitches with runners on first and second base and one out. The walk paid off as New York was able to add a run on a groundout. And it was that plate discipline that impressed manager Carlos Mendoza the most, even saying Ewing was "pretty much perfect at the plate" in his first big league game.

"Pretty impressive," Mendoza said. "From the very beginning, the first at-bat, the quality of the at-bat, the takes, not panicking, just under control. He got ahead and was still able to take pitches close to the strike zone. And just the way he was taking them. There was rhythm; he's on time. Pretty good idea. Obviously, something that we've seen in the past, the way he controls the strike zone.

"But man, he was pretty much perfect at the plate today and it was just good to see that."

Ewing flied out in his second at-bat, but then walked again in the bottom of the sixth inning and stole second base to get the team going. It was just the spark New York needed, as they'd go on to score three runs in the frame and take a 6-2 lead. 

Mendoza continued to compliment Ewing's strike zone discipline and his ability to stay "under control" at the plate, something not too common for young players, let alone those playing in their first game.

"Yeah, I don't think you see that right out the gate," Mendoza said. "You see that from players coming up through the system and you know they have pretty good understanding of the strike zone. But not until you get here and the quality of the pitching, obviously. You're going to be jumpy at times. 

"Today, he was just under control from the very beginning. Like I said, it's pretty impressive. Didn't give up any at-bats away, that's the other thing. And it's the 3-1 takes with runners in scoring position, not trying to do too much, like it's just under control. And you don't see that from players when they first get to the league."

To Ewing, that's just who he is as a player.

"I just think that's kind of part of my identity as a hitter," Ewing said. "I'm patient, I see a lot of pitches, and I make pitchers work hard."

It took the former fourth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft until his fourth at-bat to get his first hit, but the wait was worth it. Ewing tripled down the right field line in the bottom of the seventh inning to score Brett Baty from first base, putting the Mets up 7-2. He added that it "was pretty cool" that he started both Triple-A and the majors with a triple.

That type of energy was exactly what the team had been needing. And while it could be what helps the Mets turn things around this season, Mendoza isn't putting the weight of it on the rookie's shoulders.

"We're going to need him and everyone in that room, it's not fair to put it just on him," Mendoza said. "The fact that he's able to keep the line moving, give you quality at-bats. With him right now hitting at the bottom of the order, the more we can turn that lineup over, we're going to have chances to score runs. Like I said, we're going to need him and everyone in there."

Ewing added on providing a spark: "I think energy's always great, but I'm just here to play baseball and do my job and that's just be the player I am."

He and the Mets will keep taking it day by day as they look to get out of the bottom of the standings. But for now, Ewing is taking it all in and said the best part of his debut was being part of the "great atmosphere."

"Probably the win at the end, but just looking around when I got on first base for the first time. That was when it kind of hit," Ewing said.

The young shortstop underwent offseason shoulder surgery that delayed his 2026 season, but after his rehab assignment was complete, the Yankees decided to keep Volpe in the minors. The decision was made a little easier thanks to Caballero's hot start to the season. 

But now that Volpe is back in the Yankees clubhouse, he's ready to get his year started. 

"Feels good to be back, see everyone and I’m ready to go," Volpe said after the Yankees' win over the Orioles. "Ready to get going. This is my start. Took a lot to get back here. Now that I’m here, I’m ready to go and take it from here."

Volpe was not in the starting lineup Tuesday as he was still en route to Baltimore when his call-up was made official, but he'll likely get the start in Wednesday's series finale. 

He'll look to show off some of the tools that made him the Yankees' top prospect and a promising young big leaguer. He'll definitely want to flush his offensive numbers in the minors this season. In 18 games between Double-A and Triple-A, Volpe is batting .221 with an OPS of .570 to go along with one home run, two doubles and eight RBI. 

Along with the emergence of Caballero, Volpe's paltry offensive numbers during rehab didn't help his case to return. The 25-year-old understands the business and is ready to move forward.

"What’s happened has happened," he said. "I put a lot of work to feel this good and come back, and go and help this team. I’ve been able to process, do everything and it’s just back to work. We have a really good club. It feels great to be back. Just take it from here on out." 

Volpe said it meant a lot that his teammates, including Aaron Judge, reached out to him during this time and that he's more motivated now that he's back. 

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before Tuesday's game that Caballero will be the starting shortstop when he returns from the IL, which Caballero said he only plans to be out for the maximum 10 days. Volpe was asked whether he feels he has an opportunity to change the organization's mind about him starting, the shortstop smiled before answering.

"If I learned anything out of all this, there are things I can’t control and things I can," Volpe said. "We have a game tomorrow and that’s what I’m focused on. Throughout this whole thing, it’s been day to day, how to get better, how to improve and that’s what I’m focused on."

Last season was arguably Volpe's worst as a pro. He batted .212 with an OPS of .663, and although his power numbers rose from the previous year, his OBP (.272) and stolen bases (18) were career lows. Not to mention his career-high 19 errors in the field. 

The first two were where Peralta struggled the most. 

Detroit forced him to throw 21 pitches in a scoreless top of the first, then 27 more in the second as they put two runs on the board on a solo homer and a sacrifice fly. 

Peralta gave up a well-struck double to right leading off the top of the third, but then was able to find himself a nice little groove from there.

“I just had some conversations with [Francisco Alvarez], he was great,” he said. “We just got together, changed up the plan a little bit between innings, and we were able to get outs.”

The righty retired the next eight hitters he faced in order. 

Colt Keith ended that stretch with a two-out single in the fifth, but Peralta threw him out at the plate trying to score on an overthrow after a Riley Greene hit. 

“That was huge,” he said. “I was there, it was a hard sprint for me and I was able to make a good throw home, and Alvy made good tag to get him.”

That out enabled Peralta to come back for the sixth with 89 pitches, and he was able to end his night on a high note, cruising through the inning with help from a pair of strikeouts. 

He allowed just the two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out seven.

“I have confidence in myself and all my pitches,” he said. “We just changed the way we were using the pitches -- the curveball for the slider, the location of the fastball -- we made adjustments and were able to finish the sixth.”

This marked the second time in three outings that Peralta has completed six innings.

Here are some takeaways...

- The Mets' offense struggled to get much of anything going during the final three games of their roadtrip in Arizona, but they generated plenty of early traffic against Jack Flaherty. They were able to chase the struggling right-hander from the ballgame after just 3.2 innings as they scratched runs across in the second, third, and fourth. 

- New York took advantage of some shoddy Detroit defense to put this one away in the sixth, seven, and eighth. 

- There were some concerns that the Mets rushed A.J. Ewing to the big-league level, but the youngster certainly looked the part in his debut. He reached three different times across four plate appearances, drawing three walks (the last of which was with the bases loaded), stealing a base, tripling home a run, and scoring two. 

Ewing ripped the triple at 104.1 mph to right and went home-to-third in 11.64 seconds. 

- He wasn't the only Mets youngster to enjoy a strong day, as Carson Benge continued his red-hot stretch at the plate. Bumped back up the the leadoff spot, the sweet-swinging lefty picked up two more hits, including an opposite-field single to drive home a run in the bottom of the third. 

- Francisco Alvarez reached twice with a run-scoring fielders choice and a double, but the backstop was forced to leave the game in the bottom of the sixth after appearing to twist his knee on a swing attempt. Luis Torrens took over behind the plate, and Alvarez is set to undergo imaging on Wednesday. 

- Bo Bichette reached three times after his hitless series in Arizona, Juan Soto snapped his two hits of his own.

- It was a bit of an up-and-down outing for Freddy Peralta, but the right-hander did a nice job of limiting the damage. He threw 21 pitches in a scoreless first, then 27 more in the second as the Tigers struck for two runs on a Dillon Dingler solo homer and Spencer Torkelson sacrifice fly to open the first lead of the game.  

Peralta gave up a leadoff double in the third, then finally found his groove. He retired the next eight batters he faced before giving up a two-out single in the fifth. Riley Greene followed that with a single of his own, and Peralta did a good job backing up Benge's errant throw to third, catching the runner trying to score. 

He came back for the sixth at 89 pitches and finished his night by striking out two in an easy frame. Peralta barred down when he needed to, keeping the Tigers to 0-for-6 with RISP as he allowed just the two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out seven across six-full innings. 

- Brooks Raley did a tremendous job working out of one-out traffic in the seventh, picking up a strikeout and popout to strand a pair in scoring position. Austin Warren ate the final two innings of the ballgame, saving the Mets' bullpen for a second straight night following the off day.  

Game MVP: A.J. Ewing

Ewing provided the exact spark the Mets were hoping for in his big-league debut.

Highlights

A.J. Ewing gets a hand from the Citi Field crowd before his first MLB plate appearance pic.twitter.com/RwcutUYvul

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 12, 2026

A.J. Ewing draws a walk in his first MLB plate appearance! pic.twitter.com/znnhZYCLCu

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 12, 2026

Francisco Alvarez beats the throw at first and a run comes home pic.twitter.com/NoaWdfl1Vu

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 12, 2026

A.J. Ewing is on base for the second time tonight pic.twitter.com/6sSemMUB8N

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 13, 2026

A.J. Ewing's first major-league stolen base!

He was running so fast he had to toss away his helmet halfway to second 😂 pic.twitter.com/pHG4FEjXDw

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 13, 2026

A.J. EWING'S FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE HIT IS AN RBI TRIPLE! pic.twitter.com/o54gnAS6Jt

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 13, 2026

What's next

The Mets will look to lock-up the series win with Christian Scott on the mound against Framber Valdez. 

The action gets underway at 7:10 p.m. on SNY. 

New York scored just eight runs over their last four games, but the Yankees' six runs are the most since they scored nine on May 7. 

The win snapped the Yankees' four-game losing streak.

Here are the takeaways...

-The Yankees offense was in the midst of a slump, but Paul Goldschmidt got the scoring started by homering off of Tyler Rogers -- making his first start off the IL -- on the first pitch of the game. 

They would pour it on in the third by scoring five runs. The first two came on ground balls (one fielder's choice that Cody Bellinger beat out at first, and an infield single by Amed Rosario, and the big blow came on a three-run shot by Trent Grisham to give the Yankees a 6-0 lead. 

-Warren pitched a dud in his last start, allowing six runs in 4.0 innings, but he was much better on Tuesday. But he was almost betrayed by his defense. In the third, with a six-run lead, an error by Max Schuemann at short while trying to start a double play and Ryan McMahon, who made a nice sliding grab but threw it to second base to start a double play, but Rosario didn't cover the base to allow bases loaded and no outs. Warren got Taylor Ward to fly out to shallow right field, and then Adley Rutschman grounded into an inning-ending double play for the young right-hander to escape without allowing a run.

Warren would settle back in, pitching into the sixth without allowing a run. However, Taylor Ward mashed a ground-rule double to lead off the inning and was almost stranded at third if not for Samuel Basallo's single. Tyler O'Neill followed with a double that Grisham tried to make a diving catch on, but the attempt allowed the ball to skip away from him and a backing-up Aaron Judge, which allowed the second Orioles run to score. Warren was pulled for Fernando Cruz, who got Colton Cowser to fly out to end the inning.

Warren allowed two runs on four hits and one walk across 5.2 innings while striking out six batters. 

-The Yankees bullpen, which has struggled recently, was tasked with getting through the rest of the game after Warren and had mixed results. Cruz was good, getting his four batters out, but Jake Bird was a different story. The Orioles hit him hard in the eighth, hitting three rockets for two singles -- the other was an out on a great play by McMahon. Tim Hill came in next and got Basallo and O'Neill to ground out and get the Yankees out of the inning.

David Bednar pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to lock down the win.

-Jazz Chisholm Jr. didn't start Tuesday due to his struggles and a lefty on the mound, but he came in as a pinch-hitter. He flew out and is now 3-for-24 over his last seven games.

Game MVP: Will Warren

Warren was strong and was much better than his stat line showed. His escape from that mistake-filled inning kept Orioles from making this game interesting. 

Highlights

PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT HOMERS ON THE FIRST PITCH OF THE NIGHT! pic.twitter.com/CV09fORI4c

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 12, 2026

Cody Bellinger beats out the double play and a run scores pic.twitter.com/scceHrUva8

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 12, 2026

Amed Rosario reaches and the Yankees score another run pic.twitter.com/GuQuiOWfqT

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 12, 2026

Trent Grisham with a three-run blast! 💪 pic.twitter.com/0hWxxHko9B

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 12, 2026

Third time's the charm!

The Yankees turn two and get out of the inning! pic.twitter.com/FYgJoeNCvd

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 12, 2026

What's next

The Yankees and Orioles wrap up their three-game set on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.

Max Fried (4-2, 2.91 ERA) will take the mound for the Yankees, while the Orioles have yet to name a starter.

New York said that he will undergo imaging on Wednesday.

"He's going to get an MRI tomorrow and see what we got," Carlos Mendoza said after the game. "Yeah, we just got to wait. He didn't look good on that swing, obviously, we saw it right away and he came out. We got to wait."

Alvarez took a big swing on a 2-2 pitch against Burch Smith and fouled it off, but appeared to limp and grab at his knee.

He then left the game with trainers, finishing the night 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.

Luis Torrens came in to pinch-hit, eventually working a walk and scoring in the inning.

Through 37 games and 112 at-bats this season, Alvarez owns a .241/.317/.393 slash line with four home runs, five doubles, and 10 RBI.

Francisco Alvarez is out of the game after fouling a pitch off pic.twitter.com/vYFr6mtKpg

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 13, 2026

Wenninger cruised his way through five terrific scoreless innings of work.

His night didn’t start on the smoothest note, though, as he walked the first two batters he faced before settling into a groove with a strikeout and double play.

He then went on a stretch retiring the next nine hitters in order, including a string of five consecutive strikeouts, before allowing his first hit in the bottom of the fourth. 

Wenninger quickly retired the next two, and then was able to end his night on a high note, picking up another strikeout and double play around to erase a leadoff walk in the fifth. 

He allowed just the one hit while walking three, striking out seven, and generating 10 swing-and-misses. 

The 24-year-old sixth-round pick extended his scoreless streak to 16.2 consecutive innings, helping lower his ERA to a league-best mark of 1.08 for the season.

Wenninger also finished with a stellar 2.92 mark across 26 Double-A outings last year. 

If he can continue dominating at the new level, he might work his way into the big league mix before long. 

Jack Wenninger tonight for Triple-A Syracuse:

5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K

Wenninger has a 1.08 ERA on the season pic.twitter.com/EdzxGy2YCo

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) May 13, 2026

Some days, the bursitis in Polanco’s left Achilles tendon subsides enough for the Mets to see these tantalizing pregame displays. Some days, it doesn’t. And until he is asymptomatic, they cannot reinstate him. In the meantime, they are not shutting him down.

“Right now, we’re following the protocols laid out by the physicians who are experts in that, and they have not recommended a complete shutdown,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “So we’re still following the protocol.”

Nearly a quarter of the way through their 2026 season, Stearns and his last-place Mets are in a similar state of in-between – and so far, they are sticking to the plan.

Some days, when the top end of the rotation pitches well and the lineup hits enough, and one considers the players who could return from injury, it is possible to see the contours of an eventual contender. Some days, when the lineup looks short and their unorthodox bullpen lets deficits grow instead of shrink, they look like a puzzle whose pieces never really fit. Only time can say for sure.

For now, they are proceeding like Polanco, wondering if this season’s wounds can really heal if nothing major changes. May is too early to give up on a season, Stearns insisted Tuesday afternoon.

“I don’t think sitting here in the middle of May, I’m going to do a post-mortem on our season,” Stearns said. “We still have confidence in our team and we’re still going to support this group and do everything we can to have a successful season.”

So they continue to be patient. 

After telling MLB.com that he does not intend to fire Carlos Mendoza, Stearns said Tuesday he continues to think Mendoza “does a really good job,” but would not clarify how long Mendoza is safe.

“I’m not gonna address [Mendoza’s job status] every two weeks when I talk to you guys,” Stearns said. “And I’ll leave it at that.”

At times during the first 40 games of this season, Stearns’s unwillingness to do something drastic – which will eventually be looked upon as patience or obstinance, depending on how the next few months go – has felt hard to comprehend. But firing Mendoza never seemed like it would address the problem, a problem Stearns articulated bluntly on Tuesday.

“We haven’t been a good enough offensive team. We haven’t scored enough runs,” Stearns said. “And I think it’s a combination of we’re having some injuries, and there have also been players who have been healthy who haven’t performed at their customary levels. And we have to do everything we can – we are doing everything we can – to help get those players back to where we need them going forward.”

Bo Bichette, for example, is hitting .222 with a .559 OPS. He is a .290 career hitter with a .793 OPS. One reason to exercise patience with this roster is that Bichette will almost certainly climb toward his career norms in the coming months, and given how far he is below them now, the Mets could cautiously expect quite an outburst. Then again, what if he doesn’t?

Marcus Semien, too, is hitting well below even the declining offensive numbers he has posted in recent years. Even as he has established himself as a steady presence with runners in scoring position, he is hitting .225 with a .594 OPS. Even if one assumes the .230 average and .669 OPS he posted last year are his new mid-30s norms, he should still gain dozens of points in OPS to go with elite defense at second. If he hits a little more…well…Again, mid-May is not mid-August.

And then there are those injured players like Polanco, whose successful return would almost certainly help the Mets claw back. But Polanco seems to be in purgatory. And Luis Robert Jr. seems to have joined him there. Both Mendoza and Stearns acknowledged that Robert Jr.’s lower back pain is “not resolving” and the team has sought out the opinions of specialists to determine why it hasn't. At this point, Stearns said, surgical intervention has not been suggested. Maybe he will heal and play regularly for the Mets again this season. But given the uncertainty around his injury, well…one has to wonder if he won’t.

Francisco Lindor has said he is determined to play again this season, too, and to be sure, no one has suggested his calf strain would prevent him from doing so. But while Lindor is out of his walking boot, he will not know how long he will be out until he gets an MRI in the next few days. That MRI, Stearns said, will tell him whether he is ready to resume baseball activities or whether he will miss several more weeks.

If Lindor can finally pair with Soto and Bichette at the top of the lineup for a prolonged stretch, the Mets offense will look much better. But at this exact moment, the “if” looms large.

Stearns said he has been, and is always, exploring all options for improving his roster. But to this point, the biggest shakeup he has made is calling up 21-year-old outfielder A.J. Ewing, who the Mets plan to play regularly in center field until further notice. But even that move fits all potential outcomes. If this is a lost season, someone the Mets believe will be a key part of their future outfield will gain experience on the job. If it isn’t, Ewing is capable of being a reason why, injecting elite defense into an outfield that already included some from Carson Benge and bringing elite speed to a lineup searching helplessly for a jolt.

“The situation that the big league club is in and the opportunity that’s here right now is certainly part of it,” Stearns said. “But we would not have made the decision to promote A.J. if we didn’t think he was ready for the moment.”

Exactly what moment Ewing needs to be ready for remains to be seen. Maybe he needs to be the sparkplug for a sputtering and expensive baseball behemoth on the verge of dramatic revival. Maybe he needs to get all the experience in meaningful games now before the Mets run out of them and rebuild a roster around him and his fellow younger players.

“We’re not close to that point right now,” Stearns said of the latter possibility. 

For now, the Mets are sticking to the protocol and hoping they somehow heal from within.

Collins played 13 seasons in the NBA from 2001 to 2014, including eight with the Nets organization.

In 2013, he became the first active, openly gay player in NBA history and from all four major American sports. 

Collins was drafted by the Nets with the 18th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft out of Stanford and helped the team reach back-to-back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003. The big man spent the first seven seasons of his career in New Jersey before playing for the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, and Washing Wizards.

He returned to the Nets in 2014 following their move to Brooklyn, playing 22 games during the 2013-14 season. For his career, Collins averaged 4.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game over 735 contests.

Collins announced his cancer diagnosis in December 2025 and tried experimental treatments in Singapore over the winter, allowing him to return home and be active, per ESPN. Although, the disease recently returned and he died peacefully at home surrounded by family.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver released a statement on Collins' passing and thanked him for making the league more inclusive.

"Jason Collins' impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”

Below are Collins' family's and Silver's full statements, along with the Nets:

The following statement was issued today on behalf of the family of Jason Collins: pic.twitter.com/Vf1MwmmQLH

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 12, 2026

NBA commissioner Adam Silver issues statement on passing of Jason Collins: "Jason Collins' impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”

Full statement: pic.twitter.com/pSzVRIiZbv

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) May 12, 2026

We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Jason Collins.

Jason spent eight seasons in a Nets uniform, helping define an era of our franchise and playing a vital role on our back-to-back Eastern Conference championship teams in 2002 and 2003. He was a constant in our locker… pic.twitter.com/mN9KUyJ8oK

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) May 13, 2026

New York was expected to be one of the top teams in the league, but have been far from it. They dealt with a 12-game losing streak in April while Juan Soto was out with a calf injury, and now Francisco Lindor, among others, are sidelined on the injured list as well. 

With things are looking like it's now-or-never for the Mets to save their 2026 season, president of baseball operations David Stearns expressed optimism that the team can still make a run and "get this together."

"I do believe that," Stearns said. "We have not shown that yet, but I do believe that."

He added: "I think we have the talent on the roster and the character on the roster to make a run. We've got a lot of season left. I'm not going to say it's early, it's not. We're a quarter into the season, it's not early anymore, but we do have enough season left to make a run and I think we have the talent to do that."

Stearns admitted that the group has "underachieved" from what they expected the season would look like, but still believes they can turn it around.

"I think we've underachieved, there's no question," Stearns said. "Collectively as an organization, we've got to figure out a way to get better and I think we will."

Some thought making a change at manager would be the short-term solution to save the season, taking after the Red Sox and Phillies, but Stearns backed Carlos Mendoza on May 1 and doubled down on those comments Tuesday. He made it very clear the organization has no plans to move on from Mendoza any time soon.

"I'll let my words speak for themselves, I've been very clear and consistent that I think Mendy does a really good job," Stearns said. "I believe Mendy does a really good job. I like coming to work with him every day. I'm not going to address this every two weeks when I talk to you guys and I'll leave it at that."

Looking ahead, the Mets will try to become just the fifth team in MLB history to suffer a 10-game losing streak and still make the postseason. When asked what gives him confidence in the talent of the players to flip the script on the 2026 season, Stearns said he believes in the experience and background the individuals on the roster have. 

"I think we have a lot of players with really good track records in this league," Stearns. "We are counting on those track records. Not only on the field, but how they prepare for games. How they go about their business, how hard they're working right now. And we believe that ultimately that's going to show."

Talking to the fans, Stearns acknowledged their frustration with how the year has gone, but again, pointed to the "talent on this team" to be able to right the ship.

"I think our message to fanbase is we recognize that the first six weeks of this season haven't been close to good enough," Stearns said. "We understand that, we're disappointed in it. We also believe we have the talent on this team to turn this around and our focus is doing everything we can every single day to get it there."

The Mets' talent will get their chance to turn things around one last time this week with six straight home games, three against the Tigers and another three in the first Subway Series of the year against the Yankees over the weekend.

Good news on Lindor

Francisco Lindor is feeling better, and he’s shed the boot on his left foot as he continues recovering from a calf strain. 

Lindor is set to undergo a follow-up MRI within the next few days. 

From that point, Stearns said that the team will get opinions from their doctors so they can start mapping out what a return to play looks like.

“We won’t know until we see the results of the MRI,” he said. “We need to get it over the next 48 hours or so and once we get that, we’ll get our doctors to map out a plan.”

Stearns also said the team isn’t concerned that Lindor’s injury could impact his Achilles. 

The star shortstop has been on the IL since April 23.

Robert Jr. not progressing as planned

While both Stearns and Mendoza emphasized that A.J. Ewing’s call-up had nothing to do with Luis Robert Jr’s timeline, they didn’t have a positive update on the injured outfielder. 

Robert hasn't been progressing as hoped, and he continues to deal with discomfort in his lower back.

“He’s still showing some symptoms there,” Mendoza explained.

The team hasn’t gotten any indication that surgery could be required, but they are consulting with additional specialists. 

Robert received an injection upon landing on the IL two weeks ago, and the Mets said at the time that they didn’t expect him to miss much more than the minimum.

They do not have an update on his timeline, as of now. 

Polanco’s ankle still symptomatic 

The Mets will be without Jorge Polanco a bit longer as well, as he continues recovering from bursitis in his Achilles. 

Stearns said Polanco’s ankle continues to show signs, and they have to get it asymptomatic before he can work his way back into the lineup. 

“We have good days and then it flares up,” he said. “We need to get the ankle asymptomatic so we know he can go out on a daily basis, run the bases freely, and we’re not there yet.”

The team is currently following protocols put forward by specialists in that area, who have not recommended shutting Polanco down completely.

The veteran began the season but quickly developed the issue. 

He played just two games at 1B, then was in and out of the lineup as the DH before landing on the IL on April 18.

Polanco resumed baseball activities over the past few weeks, but hasn’t been able to take the next step in his recovery, with the issue continuing to flare up. 

Next step for A.J. Minter 

The left-hander doesn’t appear far off from resuming his rehab assignment after completing a successful bullpen session on Tuesday at Citi Field.

Minter is expected to toss at least one more bullpen later this week. 

He’ll then head to the minors to continue building up, but could be back up with the big league club before long. 

Stearns said a two-to-three-week timeline is about right. 

Minter, of course, wasn’t too far off from making his return to the Mets' bullpen before left hip discomfort caused him to pause his rehab last week.

He’d allowed just three runs (one earned) over eight appearances, at the time.  

Ewing’s rise to the majors has been meteoric, but Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns explained that the club would not have called him up if they didn’t believe he was ready, whether or not the team had holes they needed to fill. 

“The combination of, first and foremost, the performance. He’s a pretty well-rounded player right now,” Stearns said. “There aren’t a ton of holes in his game. We think he can contribute to the team on a variety of different levels. And then there is this ability to handle different situations. He's a pretty mature kid for a young player. He’s demonstrated that throughout his time in our system. 

“That doesn’t mean this is going to go flawlessly for him. That would be an unfair expectation, but we do think he can handle it.”

Ewing, just 21 years old, was tearing it up in the minors this season, slashing .339/.447/514 with two home runs, 11 RBI, 17 steals, and 25 runs scored across both levels. 

“Obviously, he can help you win baseball games in a lot of different ways,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “Defensively, base-running, offensively, it’s a simple swing, simple approach, short to the baseball, uses the whole field, and the makeup of the player.  Even though he’s only 21, he’s pretty mature and he’s super consistent.”

Mendoza and the rest of the Mets coaching staff had a chance to see Ewing perform up close and in person during spring training, when the outfielder appeared in 10 Grapefruit League games and hit .381 with a 1.090 OPS. 

And the coaches weren’t the only ones impressed by what the former fourth-round pick can do.

“There was a lot to like from the very beginning of spring training, watching him play and go about his business,” Mendoza said. “The energy, the passion, the smile, and then the tools, the skillset that he brings. It was eye-opening, to be honest with you. I had some of our established players playing in that game come up to me and go ‘Who is this guy? Where’s he going to be at?’”

Ewing is hitting eighth in the order and playing center field in his big league debut, and Mendoza confirmed that the plan is to get him settled in at center field as his primary position. 

And with Luis Robert Jr. still experiencing soreness in his lower back, Ewing should see plenty of time in center moving forward.

Instead, the youngster received his highly-anticipated call-up to the big leagues.

Ewing officially joined the Mets on Tuesday afternoon at Citi Field, and he’ll jump right into the lineup batting eighth and playing center field in the series opener against the Tigers. 

“It’s awesome, man,” he said. “Just a dream come true, and I’m really excited.”

The 21-year-old was a bit surprised receiving this chance after starting the year with Double-A and appearing in just 13 Triple-A games, but he’s eager to help the club right away.

“I was just focused on being the best player I could and dominating the level I’m at,” he said. “The fact that it happened, I’m just excited to be here and ready to go.”

Ewing certainly did that in both levels of the minors, quickly cruising his way through Binghamton before taking the leap to Syracuse 18 games into the season. 

He only continued stacking strong showings from there -- hitting a combined .339 with a pair of triples, two home runs, nine doubles, 11 RBI, a .447 OBP, and .961 OPS between the two.

The dynamic outfielder also showcased his speed (17 SB) and game-changing defense. 

Now taking one last leap to the game’s highest level, he’ll look to bring a much-needed spark and energy boost for the struggling club on both sides of the ball. 

“I’m confident in my ability and I’m just going to play the same game that I’ve been playing, and just go and do what I do -- I feel comfortable and ready to compete,” Ewing said.

The Yankees are calling up the 25-year-old shortstop, a move the club made official on Tuesday afternoon. 

After undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, Volpe began his 2026 campaign on a rehab assignment. But when that rehab assignment came to an end, he was optioned to Triple-A instead of being called up to join the big league club. 

But with Jose Caballero injuring his right middle finger on Sunday against Milwaukee, the Yanks needed a shortstop, and Volpe was the obvious answer.

Caballero, who returned to New York after Monday's game to visit team doctors, has landed on the IL with a right middle finger fracture. The Yankees are hopeful Caballero will miss the minimum 10 days before he's able to return. 

Volpe was hitting .221 in 18 games in the minors this season (rehab and non-rehab games), hitting one home run with eight RBI and 11 runs scored. 

He hit .212 in 153 regular season games with the Yankees last season, and had his struggles in the field. A Gold Glove winner as a rookie, Volpe committed 19 errors and had a career-low .963 fielding percentage last season. 

Volpe is not starting Tuesday's game, but should be available once he arrives in Baltimore around game time. 

"I expect Anthony to play a lot, yes," manager Aaron Boone said of Volpe's playing time. " Still getting it going a little bit. Watched [Volpe in the minors the] other day...haven’t gotten a lot of results yet. Hopefully, with a lot of playing time... he’ll come up here and be a spark for us."

After an underwhelming stretch of play for the Mets, the guys discuss the call up of Ewing, the team's continued offensive struggles, and what to make of Francisco Alvarez. 

Later, Connor and Joe go Down on the Farm to check in on power-hitting prospect Ryan Clifford, and answer Mailbag questions about trade ideas, going back in time to the beginning of the offseason, hitting philosophy, and the overall direction of the franchise. 

Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In your opinion, which positions with the Yankees need an upgrade? -- @MrEd315

First of all, the real answer is “not many.”

The Yankees look about as complete as any team I’ve seen outside Los Angeles in several years. I think they will need relief help. And I think they might need to consider another infield bat if Jazz Chisholm Jr. continues to struggle. While Ryan McMahon looks like the best offensive version of himself lately, his career numbers suggest that might not continue. If it does, great. If it doesn’t, the Yankees probably cannot absorb both their third and second baseman struggling offensively if they want to continue cruising through their regular season schedule.

But Chisholm will almost certainly hit sooner or later. He has been open about the impact warmer weather has on him, and his career numbers and underlying metrics suggest better times are coming soon.

As for McMahon, Yankees hitting coaches and teammates have worked so diligently with him that it is possible he is a better hitter now than he used to be. If he outpaces his career OPS (.735) by even 30 points, he will be among the top 10 third baseman in baseball in that category (though admittedly, currently struggling stars like Bo Bichette, Manny Machado, and Matt Chapman seem likely to rise). Still, with his defense, any offense from McMahon is a huge boost. And it is hard to think of another offensive position where the Yanks could even consider upgrading, given the talent they have throughout their roster.

Seems like the concerns of the fans in the offseason – namely not shoring up the pen – are already a problem? -- @mtill50

The bullpen is definitely the weakest link on this roster, though that in itself is not much of an indictment. And while it hasn’t always felt like it, Yankees relievers have actually been very sturdy: Their 3.28 ERA is second only to the Rangers for the best bullpen mark in baseball. Yankees relievers have left 77.1 percent of inherited runners on base, better than all but three teams.

But they are not dominant, and they will need some dominance to make it through October. Their collective Stuff+ rating is middle-of-the-pack. Their swinging strike rating is 10th in baseball. Their strikeouts-per-nine is 17th. Tim Hill and Jake Bird rate highly in Stuff+ individually, but Hill is not a traditional closing option and Bird has not yet proven he can be consistent. Fernando Cruz has been solid. David Bednar has been steady. But neither is blowing hitters away. Still, approximately 28 other teams would be overjoyed to have strong-not-dominant relief options as their biggest problem.

Even so, that unit has shown its cracks as the Yanks have lost four games in a row, three of them late. But cracks in the bullpen are easy to patch midseason, and Brian Cashman has plenty of history of being aggressive in doing so. Though he and his front office have eschewed giving major free agent contracts to elite relievers in recent years, they have traded for multiple relievers during the season in that span. I would assume they plan to do so again, even as arms like those belonging to Carlos Lagrange and others in the minors continue to look like promising options for later this season.

It’s been a real good start, but are there real reasons to believe this season will end any differently than each season since 2010? -- @yankeemac1 on BlueSky

I think there might be more reasons than ever to believe that this season will end differently than every season since their 2009 title, if that’s what you mean (don’t worry, the last decade and a half is a blur for me, too). I think even Aaron Boone and his staff can sense it.

If you’ll remember last October, Boone was adamant that the team that lost to the Blue Jays was one of the best teams he had managed. Now, with a whole offseason of work with McMahon and Jose Caballero and the emergence of Cam Schlittler and the ascension of Max Fried, I have a hard time thinking of a Yankees team that has been better.

In fact, and I will stick by this even if they lose their next 20 games or somehow collapse before our eyes, I think this Yankees team could be the most formidable October challenger the Dodgers have seen in the last two years – particularly after they acquire that inevitable bullpen help in the next few months.

The main reason is their starting pitching: they are deeper than any team but the Dodgers, and maybe even deeper than Los Angeles, depending on how veterans like Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell fare health-wise the rest of the way.

Schlittler is a bona fide ace who pitches like he has never had a doubt in his life. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon will have plenty of time to figure out their new elbows and less than a full season of innings on their arms by October. Fried looks like a legitimate Cy Young candidate and has proven his October mettle before. They can match up with Snell, Shohei Ohtani, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in a long series, and they can match up with any American League team’s top two starters in a short one.

But beyond that, I think they are also as well-rounded as any Yankees team Boone has had here. No longer is this team just an assembly of huge, station-to-station sluggers. Caballero and Chisholm can really run, and they aren’t afraid to do it. Outside of Giancarlo Stanton, the rest of the lineup is fully capable of stealing bases and has been aggressive in doing so. They can hit for power, but they take enough pitches that they can wear pitchers down and create rallies out of nothing. And with their speed, even a walk is a rally.

Now, for the corny part.

I think the "running it back" concerns that circulated around them this offseason were understandable. I think in some cases (maybe the Phillies, though time will tell), shakeups are needed. But I think with this particular Yankees group, running it back gave a largely veteran roster more time to coalesce. For example, the offseason and spring training built more trust between Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt and McMahon, who has heeded their tutelage offensively and improved because of it. They seem to understand each other’s strengths and take at-bats accordingly. They are comfortable, and they are experienced enough to know what has gone right and wrong for them in the postseason.

I think this is a really, really good team. Of course, we’ve seen really good teams fall in the postseason before. Heck, we’ve seen really good teams fall apart in the regular season before. But this particular really good team is deep, experienced, talented, well-rounded, and comfortable in its own skin. Few teams in recent years, let alone Yankees teams, have been able to say all of that. And even fewer, I gather, have been able to sense it. I think, based on the way veterans talk about their lineup and their clubhouse, that this team does.

New York was fresh off a 12-game losing streak, with the end of it overlapping with a 3-6 homestand against the Twins, Rockies, and Nationals that led to loud questions about manager Carlos Mendoza's job as the club boarded its flight for a nine-game road trip -- questions that were at least temporarily put to rest soon after by president of baseball operations David Stearns. 

The West Coast jaunt started out in promising fashion, with New York going 5-2 to open it. But two listless losses to the Diamondbacks capped the trip, with the Mets mustering just two runs total in those defeats.

While the Mets have played a tick above .500 since bottoming out at 10-21, they need to turn it on if they hope to make anything of this season.

At 15-25, they have the worst record in baseball, and -- aside from A.J. Ewing, who could offer a jolt but should absolutely not be viewed as a savior -- there doesn't seem to be help coming any time soon.

Francisco Lindor is out long-term, and could be a few days away from a follow-up MRI on his calf injury. If the news is good, his progression could be "relatively quick." But he's still weeks away from being on the radar.

Meanwhile, the injuries to Luis Robert Jr. and Jorge Polanco are lingering, and there is essentially no timetable for either one of them, meaning New York is without three of its five most important hitters. 

Beyond that, the Mets are probably exhausted, having flown to the West Coast three times already this season -- an absurd bit of schedule-making that boggles the mind.

In any event, to sum things up: the Mets have a pitching staff that is good enough for them to be a playoff team (their 170 runs allowed are sixth-best in the NL, and the five NL teams better than them are all in playoff position), and an offense that is bad enough for them to be a last place team (their 139 runs scored are tied with the Giants for the fewest in baseball).

Will the offense wake up before it's too late? And which players should New York rely on daily to try to get out of these offensive doldrums?

Given Lindor's absence (opening up shortstop for Bichette) and the promotion of Ewing, it can be argued that the Mets should trot out this configuration most days, and not revolve lineups around the handedness of the opposing pitcher -- as they were doing until recently against lefties while sitting Benge:

A.J. Ewing, CF
Juan Soto, LF
Bo Bichette, SS
Francisco Alvarez, C
Carson Benge, RF
Mark Vientos, 1B
Brett Baty, 3B
Marcus Semien, 2B
MJ Melendez, DH

It's fair to believe Ewing will not be the leadoff hitter from the jump, but he certainly profiles there in the long run given his bat-to-ball ability and penchant for working deep counts.

A much more difficult thing to answer is whether this unit will be good enough to lift New York out of the doldrums.

Soto's slump will end, Bichette's advanced stats show a likely rise to the mean is coming, Benge looks comfortable as he continues to get acclimated to the majors, and Alvarez has produced at right around an average level. But there are enormous questions about the other potential main lineup cogs.

As the Mets try to get their undermanned offense going and stack wins, here's what their schedule looks like for the rest of May:

3 games vs. Tigers
3 games vs. Yankees
4 games @ Nationals
3 games @ Marlins
3 games vs. Reds
3 games vs. Marlins

Given their current place in the standings, the Mets are in no position to look down their noses at any team in the majors. But accounting for their expectations before the season and their personnel, they're going to have to win most series they play against teams like the Nats and Marlins if they hope to get back in it. As far as the Reds, they're reeling, having lost eight of their last 10 games and sporting a -33 run differential that suggests their 22-19 record is a mirage.

The Tigers are also flailing a bit, sitting at 19-22 and currently without Tarik Skubal.

The Yankees, despite their four-game losing streak, are one of the most well-rounded teams in baseball. They'll be a huge challenge, but perhaps the atmosphere at Citi Field helps ignite something in the Mets.

By going 15-25 to open the season, the Mets have given themselves little margin for error the rest of the way. They also have a ton of work to do if they want to prove that the first 40 games were an aberration.

In order to have a realistic chance to reach the postseason, the Mets will likely have to go about 71-51 between now and the end of the season, which would mean finishing with a record of 86-76. Over the last three seasons, the final NL Wild Card has finished with between 83 and 89 wins, so we split the difference for this prognostication.

The season won't be over if the Mets don't make serious progress between now and the end of May, but they'll certainly be closer to becoming a seller at the trade deadline than a team that stands pat or buys -- a situation that would've been unthinkable six weeks ago.

Ewing, who is SNY's No. 3 Mets prospect, was recently promoted from Double-A to Triple-A at the end of April. 

The 21-year-old hit .349 over 18 games in Binghamton and didn't miss a beat in Syracuse, hitting .326 through 12 games. 

In a corresponding move, the Mets designated infielder Andy Ibáñez for assignment.

Ibáñez struggled during his brief tenure in New York, going hitless in eight plate appearances. He also committed two costly errors during their loss to the Diamondbacks on Sunday. 

New York currently owns the worst record in the majors at 15-25 and is 12.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. Injuries have also been a challenge for the club with Juan Soto missing 15 games in April and Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco, and Luis Robert Jr. all on the IL.

The hope will be that Ewing comes in and provides energy before it's too late for the Mets to turn their season around.

Overall across 30 games between Double-A and Triple-A, Ewing slashed .339/.447/.514 (.961 OPS) with nine doubles, two triples, two home runs and 17 stolen bases. He's also shown great plate discipline with 22 walks and only 20 strikeouts.

Defensively, Ewing has played mostly center field in the minors (18 games in 2026, 150 for his career). He'll likely slide into that role in Queens with Carson Benge in right field and Soto in left field or DH. The former fourth-round pick has also logged 53 games at second base (four in 2026), 21 in LF, and 20 in RF. 

When asked in a recent interview what fans can expect from him, Ewing expressed tons of confidence and highlighted his ability at the plate. 

"I spray the ball to all fields," Ewing said. "I think I'm a tough out. I think I grind at-bats really well and I see a lot of pitches and I make pitchers work hard."

The Mets begin a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m., ahead of their weekend Subway Series against the Yankees.

“It was cool, definitely a blessing,” Hall said after inking his new deal. “I honestly was surprised it got done as fast as it did… Definitely a good moment for myself and my family.”

Prior to agreeing to a new multi-year contract, the Jets placed the franchise tag on Hall in early March. By doing so, they gave themselves more time to negotiate a longer deal. While Hall’s name had popped up in trade rumors dating all the way back to last season’s deadline, he said he was never too concerned about what the future may hold for him.

“Honestly, that really wasn’t my mentality. I was just being where my feet are,” Hall said. “So, I was doing my offseason training where I was, and that’s really what I was focused on every day, so I was just like whatever happens is going to happen. Luckily, thankfully, we came to an agreement.”

A second-round pick of the Jets in 2022, Hall has recorded at least 1,350 yards from scrimmage in each of his last three seasons, proving to be a versatile weapon in both the running game and as a receiving option. 

But between a torn ACL suffered in his rookie season and plenty of changes along the offense over the last few years, it hasn’t always been a smooth road for the Iowa State product.

“It’s been a roller coaster,” Hall said of his first four seasons with the Jets. “I came in with some guys who aren’t here anymore… I’ve definitely had my ups and downs with the media, ups and downs in the game and everything like that, but one thing about me is I’m always going to show up every day and be the same guy and show my teammates how much love I have for them and how I’m going to play for them every week.”

The Jets offense will look different in 2026, with Frank Reich taking over as coordinator, Geno Smith starting at quarterback, and rookies Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr. expected to have big roles. 

But with all these new pieces in place, Hall believes he could be in for a monster year, citing "healthy competition" throughout the building.

“Just the fact that they brought a proven veteran in like Geno, and we drafted some really good guys… just seeing that let me know that we’re really trying to build something here. 

“[Head coach Aaron Glenn] and [GM Darren Mougey], I feel like they’ve really put me in position with all of the guys we’ve brought in and the team we’re building around us, to really flourish and for me to really be myself. God-willing we stay healthy and everything goes to plan, I feel like this could be my best season, for sure.”  

Mets Notes

• A.J. Ewing will make his big league debut. Ewing slashed .339/.447/.514 in 30 games across Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse before being promoted
• Carson Benge is hitting .300/.352/.500 with two homers and four doubles in 54 plate appearances over his last 16 games
• Freddy Peralta tossed five scoreless innings on May 6 against the Rockies in Colorado. In 43.1 innings over eight starts this season, Peralta has a 3.12 ERA and 1.20 WHIP

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So here come A.J. Ewing, and under ordinary circumstances David Stearns wouldn’t be calling up a 21-year old kid with all of 12 games at Triple-A under his belt. But under these circumstances it’s the right move to make, and not just because Stearns knows that fans want to run him out of town.

That is, it’s right because Ewing might just have the game to make it pay dividends.

At least that’s the opinion of scouts I’ve spoken to, before and after Monday night’s decision to call up Ewing.

“If you’re looking for a spark, like they are, he’s got the game to bring energy,” one scout told me Monday night. “He’s got great speed. He’ll steal a base, he’ll make a diving play. He gets really good jumps in the outfield -- he’s a natural in center field.

“Whether he’ll hit major league pitching right away, that’s always the toughest thing to project. But he’s got the tools for it. His swing is short and quick to the ball, and he has a knack for fouling off pitches to keep at-bats alive until he gets a pitch he can handle. He adapted quickly to Triple-A pitching, so I wouldn’t bet against him.”

As the Mets’ fourth-round pick out of high school in Ohio in the 2023 MLB Draft, the left-handed-hitting Ewing has exceeded projections as he has excelled offensively and moved up quickly in the minors.

Last season, Ewing moved up two levels as he put up numbers, finishing the season in Double-A, where he hit .339 in 28 games. He began this year in Double-A and was hitting .349 with a 1.051 OPS after 18 games, forcing his way to Triple-A as he began to show power in addition to his contact skills.

He was hitting everything his first week in Triple-A, and though he cooled recently, he was still batting .326 with a .392 OBP at the time of his call-up, with five stolen bases -- and was never caught stealing.

In short, he profiles as an obvious leadoff hitter, and you’d have to think he’ll be in that spot on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers, which would allow Carlos Mendoza to slide Juan Soto back to the No. 2 or 3 spot, especially considering Soto has been slumping since being moved to leadoff himself.

“He’s got leadoff skills,” a second scout said of Ewing. “He gets into deep counts because he fouls off tough pitches and doesn’t chase a lot, but he’ll see a different caliber of pitching now, and that’s always the X-factor, especially for someone making the jump so quickly.

“He could use more at-bats in Triple-A, where you usually see more spin, better command than you do in Double-A. So it’s not ideal, rushing him to the big leagues, but I understand why they’re doing it. He’s got a good approach, and he’s short and quick to the ball, which gives him an advantage over a lot of guys as far as having immediate success.”

Indeed, Ewing has made an impression with his ability to adapt at every level of the minors and continue to improve his offensive game.

For example, he recently made a huge jump in Baseball America’s ranking of prospects throughout the minors. He moved from No. 83 to the No. 37 overall prospect, based on the way he was tearing it up early this season.

After what Ewing did last season, the Mets were convinced he was a keeper. Still, they weren’t thinking he’d be at Citi Field this soon, considering they made the gamble to trade for injury-prone Luis Robert Jr., who is currently on the IL.

In any case, I got a sense of just how high the Mets were on Ewing during spring training. I happened to be talking with a Mets person in the seats behind home plate when Ewing came to bat late in the first game of the Grapefruit League season. 

The bases were loaded with one out and Ewing worked a long at-bat, fouling off a few pitches before hitting a fly ball to center field, deep enough to score a run with a sacrifice fly.

“I love that at-bat,” the Mets person said. “He’s up there grinding, just trying to put the ball in play to get the run in, like he’s in a pennant race. He plays the game that way. He’s going to be our center fielder at some point.”

The person who was speaking certainly didn’t expect it to be just a few months later. Nobody did. Ewing is getting a chance only because Stearns couldn’t stand by and watch the season crumble without trying something.

And logic says it’s too soon. Yet Ewing’s fast rise through the minors, with success at every level, says maybe it’s not.

It's New York's fourth straight loss after getting swept by the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Ben Rice recorded New York's first two hits of the game, and the second got the team on the board. After Trent Grisham walked with one out in the third inning, the growing star smacked a two-run homer to left-center field, putting the Yanks up 2-0. 

It was Rice's 13th home run of the season.

-- Weathers had arguably the best start of his Yankees career, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning.

Weathers dazzled after issuing a leadoff walk to start the game, retiring 13 straight Orioles into the fifth inning, including five straight strikeouts in the second and third innings. The left-hander walked his second batter with one out in the fifth, but locked back in to get the next two outs.

He tossed another 1-2-3 inning in the sixth but lost the no-no bid to Adley Rustchman in the bottom of the seventh inning. Weathers stayed in the game and got Pete Alonso to groundout before walking Tyler O'Neill to end his night. He finished after 101 pitches in 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on only one hit with three walks and nine strikeouts.

-- Aaron Boone's choice to hand the ball to Brent Headrick out of the bullpen backfired, as the lefty allowed a three-run home run to the first batter he faced, Coby Mayo. Baltimore took a 3-2 lead on just their second hit of the night, tacking two runs onto Weathers' line.

-- The Yanks wasted two opportunities to add on to their 2-0 lead. Aaron Judge ripped a leadoff double in top of sixth inning and advanced to third on Cody Bellinger's groundout, but was left stranded after Jazz Chisholm Jr. struck out and Ryan McMahon grounded out (despite a bad toss from Alonso at first base).

The seventh inning was nearly identical as Max Schuemann (getting the start at SS with Jose Cabellaro out) was also left stranded at third base after a one-out double in the seventh inning. Austin Wells and Trent Grisham both grounded out to end the frame. New York ended the game 0-for-6 with RISP and left five on base.

-- McMahon got fans on their feet in the top of the ninth inning with a deep drive to right field, but it was caught at the wall by O'Neill. Caballero came in to pinch run for Paul Goldschmidt with two outs and tried to steal second base, however, Baltimore challenged the ruling on the field and the call was overturn to end the game.

Game MVP: Brandon Young

The Orioles' right-hander allowed the two-run homer to Rice, but that was his only mistake. Young allowed the two runs on just three hits over 5.1 innings with five strikeouts and three walks.

Highlights

Ryan Weathers strikes out the side in the second 🔥 pic.twitter.com/pWDXhS4Uzz

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 11, 2026

Ben Rice's 13th home run of the year! 🍚 pic.twitter.com/vI7NhuL3e8

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 11, 2026

What's next

The Yankees continue their three-game series against the Orioles on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.

Will Warren (4-1, 3.46 ERA) will take the mound for New York. Baltimore has yet to announce a starter.

Caballero told reporters in Baltimore that he hurt the finger diving back into first base in Sunday’s loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. While Caballero will undergo an MRI, he does not believe the finger is fractured and doesn’t believe he’ll need to go on the IL. 

Manager Aaron Boone later said that Caballero will return to New York after Monday's game to meet with team doctors, saying that that while Caballero has hit, he has not yet thrown a ball.

Max Scheumann will start at shortstop for the Yankees on Monday, hitting eighth in the order. 

The 29-year-old Caballero is slashing .259/.320/.400 this season with four home runs and 13 RBI. 

While it doesn’t sound like Caballero will need to hit the IL, that scenario would certainly make things interesting with fellow shortstop Anthony Volpe, who was optioned to Triple-A at the end of his rehab assignment for offseason shoulder surgery.

Let's open up the mailbag to discuss some of the Mets' top prospects...

Note: This article was originally published before news of A.J. Ewing being called up broke Monday.

If Carson Benge is a good MLB center fielder, does it not make sense to give A.J. Ewing some shortstop reps? Lindor is 32 years old, even if he was healthy, he’d have 2-3 years max left at shortstop anyways. If Benge is above average in center field, it seems wasteful to put him in a corner. -- @will_nba_hater

This is a loaded question with a few factors to consider here. Benge projects as a long-term plus corner outfielder who can play center field, not a true center fielder. In the small sample size in the majors in 2026, Benge is negative-1 outs above average in center field, while being plus-1 in right field and plus-2 in left field.

Ewing has not played one inning of shortstop since he was at Springboro High School in Ohio in 2023. I have not heard from anyone in the organization that getting shortstop reps is on the radar. 

On the Lindor front, he is still a very good defensive shortstop. Will the day come that he eventually needs to slide somewhere else? History suggests yes, but that time does not appear to be even close to imminent, and Ewing is getting closer to a major league opportunity. He needs to be mostly preparing at the spot he will be playing when he reaches the big leagues.

The Mets also firmly believe that Ewing has all the tools to be an elite defensive center fielder. There is still some work to do with routes and jumps, and he’s already made strides this year there. That is something they believe will come with reps.

The best defensive setup from a projection standpoint is Ewing in center, Benge in a corner outfield spot and Lindor at shortstop. That could be three plus defensive players, two of whom are at premium positions. That is a good spot to be in.

A few reps at shortstop now for Ewing would likely have little bearing on potentially playing it a few years from now. If he reaches his potential defensively in center field, there won’t be any desire to play him anywhere else.

How soon do you think we could see Ryan Clifford in the majors given some of the recent injuries the team has had, and more power needed in the lineup? -- Reb Deud

The short answer is it is unlikely to be imminent or very soon. But you aren’t here for the short answer. 

On the season, Clifford is slashing .252/.327/.473 (.800 OPS) with seven home runs and 21 RBI in 37 games for Triple-A Syracuse.

The pros of Clifford fit exactly what Reb said. The power is real, with his exit velocities (max EV of 113.1 mph), barrel rate (14.3 percent), hard hit rate (57.1 percent) and even pull-side air percentage (17.7 percent) all line up with that of a prototypical left-handed slugger. It is easy to envision a 30-home run type of bat if he can make enough contact.

The question among evaluators is if he will be able to make enough contact to get there. Clifford made some strides in his approach from 2024 to 2025, decreasing his strikeout percentage from 29.6 percent to 25.6 percent. While that is still a little higher than they’d ideally like to see, it was progress, and it is accepted that swing-and-miss will be a part of Clifford’s game. 

Through the first month-plus of the 2026 season, Clifford’s strikeout rate has spiked to 36.1 percent. That is accompanied by a whiff percentage of 34.3 percent and, importantly, an in-zone contact rate of just 74.3 percent. 

Comparing Triple-A stats to major league stats are apples to oranges given the level of competition, but just to add some context, Clifford’s Triple-A strikeout rate would be the third-worst in the majors and his in-zone-contact rate would be the seventh-worst in the majors.

The Mets are hopeful that things are starting to turn for Clifford as the calendar flips to May. Thus far in nine games this month, he is slashing .333/.389/.606 (.995 OPS) with two home runs, including this 110 mph EV blast on Mother’s Day. His strikeout rate so far this month is 25 percent, which is in line with his number from 2025. Again, progress, but it needs to be displayed over a larger sample size. 

The general player development philosophy is to not call up a prospect until there is confidence that they are being put in position to succeed and not be forced back down to Triple-A in a couple of weeks.

However, given the injuries and performance of the big-league offense, there comes a point where something different has to be done, even if it goes against the general organizational philosophy. It is a tough balance between the immediate short-term need and the long-term vision. Is it worth risking stunting a prospect’s growth to try to add a spark to a struggling major league team? I see both sides of that argument.

The Mets currently have the worst record in baseball, and it falls largely on the backs of the offense that is both injured and underperforming. The three most notable injured players (Lindor, Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr.) don’t have a known return to play timeline.

If Clifford can continue to build off his hot start to the month of May and the Mets season doesn’t start turning for the positive, I can see the conversation heating up as the calendar flips to June.

Instead, the Knicks delivered their most dominant stretch of basketball in recent history, and will look to build off that momentum to make their first NBA Finals appearance in over a quarter-century. Here’s how they did it, and what we can glean from it going forward.

From a bird’s eye view, there was no area of the game that the Knicks didn’t spectacularly outperform. In the series, they scored 129.1 points per 100 possessions, eight points higher than the regular-season leader, and allowed only 106.3, or worse than the rock-bottom Nets. 

However, let’s start with the defense, as it was the foundation for this conclusive win. The Philly offense is run through its two cornerstones – Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey – and New York was able to stop them at the source.

Embiid’s 26.9 points per game during the regular season dropped to a measly 18.7 against New York, though he was relatively efficient and able to get Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks in foul trouble. That was seemingly the ceiling to his contributions, though. 

In Game 1, Embiid went just 3-for-11 from the field, despite largely being covered solo. After missing Game 2, the Knicks went to a more aggressive strategy, sending a second defender on every touch.

This forced Embiid into more of a playmaker role, where he struggled with six turnovers in the final two games. New York did a strong job of bodying up the paint, so Embiid had to generate much of his offense on the perimeter, where his jumpshot wasn’t bailing him out this series.

He wasn’t 100 percent, but the Knicks strong-armed and schemed him out of his comfort zone as well. Ditto for Maxey, who looked even less like himself than Embiid did this series.

Maxey went from scoring 28.3 points a night in the regular season and 26.9 against Boston in the first round to just 18.3 versus New York, shooting a rough 43.3 percent from the field and 16 percent from three. Credit to Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride for the jobs they did one-on-one, tracking the explosive Maxey.

Both did an excellent job on the scout and keeping Maxey out of the paint, where he causes the most havoc. He never scored less than 20 against the Celtics and did it three times against the Knicks, in large part due to their defensive talent.

They also schemed Maxey super aggressively, high-hedging or trapping every one of his screens, especially anything towards the baseline where he loves to get going downhill. This forced him to continually burn energy trying to turn the corner on Towns, who’s having the defensive postseason of his life, or try and force passes over the outstretched arms of Knicks defenders. 

Maxey couldn’t find the easy targets – if dumped off to Embiid, who needs a beat to make the next read, the defense recovered. The rest of the Sixers didn’t have the scoring or creation chops to continually take advantage of a 4-on-3 halfcourt, especially with how quickly and accurately the Knicks rotated. 

Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson and the rest of the roster cannot be overlooked here. They each did their jobs on multiple different matchups, allowing the heavy-handed defense on Embiid and Maxey to work.

When the Sixers would miss, the Knicks did a phenomenal job of securing the defensive boards to take advantage on the other end. The ensuing transition opportunities helped open up the gates for their offense.

The truth is, New York’s offense was historically anomalous in Games 1 and 4, while doing just enough in Games 2 and 3. A lot of that has to do with the mental side of the game and some shooting luck, but the headline from the series is the Knicks found their winning recipe on this end.

Their strategy carried over from the back end of the Hawks series – have Towns facilitate from the high elbow, and watch the embedded motion offense and top-tier talent make use of the space. Towns averaged 7.5 assists against Philly in a show of comfort with the pivot.

This flow got the Knicks so many looks and the Sixers so worried about Towns's passing, that in one Game 4 possession running the same action, Towns kept pivoting for a pass, until his man bizarrely left him wide open for a mid-range swish. It was a hilarious signal of Philly’s panic in trying to cover the Knicks’ vexing attack.

Of course, Brunson was the star of the offense, averaging 29 points and six assists on 51 percent shooting from the field. While he benefited from ample transition opportunities and off-ball looks playing off Towns, he also reminded folks of the gaping chasm in talent between him and the rest of the league.

Philly simply did not have the bodies to guard Brunson, who was a bit slower against Dyson Daniels and the big-winged Hawks. The 76ers opted for sticking rookie VJ Edgecombe, a feisty but smaller defender, on Brunson for most of the series.

Other teams, even the Sixers of two years ago, would have sent more double teams or different, bigger defenders at Brunson. They kept it conservative with Brunson this series, opting to let him beat them one-on-one, and he did so efficiently time and time again.

New York needed more than just their two stars to step up. Anunoby had 18 and 24 points in his two contests before going down with a hamstring injury, and Bridges stepped up in his wake to average 17.5 on 64 percent shooting from the field on the series. 

Both were pivotal to the offense converting at this rate, knockdown from range, decisive in attacking smaller defenders, and methodical in their cuts and transition breaks. 

Both took on pick-and-roll reps to ease the creation from their stars, while filling in corners and making the little plays required that don’t fill up the stat sheet. But perhaps the Knicks' biggest edge here came from their bench.

While the 76ers struggled to field a true eight-man rotation, the Knicks were finding sparks from all over their pine. Mitchell Robinson was an unsurprising lift, McBride broke out in Game 4 with 25 points on seven threes, Landry Shamet joined the rotation late and delivered two massive games, all while Jose Alvarado and Jordan Clarkson provided steady hands throughout. 

It can be hard to judge a team’s true ability to contend during the regular season, when stakes are lower and randomness much higher. But Knicks fans who waited until the postseason to draw their conclusions are being rewarded handsomely. 

These last seven games have been the best basketball New York has played this millennium, with this Philadelphia sweep serving as Exhibit A in their case for competing. If they can build off what got them here, the Knicks have a real chance at accomplishing what they’ve been desperate to.  

John Harbaugh, a long-time veteran of AFC North rivalry matchups, will be tossed headlong into the NFC East as Big Blue will take on the visiting Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in his first game with New York.

Last season, the Giants lost a wild overtime matchup, 40-37, at Dallas in Week 2 before beating the Cowboys in the season's final game, 34-17, as Jaxson Dart threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns.

The NFL announced the matchup, set for 8:20 p.m. on September 13, as the league looks to build excitement for the release of the full schedule this week.

These two teams faced off at MetLife Stadium on Sunday Night Football in Week 1 of the 2023 season, a game New York would like to forget, a 40-0 loss.

New York is 23-35-1 on SNF, with an 11-16 record at home and a 12-19-1 record on the road.

The Giants’ opponents for the other 16 games of the year include home games against the Eagles, Commanders, Cardinals, Browns, Jaguars, Saints, 49ers, and Titans, and visits to the Cowboys, Eagles, Commanders, Lions, Texans, Colts, Rams, and Seahawks.

Thanks to everyone who asked questions for today’s off-day mailbag! I especially appreciate the slightly unhinged ones.

Speaking of which, since I do not have an answer to the question of why God hates the Mets (though after a few months here, I must admit I can’t dispute the premise), I figured I would focus on some slightly less existential ones for now. Here’s what I’ve got…

“As Gary and Keith discussed, why not bring up [A.J.] Ewing and [Nick Morabito]? At least that gives me a look at a possible future. What good are retreads Slater and Ibanez?” – @FAN5577

I think the main concern with bringing up either of those guys is rushing them: Morabito has only been in Triple-A since Opening Day, and Ewing only has 12 games there (though he is hitting .326 with an .827 OPS, so he seems to have adjusted quickly). Their numbers are good, yes. But as we saw with Carson Benge early in the year, the jump from Triple-A pitching to major league pitching is substantial and requires time for adjustment.

The risk in calling up Ewing and/or Morabito would be that they are called upon to help a struggling team, find themselves unable to do so, and need to be sent back down with less confidence as the big-league team continues to flounder. Now, of course, they could also adjust quickly. They could thrive. But having watched the Nationals and Orioles thrust young players into key roles out of need over the last few years – or even watched the way the Red Sox have struggled counting on young guys to make leaps for them this year -- I can say that relying on young players to fix things is a risk to the franchise in the present and the future.

Still, to your point, calling up one or both of those guys at least ensures that more at-bats on this struggling Mets team will go to players who are likely to be part of good Mets teams to come. Austin Slater, Andy Ibañez, Vidal Brujan and whoever else they funnel into these spots are not the answer now or in the future. They are Band-Aids. And I think one can argue they should be ripped off in favor of more substantial roster interventions.

But more substantial roster intervention would require a shift in posture from David Stearns and his front office, who, to this point, have preached patience with a historically expensive roster. If they suddenly decide that the Mets’ slow start means they should prioritize the future over success this year, then yes, calling those players up makes sense. But it does not seem the front office is there yet. And if it gets to the point of surrender, calling up young players will be the least significant move it will probably make between now and the trade deadline.

“Is there anything to point to in spring training or otherwise that might help explain why the team is so impacted by significant injuries so early this year? Or is it just bad luck?” – Fir Douglass on BlueSky

I think the Mets are so impacted by injuries because they built their roster around a few players who have a history of injury. Period. End of story. Stearns took a risk this winter: As part of his roster remodel, he bet that the Mets could keep Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. healthier than any of their previous teams ever had. Even with careful handling in spring training and beyond, they couldn’t. Robert’s back has not yet allowed him to do baseball activities. Polanco’s bursitis lingers, flaring up seemingly whenever he threatens to make progress, and is not the kind of injury that will simply go away.

Juan Soto, I think, is pure bad luck. He has so little history of injury and returned so quickly that his calf issue seems to be a blip. As for Francisco Lindor, I think the Mets might have to confront a new reality there: Between the back issue at the end of last season, his elbow cleanup in October, the hamate bone break in spring training, and now the calf injury, the 32-year-old is no longer as invincible as the guy who has played at least 158 games in six of his 12 seasons (and all 60 during the Covid campaign).

Ronny Mauricio, Mike Tauchman, and Jared Young seem to fall more in the bad luck category. But if it weren’t for the injuries to the players they were needed to replace, their injuries would not be substantial enough to derail the Mets like the others.

No one can predict injuries. Every player expects to be healthy. But I think it is the job of the front office to make sure their team is not counting on players to be healthier than they have ever been, and the Mets look like victims of their own optimism so far.

“How can Cohen justify leaving Stearns in his role? He created this mess of a roster. He can’t be trusted to fix it, can he?” -- @Big_John1906

Everything I have heard about Steve Cohen’s stance during the last few weeks is that it is largely one of patience. Stearns would not have told MLB.com he is not firing Carlos Mendoza had Cohen not ok’ed the message. And Cohen does not have a history of dramatic reactivity.

That being said, Cohen knew what he was doing when he told reporters in spring training that he is annoyed that his team has not won regularly during his tenure. He was not bloviating when he said the Mets “have to make the playoffs.” With a roster as expensive as his, that standard seems more than fair.

All of which is to say, I think Cohen gives Stearns a chance to fix this between now and the end of the season. If they miss the playoffs, I do not think he will get more chances beyond that.

“If you were Stearns, what would you do in this situation?” – Brian Bardin on BlueSky

I have thought about this a lot, and I am aware there are always things we don’t know about why some moves have been made and not others. For example, while I have heard the Mets are in contact with teams about potentially moving a pitcher for help, I do not know exactly what offers they have had or considered, so exactly what kind of roster shakeup is available to them is not entirely clear to me.

Still, the first thing I would do is go to Cohen and say, do you want me to try to save this season at any cost, or do you want me to operate with an eye toward the future. If he says the former, I would take advantage of my financial flexibility and pursue a major trade for a big contract that might bring in a new veteran presence and might also bring in some kind of bullpen help or starting depth if I shouldered enough of the money.

There are several veterans around the sport who look uncomfortable with their current teams. Rafael Devers looks hapless with the frustrated San Francisco Giants. Trevor Story is struggling, even as he is vocally frustrated with Red Sox management: Could the Mets pair a deal for him and his contract while grabbing an outfielder from Boston’s longstanding logjam? The Orioles could use some infield depth, and while the Mets might not have it to offer, perhaps some kind of mutual shakeup is possible there. If that sounds like throwing good money after bad, it might be. But if the whole season is going to be bad money anyway, might as well see if a fresh start for a player with a strong track record can help revive him and the Mets at once.

Mostly, I would hunt for a first baseman who can hit for power. There are plenty of them around and securing one would not eliminate Polanco’s usefulness when and if he is healthy. Polanco, famously, has never been a full-time first baseman anyway. Bumping him into more of a utility role deepens the team immediately.

Absent options there, I would make clear that a $400 million-dollar roster is not a place to experiment, but rather a place where every spot is earned.

For example: Sean Manaea is neither starter nor effective short reliever. The Mets do not need a long reliever, since they have Tobias Myers. Keeping Manaea on the roster means working around him when the only thing the Mets should be worried about is winning games.

Besides, it does not seem fair to Manaea, who simply does not look right. When he is right, his velocity is better and his stuff is sharper. Whatever he and the team insist about his health, he has been off since spring training, throwing in the high 80s. I would see if the loose bodies he decided not to get surgically removed are still affecting that elbow, and I would suggest he remove them. He is not helpful in the bullpen as is, and the Mets need as many effective relievers as they can get. And his best chance at an effective future is likely a total physical reset.

I would also be decisive about Kodai Senga’s future. The veteran right-hander threw a bullpen this week, which means he is starting to build his way back from the lumbar spine inflammation that landed him on the injured list after several bad outings. But rosters paid nearly $400 million should not be proving grounds, and Senga has not proven he is an asset. Perhaps he could use a fresh start elsewhere. Perhaps he and the Mets have both needed one for quite some time.

Speaking of which, I would also stop patching holes with veterans trying to reestablish themselves. Tommy Pham, Slater, and the rest have been solid players throughout their careers. But they are not hitting well now, and the Mets do not have enough at-bats to give them to allow them to figure things out while playing in games the Mets must win to save their season. I would call up whichever prospects (Morabito, Ewing, Ryan Clifford) I think are most ready and let them prove they cannot handle it until injured veterans come back. The playing time they need is available in the big leagues now. I think I would let them take it.

And finally, I would tell the entire lineup, top to bottom, to take more pitches. I know the Mets are built around aggressive hitters. But that aggressiveness has not yielded good results. They are not stringing enough hits together to create consistent offense, so they need to find ways to get men on base. No more first-pitch outs from the bottom of the order down a run. If the Mets are built around hitters who cannot work the count and succeed offensively, they need to be built around different hitters. Seeing pitches does not have to come at the expense of making contact, and seeing pitches is the most proven recipe for success this sport has ever had.

5 things to watch

A Juan-derful resurgence?

Juan Soto remains one of the best hitters in baseball, but he’s coming off an awful nine-game road trip. Soto was just 4-for-33 (.121) with two RBI in Anaheim, Denver and Phoenix with a woeful .231 on-base percentage and .503 OPS. He was 0-for-10 in the series against the Diamondbacks.

In general, the Met attack is poor (more on that in a moment), and it’s near-impossible for the club to soar without Soto near his full powers. And because of his rep and contract, he’s perpetually in the spotlight. 

Maybe the homestand brings better results – Soto is batting .341 with a 1.010 OPS at Citi Field this season. 

Just plain offensive

Yes, the Mets are dealing with injuries to Francisco Lindor, Luis Robert Jr. and Jorge Polanco, who were supposed to be key lineup cogs this season. But the undermanned version of their lineup is unimposing, to say the least, and they must wring more runs from it if they hope to rebound from their 15-25 start.

Overall, the Mets are averaging the second-fewest runs (3.48) in MLB. Only the woeful Giants (3.25) score less. The Mets have an MLB-worst .341 slugging percentage, 48 points below league average. And their OPS (.628) is also the lowest, 21 points below San Francisco’s and 81 points below average. 

They scored a total of five runs in dropping the Diamondbacks series, mustering only 12 hits. 

Ugh. 

Bo Bichette batted .194 on the road trip, including an 0-for-10 no-show in Arizona. Mark Vientos has offered the occasional power spurt, but he was 3-for-20 over the final five games of the trip. 

Detroit righty Jack Flaherty should get a start in the series, which brings us to a suggestion – be patient, Mets hitters. Flaherty has walked the third-most hitters in the majors this year and is averaging 6.89 free passes per nine. Let him clog the bases against himself.

Professor McGonigle 

Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle is one of the most impressive rookies in the majors, and his exploits will almost certainly impact this series. He’s an important part of their offense, especially with Gleyber Torres, Javy Báez and Kerry Carpenter out with injury.

The 21-year-old McGonigle, who has been batting leadoff or second, leads all rookies in hits, has an .830 OPS and more walks (23) than strikeouts (21). He’s also batting .429 with runners in scoring position, fourth in MLB, and was the AL Rookie of the Month for March/April.

Carson City

The Mets have a pulchritudinous rookie of their own in Carson Benge, and he might be emerging before our very eyes. Benge’s overall numbers aren’t so gorgeous (.207 average, .603 OPS), but he’s looked more and more comfortable as the season has progressed.

He’s always provided defense at all three outfield positions and he’s got speed, too (six-for-six in steal attempts). And he let none of that lapse while he struggled offensively. 

He’s a tougher out now, and the Mets, obviously, could use his blooming offense this week. Benge was 7-for-26 (.267) on the road trip with a .367 on-base percentage and a .500 slugging. He had three doubles, a home run and five RBI over the nine games. 

Cook at home

The Mets have endured a funky schedule so far, having gone west on three separate trips. That can’t be good for the body clock, right? But they only travel to the West Coast once more, next month, meaning their travel should get easier the rest of the way. 

So it’s time to start taking advantage of home-field advantage, starting with this Detroit series. The Tigers are 7-16 on the road, the worst away mark in baseball. 

The Mets are just 6-12 at Citi Field so far, the second-worst home record in baseball. They were a robust 49-32 at home last year. 

Sure would be good to create some atmosphere in Queens by playing well against Detroit, especially with the first installment of the Subway Series against the Yankees looming this weekend.

Predictions

Who will be the series MVP?

Juan Soto

He’s just too good, with too much of a track record, for his woes to go on too much longer. 

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

Freddy Peralta

Peralta, who starts the series opener Tuesday, seems to be heating up with a 1.62 ERA over his last three starts, though the Mets probably would like him to deliver more innings per start – he’s pitched six innings only twice in eight outings.

Which D-Backs player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?

Riley Greene

Greene, a two-time All-Star who has a 21-game on-base streak, is tied for second in MLB with 13 doubles, is 10th in batting (.317) and has a .908 OPS. 

New York announced seven signings, which was considerably fewer than last season. In 2025, wide receiver Beaux Collins was the only undrafted rookie to make the initial roster, and he barely played before suffering a season-ending neck injury in November. Perhaps a smaller group will be indicative of a more focused approach and will lead to them uncovering some useful pieces this time.

Let’s break down some of the potential contributors from this year’s signings:

North Carolina CB Thaddeus Dixon

Dixon was probably the best-known player from the group brought in by the Giants. Many experts expected him to be a late-round pick, as he was ranked 227th overall by Scouts Inc. Had it not been for injuries, he probably would have been drafted, as he missed the second half of last season due to an arm/shoulder injury and then was unable to work out during the pre-draft process due to a hamstring issue.

Prior to that injury last season, Dixon had been playing well with six pass breakups in seven games. He had transferred to North Carolina from Washington, where he had broken up 10 passes to earn an All-Big 10 honorable mention. Clearly, he has the on-ball production that could give him a chance to compete in a re-tooled cornerback room. 

Michigan K Dominic Zvada

Zvada was another player many draft analysts felt had a chance to be drafted, with some listing him as the best available kicker. Having gone undrafted, the All-American Zvada’s decision to join the Giants is a curious one because New York already invested in the kicker position this offseason, when they brought in former All-Pro Jason Sanders in free agency.

Over the course of his college career, Zvada made seven field goals of 50 yards or longer, so he obviously has a big leg so could perhaps challenge Sanders, or step in for him if he gets injured again having missed all of last year. 

Ultimately, he has a reasonable shot of kicking at the NFL level this year, but it might not be with the Giants.

Boston College LS Ben Mann

New head coach John Harbaugh’s background in special teams made it predictable that the Giants would make plenty of moves to address their specialist roles in his first year. Having brought in Sanders and made Jordan Stout the league’s highest paid punter, the long snapper was the only role New York was yet to address before now.

Mann, who spent three years at Yale before transferring to Boston College, has a very real shot of earning a roster spot. His only current competition is veteran Zach Triner, who was on four different teams last season and only played in one game.

Kutztown OL Ryan Schernecke

When assessing which undrafted rookies are most likely to contribute, it always makes sense to follow the money. Schernecke was reportedly given a contract that contained $282,500 of guaranteed money, which tied Dixon for the highest amount among all of the undrafted signings. That’s a surefire sign that they have every intention of retaining him on the practice squad at the very least.

Kutztown is a Division II school, so it will be a big jump in talent level for Schernecke. However, he has plenty of experience with 45 career starts and showcased his size (6-foot-7, 318 pounds) and strength (30 bench press reps) during the pre-draft process.

New Mexico RB Damon Bankston

Bankston, who ran a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day, had a productive season last year as he racked up over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and scored 10 total touchdowns. With starter Cam Skattebo still on his way back from a serious injury, Bankston could have a shot to compete for a reserve role.

One other area where Bankston could contribute is in the return game. He averaged over 36 yards per kickoff return with two touchdowns last season. If he can impress in that area, it might be his best route to a roster spot.

• The Mets' bats failed to fire and the defense stumbled in a 5-1 loss to the Diamondbacks to close the series in Arizona

• Andy Ibáñez, making his first appearance at third since joining the club, made a pair of errors on "routine plays" that proved very costly

• After more offensive struggles, manager Carlos Mendoza was left saying, "We're better than that," and Juan Soto spoke about the difficulty of stringing good at-bats together

• In positive news, down on the farm, A.J. Ewing and Ryan Clifford enjoy big days at the plate as they stay hot at Syracuse
• Ahead of Sunday's games, Mendoza had updates on the injury rehabs to Luis Robert Jr., A.J. Minter, Kodai Senga, and Jorge Polanco

AWAKENED IN ATLANTA

The seeds for the Knicks’ demolition in Philadelphia were planted about three weeks ago. 

The Knicks, in Miles McBride’s words, got "punched in the mouth" by the Hawks in Game 3 of their first-round series. 

Instead of wilting, New York considered it a wake-up call. 

Yes, the Knicks changed their offense after that loss on April 23 -- that’s been well-documented. 

But the offense isn’t the only thing that changed. 

“I feel like our mindset shifted,” McBride told SNY. “We know we’re the better team (but) we can’t just come out there and expect to win, because they’re talented too. So I feel like our mindset just shifted totally to ‘take the game’ instead of (waiting for) them to give us the game.”

McBride certainly had a "take the game" approach on Sunday. 

He made four three-pointers in an 81-second span to give the Knicks an early 14-point lead.

New York never looked back, building a 24-point lead at halftime and going up by as many as 44 in the second half. 

They beat Philadelphia by 30 to extend their playoff win streak to seven games, winning each of those by an average of 26.4 points. 

Given the circumstances, has any Knick team in the last 50 years played a better seven-game stretch?

Don’t think so. 

Now, New York will enter the Eastern Conference Finals as the prohibitive favorite. 

“I think the more we’ve played together as a team, the more we’ve grown. And we’ve continued to get better,” Jalen Brunson said. “It’s a chemistry thing. It’s a feel thing. It’s how things get better. Things get better over time.”

Things are getting better at the right time for Brunson and the Knicks.

A SLOW BUILD

The Knicks underwhelmed for long stretches of the regular season. Fans and media questioned their legitimacy again and again. But that sentiment never affected the team, Brunson says. 

“It was a rollercoaster for sure,” he said. “I think outside the Knicks organization, things looked worse than what they were. From the outside looking in. But inside the building, we were working every single day to be the best team we can be. That’s all we were focusing on. 

“There were times when there were positives and negatives, ups and downs. But that’s what our goals were. And that’s still our goal. Be the best we can be. Continue to learn. Continue to get better. The journey shows you who you are.”

So far, the journey has shown that the Knicks are a resilient, talented team. 

Now, they can take a short rest and get ready for the next round of the playoffs. 

The conference final will start on either Sunday, May 17, or Sunday, May 19. Game 4 of Cavs-Pistons is Monday night.

The 24-year-old slugger had to face a tough Milwaukee staff headlined by ace right-hander Jacob Misiorowski over his first three games at the big-league level. 

Jones looked a bit overmatched, striking out four times in his six at-bats Friday and Saturday, but he finally delivered the elusive first knock and RBI early on Sunday. 

After Jose Caballero opened the top of the second with a double, he ripped the first pitch he saw from Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson right back up the middle for a single.

The liner left the bat at a whopping 106.4 mph off the bat. 

Jones celebrated at first base, then pointed towards his teammates and fired-up family, sitting in the front row behind the Yankees’ dugout. 

“It was super exciting,” Jones said. “I’m glad that my family was here to share that with me, my teammates were rooting me on, I got a lot of congratulations, and I was excited to be able to get a run across for the guys -- just a special moment.”

He finished the day hitless across his other three at-bats. 

Despite reaching base just two times in his first weekend up with the club, Aaron Boone actually liked what he saw from the free-swinger at the plate. 

“He had a lot of good at-bats,” the skipper said. “Was able to get the first one today, which everyone was excited about, got some decent swings off, was recognizing the zone well, wasn’t chasing, but also ran into some tough matchups.”

Despite those tough matchups, the youngster feels he’s adjusting well. 

“Trial by fire is the best way to do it,” Jones said. “Getting exposed to a lot of really good arms is the best way to get your feet wet -- as the days have gone, I’ve settled in more, I’m starting to feel comfortable and do what I do, and moving forward I’ll be in a good spot.”

After a lengthy recovery following offseason surgery, the left-hander was eager to make his way back into the Yankees’ rotation fully healthy once again. 

That chance finally came on Sunday afternoon in Milwaukee. 

Rodon showed some positive signs, but was ultimately hurt by struggles with command, as he allowed three runs on two hits and five walks over 4.1 innings of work. 

He issued a free pass to the leadoff man in all but two of those innings. 

“That was the bugaboo,” Aaron Boone said. “Overall, his stuff was good -- fastball ticked up being here, I thought he had a really good changeup and some solid sliders to get swing-and-misses, but the three leadoff walks hurt.”

Rodon was able to dance his way around it in both the first and second innings, but Milwaukee finally made him pay in the bottom of the fourth. 

After two walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, the Brewers got on the board with a sacrifice fly, then took the lead with their first hit of the day, a two-out two-run single. 

“He just lost the zone there,” Boone said. “It’s a really good job getting out of the first two innings, walking the leadoff batter usually isn’t a recipe for success -- a couple more they come back to haunt him a bit.”

The skipper pointed towards rust as a potential source of some of the left-hander's struggles finding the zone, but Rodon didn't have any sort of explanation himself. 

Rodon was trying to adjust on the fly over the course of the outing, but simply could not get himself into a groove. 

He'll look to turn things around in his next outing, opening this year's Subway Series. 

“It’s frustrating,” Rodon said. “Obviously, I need to be better in that aspect of just attacking the zone and getting ahead in the count quick, just some stuff to work on for the next time out.”

Both A.J. Ewing and Ryan Clifford accounted for a bulk of the team’s offense. 

Ewing continued his strong start at the new level, picking up two more hits and driving in a run across four at-bats. 

One of those knocks was a double, and he also stole a base.

The 22-year-old surging prospect is now hitting .333 with four extra base-hits, four RBI, five stolen bases, and a .844 OPS in 13 games since joining Syracuse. 

Clifford reached three times with a walk and a pair of extra-base hits. 

He helped Syracuse even things up with a 400-foot solo homer to deep right in the fourth, then ripped a triple down the right-field line before scoring on Christian Arroyo’s sacrifice fly in the sixth. 

The slugger is now hitting .252 with a triple, six doubles, seven home runs, 21 RBI, and an .800 OPS after a bit of a slow start to the season. 

Not much went right for Syracuse on the pitching side of things, but Dylan Ross did strike out two as he worked around a pair of walks in a scoreless inning of work.

He was able to reach up to 99 mph on his fastball. 

27-year-old starter Xavien Curry and veteran lefty reliever Cionel Pérez made their first appearances with the organization after signing on minor league deals last week.