While the Mets front office emphasized run prevention and pitching in the offseason, the lineup has been tagged by injuries, and the offense is a major concern 40 games into the 2026 season.
The Mets have scored the second-fewest runs in Major League Baseball (169) with the lowest team OPS (.628). Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. do not appear to be on the verge of returning soon either.
Every sense of positive momentum for the Mets has been met with immediate resistance. When they snapped their 12-game losing streak with two straight wins over the Twins, they were swept by the Rockies.
After taking two series from the Angels and Rockies, they went silent over the last two games of their series to the Diamondbacks to cap a modest 5-4 road trip.
While the Mets have somewhat steadied the ship, their longest skid in more than four decades has put them in a bad spot midway through the second full month. Here is who has provided some optimism and the others who have pulled the team back:
WHO’S HOT?
Clay Holmes
The top of the Mets’ starting rotation has been the team’s strength through 40 games, and Clay Holmes is at the forefront of that boost.
Holmes has not only been the Mets’ best starting pitcher, but one of the finest in the National League. His 1.86 ERA is second-best in the NL, and he has not allowed more than two earned runs in any start this season.
The veteran right-hander was bit by some bad luck some last time out against the Diamondbacks when he came within one out of completing six innings, but he has notched quality starts in three of his last four outings.
Carson Benge
The Mets have badly needed a spark from anywhere in their lineup, and the rookie outfielder was that source over the course of the road trip.
During the nine-game trip, Benge finished 7-of-26 (.269) with one home run, five RBI and six runs. Against the Rockies, he broke up Tomoyuki Sugano’s no-hit bid with a solo blast and collected two hits, two runs and two RBI one day later.
Benge provided some key insurance with an RBI double in the 10th inning of the Mets’ win on Friday and knocked the team’s first hit on Sunday. All the while, he’s made a handful of spectacular plays across the outfield. He’s raised his batting average from .136 at the beginning of last homestand to .207 by the end of this past trip.
Freddy Peralta
Freddy Peralta admitted that he was a bit relieved to get back in the win column last time out against the Rockies. He worked through some steady traffic in the frigid temperatures to toss five scoreless innings and improve to 2-3 with his first win since Opening Day.
Peralta, like Nolan McLean, has been a victim of a lack of run production in his outings. Before his start against the Rockies, Peralta had given up two earned runs or fewer in three of his previous four starts, including two quality outings, but was dealt three losses.
In his last five starts, Peralta has managed a 2.22 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP to keep the Mets in games.
Brooks Raley
Who has been the steadiest member of the Mets bullpen? Look no further than 37-year-old left-hander Brooks Raley, who gets by with his wicked sweeper and a pair of high-80s fastballs.
Raley, who has not allowed an earned run over his last eight outings, carries a 1.20 ERA and 0.87 WHIP after the first 40 games of the season. He has only allowed more than one baserunner in a frame twice in his 16 outings this season.
WHO’S NOT?
Sean Manaea
While Mendoza was encouraged by Sean Manaea’s scoreless ninth inning, the club has been unable to trust the veteran left-hander in meaningful situations out of the bullpen since the middle of April.
In his last five outings dating back to April 17, Manaea has given up 14 earned runs in 11⅓ innings (11.10 ERA). Mendoza brought him on in a six-run game in Colorado, and the lefty loaded the bases, forcing the manager to deploy Devin Williams.
At this point, Manaea is being used in mop-up duty and low-leverage situations.
Bo Bichette
Some of Bo Bichette’s early struggles have been due to bad luck. The infielder’s .283 expected batting average is in the top 15 percent of MLB. But his 40.4 percent chase rate is in the bottom 7 percent, and he’s hitting ground balls 54.5 percent of the time – 6.6 points higher than his career average.
Saddled with the large responsibility of being a leader of the Mets lineup following several major injuries, Bichette has been unable to come through regularly of late. In the Mets’ last five series, he is slashing .193/.266/.246 with one home run, four RBI and five runs.
Francisco Alvarez
When the Mets entered their last homestand through 20 games, Francisco Alvarez had shown enough offensive firepower to be deployed at the top of the lineup. He was slashing .268/.379/.500 with four home runs, five RBI and eight runs.
But in the six series since, Alvarez is hitting .204/.241/.259 with three doubles, four RBI, three runs and 16 strikeouts in 16 games. He has grounded into 10 double plays this season – most in MLB – including seven in the last six series.
Brett Baty
At the start of the last homestand, it appeared Brett Baty was beginning to shake off his slow start. He collected five hits in 10 at-bats, including one home run, five RBI and four runs.
But since then, Baty has gone 5-for-36 (.139) with two doubles, one RBI, five runs and 10 strikeouts.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets players after 40 games this season, who’s hot and who’s not
