“Francisco Lindor has started running and doing baseball activities,” the manager revealed to the press. He also said that A. J. Minter might be activated off the injured list tomorrow or Wednesday.

The outlook surrounding Polanco is also optimistic: “Jorge Polanco is going through a full workout today and will hopefully begin a rehab assignment at some point this week.”

Carlos Mendoza had high praise for Francisco Alvarez. “Alvarez? I mean this guy is unbelievable. He’s already hitting, doing catching. Like, we were talking about 8 weeks…I’m not sure about that now. You know this guy’s built differently.“

Lastly, it was time to address the situation surrounding Kodai Senga, confirming that he was seen throwing a bullpen session and that the goal is for him to make a rehab start on Thursday.

Injuries, the Mets’ Achilles’ heel

The 2026 MLB season has been incredibly tough on the New York Mets, with a devastating wave of injuries severely derailing the team’s momentum. The roster has faced critical blows, most notably losing star shortstop Francisco Lindor to a left calf strain after he already pushed through the lingering effects of a spring training hamate bone fracture.

To make matters worse, the offense lost major firepower when young catcher Francisco Alvarez suffered a torn right meniscus, while veteran infielder Jorge Polanco has been sidelined for an extended period dealing with a right wrist contusion and persistent Achilles bursitis.

These collective absences have heavily compromised the Mets’ depth, creating a massive void in both defensive stability and offensive production. Without their key foundational pieces in the lineup, the team has noticeably struggled to find consistency, causing them to slide down the standings as they scramble for answers.

After the game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was quick to highlight Tong’s execution and poise on the mound. “Very encouraging,” Mendoza said, according to The New York Post. “The velo, the fastball, the way it was playing, the changeup was good. He attacked. He gave us a chance.”

Tong worked three hitless innings with one walk, operating behind opener Tobias Myers and bulk reliever Sean Manaea as the Mets continued experimenting with rotation depth and workload management, with Mendoza also having reacted after Zach Thornton’s emotional MLB debut earlier in the week.

Tong gives Mets bullpen needed spark

The Mets have increasingly leaned on younger arms as part of a broader pitching evaluation strategy, with Tong becoming the latest prospect to receive an opportunity at the major league level.

He posted a 7.71 ERA in five appearances with New York last season, but his development in Triple-A has shown more stability, including a 5.68 ERA with 55 strikeouts over 38 innings this year.

Mets balancing development with rotation management

New York’s pitching approach has included openers, bulk innings, and expanded rest for starters as the coaching staff works to manage workloads and evaluate options.

Mendoza also noted the club’s confidence in veteran and young contributors alike, while the Mets continue to track progress from players returning from injury and rehab assignments across the system.

With more young pitchers expected to get opportunities, Tong’s performance could help shape future decisions in the Mets’ bullpen and rotation structure.

Following Thursday’s 2-1 win over the Washington Nationals, Williams explained the key adjustment that helped turn things around. “It’s basically my starting position. The way I’m starting with my hands. It’s a lot more comfortable for me,” Williams said, according to SNY. “I did change it in the past and now I changed it back.”

The veteran closer earned his seventh save of the season on Thursday after throwing another scoreless outing against Washington. Williams allowed just one hit while striking out one batter, continuing an impressive stretch that has helped lower his ERA to 4.32, a day after manager Carlos Mendoza reacted after Zach Thornton’s emotional MLB debut in the previous game.

Williams finding rhythm again with Mets

Williams’ turnaround has been noticeable after a difficult beginning to the season. During a rough four-game stretch in mid-April, he allowed eight earned runs across only two innings, creating early concerns about his role in the Mets bullpen.

Since then, however, Williams has looked far more like the dominant reliever the Mets hoped to acquire. Entering Thursday’s game, he had already posted 8.2 consecutive scoreless innings while allowing only one hit during that span.

The right-hander explained that returning to his previous hand positioning helped him feel more natural mechanically after experimenting with changes earlier in the season.

Mets hoping bullpen stability can spark turnaround

The Mets have struggled to find momentum for much of the 2026 campaign, making Williams’ recent improvement especially important. New York has dealt with injuries and inconsistency throughout the roster, but stronger bullpen performances could help stabilize the team moving forward.

If Williams continues pitching at this level, the Mets may finally have more reliability at the back end of games as they try climbing back into contention during the second half of the season.

After Thornton surrendered a three-run homer to CJ Abrams in the opening inning, Mendoza liked the way the 24-year-old continued competing instead of letting the moment overwhelm him. “I thought he competed,” Mendoza said after the game. “Even after he got punched there in the first inning, he didn’t back down. He kept going after it.”

Thornton ultimately allowed four runs on four hits across 4.1 innings while recording three strikeouts and two walks. The rookie settled down after the early damage, retiring nine of the final 10 batters he faced while showing the composure the Mets hoped to see from him on the mound.

Mendoza highlights positives from Thornton’s debut

Even with the rough start, Mendoza pointed to several encouraging signs from Thornton’s outing. The Mets manager praised the young pitcher’s tempo and his willingness to continue attacking hitters despite an increasing pitch count.

Thornton also showed confidence when discussing his first appearance in the majors. “I feel as though I belong here,” he said. “My stuff’s going to play. So if I can just get in zone I’ll be alright.” The left-hander explained that he focused on simplifying things after the first inning and trusted his pitches more as the game continued.

Thornton shares emotional moment with father at MLB debut

Beyond the baseball side of the night, Thornton’s debut carried major emotional significance because his father, Paul, was able to attend the game only weeks after undergoing spinal surgery that temporarily left him unable to walk. “Super special,” Thornton said. “Just seeing him sitting there in his little wheelchair.”

Thornton called the experience everything he dreamed about growing up, and despite the loss, the debut became a meaningful moment for both him and his family.

The Mets have not yet confirmed Thornton’s next role with the team, but Mendoza’s comments made it clear the organization saw plenty of positives from the young pitcher’s first major league outing.

Manager Carlos Mendoza addressed the team’s recent defensive struggles after the game, pointing to routine mistakes that have hurt New York during an already difficult stretch of the season. “Not good. The past four days or so making errors on routine plays. We’re a good team defensively,” Mendoza said, via SNY.

The loss dropped the Mets further behind in the National League standings as injuries and inconsistent play continue creating problems across the roster. With Francisco Lindor currently sidelined because of a calf injury and hopeful he can return in a month, the team has struggled to find defensive stability and maintain momentum during games.

Mets’ defense collapses during pivotal inning vs. Nationals

The turning point came during a disastrous fourth inning for the Mets. After rookie pitcher Nolan McLean allowed traffic on the bases, Washington capitalized on a defensive breakdown that completely shifted the momentum.

With runners on second and third and one out, McLean induced what appeared to be a routine ground ball to Bo Bichette at shortstop. Bichette attempted to throw home for the force out, but catcher Luis Torrens failed to handle the throw cleanly as the ball rolled to the backstop. Two Nationals runners scored on the play, extending Washington’s lead and putting New York in an even deeper hole.

The Mets have now committed several costly defensive mistakes over the past few games, something Mendoza clearly believes must improve quickly if the team hopes to turn its season around.

Mendoza still believes Mets can recover

Even with the frustrating loss, Mendoza continues showing confidence in the roster. The Mets still have more than 100 games remaining in the 2026 season, giving the club plenty of time to recover if they can begin playing cleaner baseball.

The Mets now face growing pressure to stabilize things before the season slips even further away. If the Mets hope to climb back into contention, improving defensively will likely need to become one of the team’s biggest priorities moving forward.

With this roster move, manager Carlos Mendoza clears a crucial spot on the 26-man roster for the battles ahead. While Robert Jr. continues to progress in his recovery from a herniated disc, the front office has yet to establish an official timeline for his return, alongside Francisco Lindor, to action this season.

The front office ultimately cut bait on Slater following a prolonged offensive slump. Slashed down by a disappointing .220 batting average and a complete power outage—featuring zero home runs, zero triples, and a mere two RBIs on the year—the veteran outfielder clearly struggled to find his footing in the majors this season.

While other high-profile Mets, such as trade acquisition Bo Bichette, continue to endure slow starts in the regular season, Slater will now enter the waiver wire or face free agency in an attempt to rebuild his stock and latch on with a new club.

The Mets’ 26-man roster post-Slater

As the Mets look to spark internal production while awaiting the highly anticipated return of Luis Robert Jr., New York’s 26-man roster undergoes a slight configuration following this veteran departure.

Here is how the Mets’ 26-man roster currently shapes up:

• Position Players (13)
  • Catchers (2): Luis Torrens, Hayden Senger
  • First Basemen (1): Mark Vientos
  • Second Basemen (1): Marcus Semien
  • Third Basemen (1): Bo Bichette
  • Shortstops (1): Vidal Brujan
  • Outfielders (6): Juan Soto, Nick Morabito, Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Tyrone Taylor, Brett Baty (utility depth)
  • Designated Hitter (1): MJ Melendez
• Pitchers (13)
  • Starting Rotation (5): Freddy Peralta, Sean Manaea, David Peterson, Christian Scott, Nolan McLean
  • Bullpen (8): Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Craig Kimbrel, Brooks Raley, Daniel Duarte, Huascar Brazoban, Austin Warren, Tobias Myers

Armed with this revised depth chart, the Mets are pushing to build serious momentum in the NL East following an emotional Subway Series victory over the New York Yankees. However, with an injured list that already features anchors like Francisco Lindor and Jorge Polanco, Mendoza and his staff will need to creatively maximize their remaining options to keep the club afloat.

After the game, Mendoza defended Bichette and made it clear he still believes the former All-Star can become an important piece for the Mets offensively. “I know it’s been a big topic, but at the end of the year, we’re going to look back at these seven weeks and nobody’s going to be talking about this,” Mendoza said, according to MLB.com. “He’s that good of a hitter. He’s that good of a player.”

Before the game, Bo Bichette had shown frustration with his performance, but that changed on Monday. The strong outing arrived at an important time for him, as he entered the night batting just .219 with a .570 OPS. His struggles had become a major storyline around the Mets, especially after a difficult Subway Series against the New York Yankees.

Bichette delivers much-needed breakout performance

Bichette gave the Mets an important boost in the seventh inning when he crushed a solo home run to left field against Nationals pitcher Mitchell Parker. The hit ended a long stretch without an extra-base hit and appeared to give the infielder a noticeable confidence boost at the plate.

After the win, Bichette admitted he felt better about his recent swings even before the results finally started showing up. “I feel like I’ve had a lot of swings that have been really close lately,” Bichette said. “I was just kind of waiting for something to connect to feel good about it.”

Mendoza believes Bichette can still help Mets

Despite Bichette’s slow start, Mendoza continues to support the infielder publicly and privately. The Mets manager believes experienced hitters can eventually work through difficult stretches, especially during a long MLB season.

Monday’s performance also helped shift attention away from Bichette’s recent struggles and reminded the Mets why they trusted him entering the season. Mendoza now hopes this game becomes the beginning of a more consistent stretch offensively.

Alongside Lindor, high-profile missing pieces Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. are also completely devoid of a timetable. Neither player has hit a promising milestone in their respective rehab assignments, leaving immense uncertainty regarding their availability to anchor the lineup for the grueling summer stretch ahead.

Polanco’s situation is particularly concerning for the Mets. Manager Carlos Mendoza recently admitted that the veteran’s chronic Achilles issue is an alarming hurdle the team must closely manage, fueling underlying anxiety that the infielder could face a long-term shutdown—or potentially surgery—if the injury doesn’t respond to treatment.

Subway Series victory over the Yankees. New York is still waiting on trade acquisition Bo Bichette to break out of his season-long funk and replicate the elite offensive production he showcased with the Toronto Blue Jays last year. Until he clicks, Mendoza has plenty of roster configurations to weigh.

What is the nature of Lindor’s injury?

Lindor was shelved in late April after suffering a severe left calf strain. While the face of the franchise works his way back, his absence has evoked bittersweet feelings among the fan faithful; though undisputed as the team’s emotional leader, the shortstop was mired in an uncharacteristic slump prior to landing on the shelf.

While an optimistic timeline has him returning to Citi Field in about four weeks based on standard calf recovery, he has yet to clear pivotal benchmarks. Lindor has still not been cleared to run bases or take dynamic batting practice, keeping his active status firmly up in the air.

Luis Robert Jr. injury update

Much like Polanco and Lindor, Luis Robert Jr. has been a glaring omission from the active roster. What was initially expected to be a standard 10-day IL stint has mutated into a prolonged absence, as a herniated disc in his lumbar spine continues to present discomfort and threatens an extended shutdown.

Mendoza confirmed that the dynamic outfielder has no target return date, noting that Robert has yet to resume baseball activities. For now, the Mets are left waiting on further medical evaluations, desperate to get their regular starters back to spark a much-needed run up the standings.

“I don’t know if it’s been the toughest stretch of my career. But it’s up there,” he revealed to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. It may be that Bichette’s move from Toronto to New York has been a factor, given the difficult adjustment period the player is going through.

“There are a lot of things I didn’t anticipate. Just dealing with everything. New teammates. New organization. Staff. New fan base. Everything, I think,” the infielder also added. “Being on a new team, I just want to help the team, first off. But I think, naturally, I want to impress people and show people what I can do. Not being able to do that is tough.”

Carlos Mendoza has given him the confidence he needs, but the former Toronto Blue Jays standout still has not managed to live up to the standards of this team. In some ways, that explains the current situation for the Mets: fifth place in the NL East with a 20-26 record.

Bichette intends to honor his contract

One of the biggest moves of the last offseason was Bo Bichette’s arrival to the New York Mets. The three-year deal included player opt-outs after the first two seasons, and while Bichette could still exercise those clauses, he made it clear that he intends to honor his contract and turn his situation around immediately.

“I signed here for three years. The opt-outs, any player would love them, to have control of their future, whatever the case might be, where they want to be, if they want to search for something else, I don’t know. But when I signed here, I took it as a three-year deal.”

The Mets await Bo Bichette’s best form

Through his first 46 games of the 2026 regular season, Bo Bichette is slumping significantly with the New York Mets, posting a subpar .210 batting average, just 2 home runs, 18 RBIs, and a weak .531 OPS across 186 at-bats.

This rough start might largely attributed to both the immense pressure of living up to his massive new 3-year, $126 million contract ($42 million annually) and the challenges of adjusting to The Big Apple.

Additionally, Bichette is physically and mentally trying to adapt to a new home on the diamond, heavily working on learning third base during his initial months in Queens, which has led him to press too hard at the plate as he tries to force a breakthrough.

“I just told him that it’s a freak accident, nothing you can do,” Holmes revealed from the call he received from his colleague. “I’m excited to see him finally get a chance up here and see what he can do here in the big leagues.”

For his part, Jones was visibly upset upon learning what happened on that play, in which he hit a 111.1 MPH liner off. “I’m sorry. He’s a friend of mine, we workout together in Nashville so that’s tough to hear.”

Although the latest injury update on Holmes suggests he may avoid surgery, the truth is that the pitcher will be sidelined for an extended period during the 2026 MLB season.

Jones had a standout performance in Game 1 against the Mets

In the opening game of the Subway Series on Friday night, Yankees rookie Spencer Jones made a strong impact in his first career matchup at Citi Field. Batting sixth, the young outfielder went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in the fourth inning that helped spark a multi-run rally, driving in Anthony Volpe.

Jones showcased his explosive bat speed, hard-hit metrics, and patient approach, playing a key role in the Yankees’ 5-2 victory over the Mets.

Will Jones be a key piece for Aaron Boone in the future?

Spencer Jones is widely projected to be a monumental piece for Aaron Boone’s future lineups, boasting a massive 6-foot-7 frame that packs some of the highest raw power in the entire organization. After destroying Triple-A pitching with 11 home runs and 41 RBIs in just 33 games earlier this spring, the 24-year-old outfielder earned his highly anticipated call-up on May 8, 2026.

While he is naturally experiencing some initial growing pains adjusting to major league pitching—holding a .176 batting average (3-for-17) with 2 RBIs and 3 walks over his first 7 games—his elite tools make his upside undeniable. From a roster management standpoint, the Yankees are in full control of his long-term future; as Jones signed a standard pre-arbitration, one-year split contract for the 2026 season and will remain under team control for six more years before hitting free agency in 2032.

“Jorge Polanco’s left Achilles bursitis won’t likely dissipate this year,” Mendoza told reporters. “Hopefully it goes away, but it’s probably something he’s going to have to manage.”

Mendoza’s ominous outlook leaves the Mets faithful wondering if and when the veteran will be reliably available. While the team is holding out hope that Polanco can eventually play through the discomfort, his ability to stay on the active roster remains entirely up in the air.

Compounded by a recent injury to Clay Holmes that has already left the clubhouse reeling, the Mets must find a way to navigate a mounting pile of medical setbacks while simultaneously trying to correct their regular-season tailspin.

A closer look at Polanco’s chronic Achilles issue

After a stint on the 10-day injured list for a right wrist issue, Polanco entered the regular season actively battling Achilles bursitis. Although the Mets’ medical staff cleared him to test his pain tolerance on the field in hopes of providing some lineup depth, the condition has only worsened.

It is one thing for a player to grit his teeth through a lingering issue during game action, but the pain has now reportedly become a persistent problem off the field. As a result, Polanco likely faces a grueling, season-long maintenance routine, throwing his long-term availability into serious doubt.

Mets forced to navigate a crowded Injured List

Polanco is just the latest high-profile addition to a crowded Mets training room. With several impact players sidelined, Mendoza will be forced to look toward the club’s Triple-A affiliate for reinforcements—much like he did when calling up top prospects Carson Benge and AJ Ewing.

Here is a comprehensive look at the Mets’ current injured list:

• Clay Holmes: Fractured right fibula
• Francisco Alvarez: Torn meniscus (Surgery)
• Francisco Lindor: Left calf strain
• Luis Robert Jr.: Herniated disc (Back)
• Jorge Polanco: Achilles bursitis
• Kodai Senga: Lumbar spine inflammation
• A.J. Minter: Lat surgery recovery