May 24, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller (50) and pitcher Luis Castillo (58) interact during the sixth inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
After a disappointing series loss to the Royals where the offense looked blinkered, the Mariners now have to contend with the high-flying Athletics offense in their pint-sized ballpark. Sounds like a recipe for a good time. Also, per Shannon Drayer, it’s looking like it will be a windy game in Sacramento. Surely that won’t lead to any hijinks, right?
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 29: Enrique Hernandez #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game five of the 2025 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Emmet Sheehan is the starter to open this homestand that’ll see the Dodgers host the Rockies and Phillies.—Kiké Hernández makes his 2026 season debut.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 25: Byron Buxton (25) of the Minnesota Twins slides safely at second base ahead of the tag by Chase Meidroth (10) of the Chicago White Sox in the fifth inning during an MLB game on May 25, 2026 at Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Fresh off the Twins first sweep in Boston in nearly a century and back in playoff position, the Twins came into Chicago looking to keep the momentum going in a battle of two (somewhat surprising) playoff spot holders. Unfortunately, the bats didn’t hold up their after yet another strong performance from Minnesota’s makeshift pitching staff.
Things were looking good to start the game. Newly minted third baseman Brooks Lee connected on his 6th homer of the season in the top of the first, putting the Twins up 1-0 on the fourth pitch of the game. Since bunting a ball into his own face, Lee is now hitting .272/.327/.442 with six home runs and 24 RBI and a 116 wRC+. The numbers aren’t anything to write home about and the expected numbers are still anticipating some regression, but Lee is looking like a real contributor after his first two seasons of well below-average performance.
Unfortunately for the Twins, there wasn’t much notable on offense from there. The Twins had a decent scoring chance in the second inning with runners on first and second and two outs, but an over-aggressive send from Ramon Borrego had Orlando Arcia out at home by a country mile. Arcia even dodged the initial tag, but the process took him far away from home plate and he wasn’t able to get back it before he was tagged. There were never really other scoring opportunities after that, with Minnesota only getting multiple baserunners once from there.
On the other side, Zebby Matthews turned in his third straight quality start since being recalled two weeks ago. It wasn’t perfect, but similar to Lee, Zebby turning into a strong contributor is a huge boon to this team that is short on high-end pitchers. International sensation Munetaka Murakami hit a ball a mile in the air which found the right field bleachers, but who among us hasn’t given up a home run to the AL home run leader?
Matthews also gave up a two run shot to catcher Drew Romo in the second inning to give the Sox their ultimate 3-1 lead, but Zebby really settled in from there. After the second inning, Matthews only allowed a single baserunner, and even the single hit he surrendered deflected off the glove of second baseman Luke Keaschall. He and newly-minted reliever Simeon Woods Richardson kept the Twins in the game, but got nothing to show for it with the bats asleep at the wheel.
The Twins still have three more chances to beat the South Siders this week, but it was a disappointing showing for the bats after all the positive momentum the past week. Back at it tomorrow!
STUDS
Zebby Matthews: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, BB, 6 K, 2 HR
Reliever Simeon Woods Richardson: 2 IP, H, BB, K
Brooks Lee: solo dong
DUDS
Bats with RISP: 1-7 with the 1 hit resulting in an out at home
Middle of the lineup (Martin, Bell, Clemens): combined 0-12, 2 K
The Diamondbacks won the opening game of their series in San Francisco this afternoon. The win moved them into sole possession of the third wild-card in the National League, and was their eighth victory in the last nine games. It was, looking at the final result, quite comfortable. After Ketel Marte’s single drove in a pair in the sixth to complete the scoring, the team’s Win Probability was never less than 92.6%. But, sheesh. This was a win only its mother could love, with the D-backs sloppy on both offense and defense, capped off with a “Not seen that before” moment from Marte. On the other hand, if you can have so much room for improvement, and still get the W, maybe that’s a good thing?
Largely devoid of blame in the above is Merrill Kelly, who posted his fourth quality start in a row. As mentioned in the preview, these haven’t exactly come against the strongest of opponents. Still, he’s got it done as a good pitcher should. Today, he gave Arizona seven innings of two-run ball, on four hits and two walks, with five strikeouts. Kelly is 5-0 against teams currently below .500, and 0-3 facing teams above .500. The only real static came in the bottom of the fourth inning. It began after the Diamondbacks ran out of challenges, Gabriel Moreno wasting our second, after Nolan Arenado had blown one in the second inning. The batter ended up walking.
This was followed by a pair of doubles over the head of Corbin Carroll, which might have been outs: the first in particular was in and out of his glove. [These weren’t our only misplays either. The first batter in the game for San Francisco singled in front of Ryan Waldschmidt, after he had initially broken back on the ball.] They scored a pair of runs, giving the Giants a 2-1 lead. I am also under strict instructions to tell you that Rafael Devers is now Mrs. SnakePit’s most hated player for his “disgusting” chewing and spitting habits, which almost provoked a Roman moment in SnakePit Towers. Googling tells me it’s not tobacco… But Mrs. S is far from convinced.
Anyway. That was it for the Giants offense, though they had their chances, as our bullpen wobbled but held. Jonathan Loaisiga gave up a lead-off double, then retired the next three batters in the eighth. Then Brandyn Garcia triggered indigestion in the ninth by hitting the first batter he faced, then going 3-0 on the next. A much needed double-play calmed the nerves, and he got the final out to move Arizona back to five above .500, tying our season high set on April 18 at 13-8. We haven’t been beyond that since the end of 2024, so it’d be nice if the team can keep up its momentum here.
The offense was good enough. Though it felt like there were any number of wasted opportunities across the course of the game. Gabriel Moreno got Arizona on the board in the third inning, with his third home-run of the season (above). The D-backs had a chance to add on there, getting one-out singles from Tommy Troy, Marte and Carroll. But Geraldo Perdomo struck out without taking the bat off his shoulder, and Nolan Arenado fouled out. Fortunately, the Giants were playing just as sloppily as the Diamondbacks, and a pair of defensive mistakes by them opened the door to a three-run fifth inning, giving Arizona a lead they’d not relinquish.
It began with Troy reaching second on a wild throw from Willy Adames. Marte then blooped a pitch just in front of left-fielder Casey Schmitt, who opted to ignore the ball as it went past him. Somehow, this was scored an RBI double, but Marte will take it. Perdomo then singled Ketel home, and after an Arenado ground-out moved Perdomo into scoring position, Adrian Del Castillo made it 4-2 to Arizona. Marte then got another hit in the sixth, driving in Moreno, who’d walked, and Jose Fernandez, who had doubled. And Marte wasn’t done either, getting his fourth hit of the game… while still making the out at first.
This came in the seventh, on our most annoying (yet, I’ll admit it, amusing enough – albeit, only because we won anyway) gaffe of the season. Troy walked, and Marte sent a fly-ball down the first-base line. It clanked out of the right fielder’s glove, and Marte hared round first, intending to reach second. Unfortunately, he met Troy, who was still intent on returning to first-base (above). While both realized their error, ending up on first and second, the Giants appealed, and on review, Marte was ruled to have passed Troy and so was out. It was reminiscent of this play back in 2018, when Deven Marrero was robbed of what would have been his only HR with us, for a similar base-running mistake.
In the end, it proved irrelevant – mostly because of the Giants going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position, otherwise it would likely have been a lot more nervewracking. But we got there. Marte finished the day with four more hits. He now has a nine-game hitting streak where he is 21-for-37 – that’s an average of .568 – with three home-runs and 15 RBI. He got help today from Carroll’s two hits, while Del Castillo, Moreno and Troy each chipped in with a hit and a walk. The only starter not to reach base this afternoon was Ryan Waldschmidt, who had a rough 0-for-5 day with a trio of strikeouts.
Click here for details, at Fangraphs.com Memorialized: Ketel Marte, +23% Well remembered: Del Castillo, +13%; Moreno, +11%
Best forgotten: Nolan Arenado, -11%
Thanks to all who showed up in the Gameday Thread on this Memorial Day. 330 comments is very respectable, I’d say. I’m declaring Comment of the Thread a tie between MikeMono and AZNailgal520:
We will be back tomorrow at the same park, to face the Giants again. It will be a 6:45 pm first pitch, the only night game of the series, with the mound being taken by Arizona staff ace Eduardo Rodriguez. And, yeah, it does still feel funny writing that, thank you for asking…
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 28: Aaron Civale #45 of the Athletics pitches against the Kansas City Royals in the second inning at Sutter Health Park on April 28, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Memorial Day everyone! The A’s are back at home and return to the friendly confines of Sutter Health Park still in first place in their division after a 4-3 road trip. Now the team will go head-to-head against the team that won the AL West last year and are hot on our heels this season in the Seattle Mariners. Tonight marks the opening of this three-game series that could have huge implications down the line at the end of the year.
Scheduled to get the ball tonight for the home team is veteran Aaron Civale. The right-hander has had a great season overall but got hit hard his last time on the mound. He surrendered five earned runs to the Angels in an eventual A’s win, getting bailed out by the offense down in Anaheim. He’ll carry a 3.31 ERA into tonight’s contest, a number he’ll be looking to lower and get closer to 3.
Here’s how the Athletics’ lineup looks for the series opener:
The A’s will welcome Brent Rooker back to the starting lineup after the DH got the series finale off yesterday. He’ll slide back into his usual cleanup spot behind Carlos Cortes, Nick Kurtz, and Shea Langeliers (who is back behind the plate tonight), with Tyler Soderstrom’s left-handed bat right behind him.
The back half of the lineup gets a little shuffle as center fielder Henry Bolte rises up to the sixth spot in the batting order. Jeff McNeil and Zack Gelof follow at second and third base, respectively, while Darell Hernaiz also returns to the starting lineup batting ninth after getting a breather yesterday as well.
For Seattle, they’re sending their own veteran to the mound in Luis Castillo. The 10-year vet has been a reliable arm atop the Mariners’ starting rotation for years now but is perhaps beginning to show signs of falling off. The righty is having by far his worst statistical season to date as he’s consistently gotten hit hard in all of his outings. That, plus the Mariners’ deep and young rotation options, caused the M’s to reconsider his stance as one of the team’s five starting pitchers but they’re planning to stick with him for a little while longer. The A’s could push up that decision up with a big showing on offense against Castillo.
The A’s maintain a 2.5 game lead over the Mariners in the AL West. One win guarantees us remaining there through the series but the team should be aiming higher for a series win or possible sweep. One game at a time though. Let’s go A’s!
Nolan McLean had been dominant to begin his big-league career.
The Mets' young right-hander appears to have officially hit his first rough patch at the highest level, though, as he’s been extremely ineffective each of his last two times out.
The latest came on Monday afternoon, when McLean allowed runs in three straight innings and was pulled after failing to complete the top of the fourth in a series-opening loss to the Reds.
His once stellar ERA has quickly risen to 4.40 through 11 starts on the the season after allowing 16 runs (13 earned) on 13 hits and four walks over that two-outing span.
McLean and Carlos Mendoza explained postgame Monday that the struggles have been a combination of things.
“He’s having a hard time landing the secondary pitches,” the skipper said. “There’s a ton of movement side-to-side and not so much depth, and he’s getting into bad counts -- it comes down to execution.”
“It’s just bad pitching, honestly,” McLean added. “Getting behind in counts, not landing my off-speed pitches, and I’ve been hitting guys with two strikes -- I haven’t been pitching my best and I gotta be better.”
McLean felt that he did too much mound work this week trying to work through the issue, which led to him losing his legs after striking out the first three hitters he faced in order on Monday.
The 24-year-old right-hander will now use this as a learning point moving forward, trying to find that balance as he works to get things right ahead of his next turn out against the Marlins.
Mendoza and the Mets are confident that he'll be able to do just that.
“He’s a competitor,” Mendoza emphasized. “He’s not happy, but he’s going to keep going -- this is a guy who isn’t going to back down, he’s going to show up tomorrow, put his head down and get back to work -- he’s going to get back on track.”
A.J. Minter #33 of the New York Mets pitches during the game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
By now, A.J. Minter has become familiar with surgeries and recoveries. In 2024, it was for his hip. Before that, it was Tommy John and thoracic outlet syndrome procedures at Texas A&M. But this one — surgery to repair a torn lat last May and the yearlong recovery that followed — has been a “weird one,” even by Minter’s standards.
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It felt easy at first. Then, a rough patch followed. Minter didn’t want to rush the recovery process, and just when it seemed earlier this month that he was on the verge of finally returning, the Mets removed him from his rehab assignment due to hip discomfort.
Minter described the setback as “super minimum,” but after resuming and making his latest minor league appearance Sunday, his return could happen as early as Tuesday or Wednesday — though it’ll arrive with a lingering velocity question he’ll need to answer.
“It’s been a difficult one for sure,” Minter told The Post of his recovery before the Mets opened a series against the Reds. “Obviously, I would love to [have] been back sooner, but just kinda taking me a little bit to get back. But I do feel like I’m in a good space physically, mentally.”
A.J. Minter of the Mets pitches during the game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Saturday, April 26, 2025. MLB Photos via Getty Images
It could be a different version of the 32-year-old — at least to start. He might not have the same velocity. His fastball averaged 94.5 mph in 2024 and 2025, but during his most recent appearance for Triple-A Syracuse, Minter maxed out at just 93.7 mph and hit only 90.7 on May 20.
He hopes that will change once he returns to an MLB environment. Manager Carlos Mendoza agreed and cited an example of how that was the case for Minter in spring training last year, though he also admitted that it could take time.
“He’s still gonna be able to compete with whatever he’s got,” Mendoza said. “The 91 [mph], 92, he’s got weapons to get righties and lefties. I’m not worried about it, but it’ll be something that I’m pretty sure it’ll be a topic, but like I said, I think he’s more than capable of competing with what he has right now.”
Compared to an invisible lineup and woeful starting pitching, the Mets bullpen hasn’t been a glaring concern, as the team collected the ninth-best ERA in the majors (3.46) entering Monday’s game.
But Minter, who recorded a 1.59 ERA across 12 minor league appearances this season, would serve as another lefty alongside Brooks Raley and demoted starter Sean Manaea.
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Minter has tried to avoid getting caught up in the velocity. He just wants to make hitters work and earn everything. And when that happens, when Minter makes a return that Mendoza said the lefty “can’t wait” for, it’ll cap a grueling journey back to the Mets bullpen that’s now more than a year in the making.
“Whether I’m throwing 92 or 97, I feel like I’m just gonna go out there and just attack the strike zone and see what happens,” Minter said.
MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 23: Eric Lauer #33 of the Los Angeles Dodgers smiles on the field prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager still had not resumed actual baseball activities Monday, the day that he could have been eligible to return from the injured list because of lower back inflammation.
Manager Skip Schumaker said the two-time World Series MVP went through some drills before the series opener against Houston but was “still probably a few days away” from batting practice or taking groundballs. Seager was mired in a career-worst 0-for-27 slump when put on the 10-day IL.
Seager wasn’t in the Rangers clubhouse when it was opened to reporters before the game.
Third baseman Josh Jung was out of the starting lineup for the second game in a row since banging his left shoulder hard on a diving defensive play Saturday. An MRI on Monday showed no significant issues in his non-throwing shoulder.
Jung tore the labrum in that shoulder during a weightlifting session just before the start of spring training in February 2022, seven months before his big league debut. He said he hadn’t felt any pain in that shoulder since then, which is was what concerned him.
Jung took some swings off the tee and went through his usual defensive routine Monday.
“I had zero range of motion left when I tore my labrum the first time,” he said. “I couldn’t lift my arm. I have full range of motion, and strength has been pretty good.”
Seager’s scratch and slump
The Rangers scratched a planned live batting practice session for Seager on Saturday, a day after he had jogged on the field and hit in the cage.
“I don’t know if it’s a setback,” Schumaker said. “I just think it hasn’t recovered as fast as we hoped for it.”
The 32-year-old Seager started 42 of the Rangers’ first 43 games, and said before the IL stint that physically he felt “completely fine.” He was hitless over his last seven games while playing 24 in a row over 27 days after his only previous game off April 16.
“We were monitoring and talking with him every day. ... I don’t think that was part of the deal,” Schumaker said. “He’s trying to get out of the slump that he was in. So I think there’s a lot of swings, and a dive up the middle, and I think all of it just kind of caught up to him a little bit.”
Seager last played May 13 at home against Arizona. Texas then had an off day and Seager was getting an extended break not playing in the series opener at Houston on May 15 before waking up with back spasms.
“So ironic that it was literally on the off day in Houston, and then here we are,” Schumaker said.
Seager has seven homers and 20 RBIs while hitting .179 — that average ranked 165th out of 170 qualified MLB hitters going into Monday’s game. In the fifth season of a $325 million, 10-year deal, Seager has 28 hits, 22 walks and 50 strikeouts in 182 plate appearances.
Langford and Smith updates
Left fielder Wyatt Langford, out since April 22 because of a right forearm strain, took BP in the cage Monday. If he continues to progress without any issues, he could take live BP and run bases by Friday and potentially begin rehab games next weekend.
Second baseman Josh Smith, after being hospitalized to be treated for viral meningitis, could be back at the ballpark in the next couple of days, according to Schumaker.
Smith was recovering from a right glute strain when he started feeling ill and was hospitalized. He hasn’t be around the team in nearly two weeks.
DENVER, CO - MAY 19: Tanner Gordon #29 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ray Bahner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tanner Gordon will be looking to help the Rockies break a two-game losing streak and perform better than the last time he faced the Dodgers when he takes the mound for Colorado in the series-opening game in Los Angeles tonight.
After a solid 2026 debut, when he threw four scoreless innings against the Astros on April 15, Gordon has struggled. His second game came against the Dodgers when he gave up six runs on seven hits, including three homers, in four innings in a 12-3 loss on April 20 at Coors Field.
In seven starts, Gordon is 0-0 with a 6.59 ERA in 27.1 innings with 30 strikeouts, six walks and six homers. With Jose Quintana forced to leave Sunday’s game after 1.1 innings with elbow soreness and with him now headed to the IL, the Rockies could use a longer start from Gordon to give some relief to the bullpen.
The Rockies (20-34) are going through a rough May where they have put up a 6-16 record, including dropping five of their last six games. In their only showdowns with the Dodgers this season, Colorado split a four-game series against L.A. at Coors Field in April.
The Dodgers (33-20) are returning to Dodger Stadium after going 7-2 on their latest road trip against the Brewers, Padres and Angels. Emmet Sheehan (3-1, 4.93 ERA) will be on the mound for L.A. The 26-year-old RHP has given up nine home runs and 13 walks with 51 strikeouts in 45.2 innings in nine starts.
The Rockies faced Sheehan on April 18. In a 4-3 Rockies victory, Sheehan earned a no-decision when he surrendered two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings.
First Pitch: 7:10 p.m. MDT
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM KOA Rockies Radio Network; KNRV 1150 AM (Spanish)
The Los Angeles Dodgers activated the fan favorite utilityman from the 60-day injured list on Monday, May 25 after Hernández missed the first 53 games of the season while recovering from offseason elbow surgery. Hernández is in the starting lineup and will make his 2026 debut against the Colorado Rockies.
Santiago Espinal was designated for assignment in a corresponding move, the Dodgers announced. Hernández will bat ninth in the order and gets the start at third base in place of Max Muncy, who was hit by a pitch on his right wrist in the Dodgers' 5-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, May 22 and has missed the last two games.
"He'll bounce around, which he has the ability to do," manager Dave Roberts told reporters. "He'll play some third. He'll play some second. If there's an opportunity to spell somebody out there in the outfield, he might do that, too. He'll be available off the bench in pinch-hitting spots, but some of it depends on Max, how Max is feeling, and see how that goes."
Monday will mark Hernández's 10th season with the Dodgers in his 12-year big league career. Last October, he became the franchise's all-time leader in postseason appearances (92) as he hit .250 with nine runs, one home run and seven RBI in 17 playoff games as the Dodgers won their second consecutive World Series title.
"October Kiké" made arguably the biggest play of the season in the ninth inning of Game 6 of the Fall Classic when, with the tying runs in scoring position for the Toronto Blue Jays, he ran full sprint into shallow left field to snag a line drive from Andrés Giménez and immediately fired a dart to Miguel Rojas at second base, who scooped it for a game-ending double play to force a Game 7.
And, as everyone wouldn't find out until he announced it later on his Instagram, Hernández did it all on a torn muscle/extensor tendon in his left elbow.
"He's a tough competitor, tough player," Roberts told reporters. "And I don't think anyone appreciated just how severely injured he was. He was not gonna come out of the lineup and gave himself every opportunity to play, and then the pain that he was going through. That's kind of what makes him special."
Hernández, a free agent for most of the offseason, didn't re-sign with the Dodgers until Feb. 12 so that he could immediately be placed on the IL and not take up a spot on the 40-man roster. During that time in contract limbo, he played a key role in bringing closing pitcher Edwin Díaz to LA. Now, Hernández gets his chance to contribute on the field again.
"I know, just talking to him, he's excited to be back -- number one -- but also to be back healthy and be back competing again, playing again, getting active," Roberts told reporters. "Just getting his energy back, it's gonna be good for our group."
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 25: Nick Lodolo #40 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the third inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 25, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds looked perfectly miserable against New York Mets rookie Nolan McLean, at least in the Top of the 1st inning in the series opener at Citi Field. McLean breezed through the top of the Reds lineup by striking out the side to begin, with none of Blake Dunn, Elly De La Cruz, or JJ Bleday looking comfortable at all in the batter’s box.
Perhaps the Reds just needed to shake off some quick rust after being idle for three of the previous four days. Whatever it was, they flipped the switch shortly thereafter and eventually blasted the Mets prized rookie and the rest of their roster in a 7-2 win to begin their road trip.
Bleday later homered off McLean, Tyler Stephenson did, too, and that was more than enough to back the best start of Nick Lodolo’s blister-delayed 2026 season. The latter fired 6.0 IP of 6 H, ER, 0 BB, 7 K ball on 98 pitches, keeping New York’s offense completely off the board until a solo homer by Marcus Semien in the Bottom of the 6th.
For that, Lodolo takes home this game’s Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game award, something I certainly hope he does again another two-dozen times before the season’s end.
While Dunn and Elly struggled (0 for 9, 5 K) atop the order, it was the middle-back of the lineup that carried the offense on the day. Bleday homered, Eugenio Suarez went 2 for 3 with a walk, a double, and 2 runs scored, Nate Lowe walked twice, poked a soft double down the RF line, and scored, and Spencer Steer came up large with a key hit and drove in 3 on the day. That, of course, came before Stephenson in a Reds lineup that increasingly looks potent again with Ke’Bryan Hayes on the IL and TJ Friedl on the back of milk cartons all over the tri-state area.
It was an all-around excellent win, the Reds feasting on the Mets on a day when so much of Cincinnati spends feasting on metts. And the Reds now get to hand the ball to Chase Burns tomorrow in the second game of the series. That will commence at 7:10 PM ET, with the Reds with the serious upper-hand on paper.
Out of all the potential issues the Mets could face, this wasn’t supposed to be one of them. Nolan McLean was their constant. Their ace who could stabilize, solve everything and stop losing streaks single-handedly during his starts.
In an ideal world for the Mets, Carlos Mendoza wouldn’t have needed to walk to the mound in the fourth inning Monday and pull McLean after just 78 pitches.
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He wouldn’t have needed to turn to his bullpen that early. But after delivering the worst start of his career last week, McLean one-upped that on Memorial Day, lasting just 3 ¹/₃ innings in his shortest outing with the Mets, surrendering seven runs on five hits, walking two and hitting two more batters in the Mets’ 7-2 loss to the Reds at Citi Field.
“It’s just bad pitching, honestly,” McLean said, turning a question about his stretch and windup splits into a telling line that he hasn’t needed to utter much throughout his young career. “If I’m just gonna be straight up, I just haven’t been pitching my best, and I gotta be better.”
The usual issues appeared again for the Mets (22-32). They couldn’t manage to score more than two runs for the fifth consecutive game and now have their second four-game losing skid of the season. They made Reds starter Nick Lodolo, who entered with a 7.20 ERA, look like an All-Star. The boos at Citi Field were temporarily replaced by “Let’s go Knicks” chants.
Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) reacts after giving up a two-run RBI single to Cincinnati Reds left fielder Spencer Steer (7) in the fourth inning. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTMets third baseman Bo Bichette (19) hits a single in the fifth inning. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“I mean, they’re all frustrating,” manager Carlos Mendoza said when asked if this current stretch was more frustrating after the Mets appeared to turn a corner. “Especially when you’re not playing well. They’re all the same, to be honest with you. Yeah, it sucks.”
But around all that, McLean tossed what he called a second uncompetitive start in a row. The 24-year-old mostly breezed through opponents last season and at the start of 2026, too, and that’s exactly what happened Monday for his first 18 pitches.
McLean struck out the side in the first inning, but he quickly unraveled after hitting Reds third baseman Sal Stewart. He eventually loaded the bases and watched as Cincinnati scored its first two runs when Spencer Steer grounded into a fielder’s choice and McLean threw a wild pitch.
Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) is greeted by his teammates in the dugout after he scored on his solo home run in the sixth inning. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Then, JJ Bleday crushed a homer over the right-center field fence in the third, before Steer connected on a two-run single the following frame and Tyler Stephenson launched a two-run homer on the first pitch after a mound visit. McLean has allowed 16 runs, with 13 earned, across his last nine innings, walking four batters and hitting four others.
He has struggled to land his secondary pitches while also getting into bad counts, McLean and Mendoza agreed. McLean also admitted that he dealt with fatigue early Monday — perhaps trying to get “a little bit too much after it” to fix what went wrong after his start against the Nationals last week, he said. When he cruised through the opening frame, Mendoza thought, “Oh, he’s on today,” but everything unraveled from there.
And all it takes — with these Mets and this offense — is one bad inning to sink them, let alone three from their ace strung together. Marcus Semien homered in the sixth as part of a two-hit day to give a lineup missing Juan Soto (illness) for a second consecutive day a temporary jolt. Carson Benge added an RBI groundout the following frame to score Brett Baty.
But that was it. The Mets, as they’ve done all season, had other chances and failed to convert. They had runners on first and third with two outs in the third, but Mark Vientos rolled over a pitch and grounded out. They had the same situation again in the fifth inning, but this time, Vientos struck out on a curveball that hit him.
On most occasions, McLean could bail out the Mets. He could deliver a gem — or at least give them a chance to win. The last thing the Mets need is another rotation problem. Clay Holmes and Kodai Senga are already injured. Sean Manaea and David Peterson have already been demoted at different points, though Peterson is slowly working his way back. Freddy Peralta has mostly underwhelmed.
And now, at the very least, they have a worrying trend with McLean.
“He’s gonna get back on track,” Mendoza said. “He’s got too good of stuff for this to keep going. … It just sucks it happens on back-to-back outings, especially in the middle of this stretch.”
The Mets lost their fourth straight game, falling to the Cincinnati Reds on Memorial Day, 7-2.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Nolan McLean came out firing and struck out the side in the first inning, but it was all downhill from there. The righty ended up allowing seven runs on five hits, including two home runs, with six strikeouts over 78 pitches into the fourth inning. His season ERA is now up to 4.40 after allowing 13 earned runs over his last two outings.
He hit Sal Stewart in the rib on an 88 mph changeup in the second inning and then loaded the bases on a single and walk. A run scored on a forceout as Bo Bichette's slow glove flip to second base caused a late throw to first. McLean then threw a wild pitch as the Reds took a 2-0 lead.
McLean nearly escape the third inning unscathed, but let up a solo home run to JJ Bleday with two outs that made it a 3-0 game. The right-hander allowed two more runs in the top of the fourth on Spencer Steer's single up the middle and then gave up a two-run homer to Tyler Stephenson as the Reds went up 7-0. McLean stayed in and plunked his second batter of the day before getting pulled from the game after 3.1 IP.
-- New York's hitting woes continued, failing to take advantage of runners in scoring position. Carson Benge was left stranded on second base in the second inning and Mark Vientos grounded out to end the third inning with runners on the corners.
The Mets found themselves in the same situation in the fifth inning and came up empty again, as Vientos struck out swinging on a ball that hit his leg. Overall, NY left eight on base and went 0-for-6 with RISP.
-- RHP Austin Warren cleaned up the mess in the fourth inning, getting the final two outs of the frame. He stayed in the game and tossed a scoreless fifth inning. Jonathan Pintaro entered in the sixth and made quick work of the Reds, retiring six straight through the seventh inning.
-- Marcus Semien got the Mets on the board with a solo home run in the sixth inning, cutting the deficit to 7-1. Brett Baty led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a double and scored on Benge's groundout, making it a 7-2 game.
-- Tyrone Taylor appeared to injure his right leg running out of the batter's box on a groundout in the sixth inning. He was replaced on defense in the seventh by MJ Melendez, who took over in LF with Nick Morabito moving to RF. The team later said Taylor left with right hip pain.
-- Bichette had three of the Mets' nine hits, going 3-for-4.
Game MVP: Nick Lodolo
The Reds' left-hander kept New York's bats quiet, tossing six strong innings. He allowed one run on six hits and struck out seven with no walks.
Los Angeles, CA - April 01: Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Enrique Hernández (8) warms up prior to the start of a MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Dodgers activated infielder/outfielder Kiké Hernández off the 60-day injured list as expected on Monday, and he starts at third base in the series opener against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Santiago Espinal was designated for assignment, which created room on both the active and 40-man rosters for Hernández.
Espinal, signed to provide a right-handed bat off the bench who could play around the infield, started five games at third base and four games at second base. He played in 26 total games and batted 44 times, hitting .220/.238/.366 with three doubles and a home run.
He became a bit redundant with Hernández getting activated. The Dodgers could have also optioned the Hyeseong Kim, who has six hits in his last 40 at-bats with 16 strikeouts and four walks over his last 14 games. But instead they kept Kim around as an extra left-handed bat with excellent defense and plus-speed.
