There are certain matchups in Major League Baseball that just feel bigger than others. The Cincinnati Reds against the New York Mets is one of those games. When these two teams step onto the field, you get a fascinating collision of contrasting stories — a young, hungry team riding high, and an established, star-studded roster fighting to find its footing.
The Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats in 2026 tell a story that nobody fully expected at the start of the season. The Reds are 20-11 through April and sitting at the top of the NL Central. The Mets, on the other hand, have stumbled to a 9-19 record, tied for the worst in all of baseball. When you dig into the individual numbers, you start to understand exactly why things have played out this way.
In this article, we break it all down. From Elly De La Cruz’s explosive start to Juan Soto carrying New York almost by himself, we cover every major statistical angle you need to know. If you’re a fantasy baseball player, a casual fan, or just someone who wants to understand what’s happening on the field, this one is for you.
Where Both Teams Stand Heading Into Their 2026 Matchup
Before diving deep into the individual numbers, it helps to understand the bigger picture for each team.
The Reds’ Surprising Fast Start
Nobody expected the Cincinnati Reds to be this good this early. They entered 2026 without two of their most important arms. Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo both started the season on the injured list. That’s a massive loss for any pitching staff.
And yet, the Reds responded by going 20-11 through April. Andrew Abbott, who was named the Opening Day starter, carried the rotation beautifully in the early weeks. The young offense did the rest. Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart, and the rest of the lineup have been battling every single night, and it shows in the win column.
Manager Terry Francona told his team in Spring Training that it was “go time.” The players have clearly listened. This team plays with a confidence that you don’t always see from a squad missing its top pitchers.
The Mets’ Rocky Road to Start 2026
The Mets’ story in 2026 reads very differently. They are 9-19 and tied with the Phillies for the worst record in baseball heading into May. The biggest blow came when Francisco Lindor landed on the injured list with a left calf strain, just weeks into the season.
Lindor had a very slow start to 2026, making several defensive miscues and hitting just .167 with a .546 OPS in his first 15 games. Then the calf injury ended his availability entirely, at least for the short term. Without their captain, the Mets’ offense has been the worst in baseball.
The silver lining? The Mets went through something similar in 2024, falling to 24-35 before turning things completely around. Whether they can repeat that comeback without a healthy Lindor is the biggest question hanging over this franchise right now.
Cincinnati Reds vs Mets Match Player Stats — The Reds’ Offensive Leaders
When you look at the Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats from an offensive angle, the Reds have a clear edge right now. Their lineup is deep, dynamic, and led by a player who is playing some of the best baseball of his young career.
Elly De La Cruz — The Face of Cincinnati’s Attack
There’s no getting around it. Elly De La Cruz is the most exciting player on this Reds roster, and right now, he might be one of the most exciting players in all of baseball.
Going into May, De La Cruz is hitting .282 with 10 home runs and 24 RBIs. He has 35 hits, eight stolen bases, 26 runs scored, and a .565 slugging percentage. Those are numbers that would make any manager smile.
What makes this stretch so impressive is the consistency. De La Cruz has hit safely in nine of the last 10 games, slashing .333/.391/.667 with two doubles, four home runs, three stolen bases, 11 runs, and 13 RBI over that stretch.
But perhaps the most impressive development in 2026 has been his growth as a switch hitter. In 2025, De La Cruz hit just five of his 22 home runs in 200 right-handed at-bats. In 2026, he already has four homers in only 26 right-handed ABs, and his OPS is actually better from the right side at 1.066 than from the left at .819. That improvement has closed a real hole in his game, making him far more difficult to pitch around.
He has been named a National League All-Star in back-to-back seasons, becoming the first Red to earn the honor in consecutive years since Joey Votto did it in 2017 and 2018. At just 24 years old, he is already writing himself into Reds history.
Any discussion of Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats has to start with De La Cruz, because he is the engine that makes everything else go for this team.
Sal Stewart — The Rookie Turning Heads
If De La Cruz is the heart of the Reds offense, Sal Stewart might be the biggest surprise story of the early season. The rookie has quickly become a front-runner for the NL Rookie of the Year award, and for good reason.
Through April, Myers is hitting .286 in 27 games with an on-base percentage of .423 and 12 runs scored. He has walked nine times, meaning he is having quality at-bats consistently. While his name might not be as well known nationally just yet, opposing pitchers are starting to take notice.
The Reds now have a genuine 1-2 punch at the top of their lineup that forces opponents to make tough decisions every single inning. When De La Cruz and Stewart are both locked in, this lineup becomes very hard to shut down.
Matt McLain and Spencer Steer — The Depth That Makes It Work
One of the reasons the Reds have been so successful is that the lineup doesn’t drop off after the top two. Matt McLain has been locked in as the No. 2 hitter ahead of De La Cruz and looks like a strong All-Star candidate as the season progresses.
Spencer Steer’s versatility and leadership will be put to the test in 2026, as he shifted into a super utility role after being praised as one of the best defensive first basemen in the game in 2025. Both McLain and Steer are expected to reach the 20-home-run mark in a full season, giving the Reds serious pop throughout the lineup.
That kind of lineup depth is exactly what separates a good team from a great one. When you look at the full picture of Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats, the Reds have a clear advantage in lineup construction right now.
Cincinnati Reds vs Mets Match Player Stats — The Reds’ Pitching Staff
The pitching picture for the Reds is complicated, but in a way that actually says a lot about how good this team is.
Andrew Abbott Leading the Way
Abbott was handed the Opening Day assignment by Francona, and he has delivered. A 2025 All-Star, Abbott is the rotation anchor until Greene and Lodolo return. His ability to generate strikeouts and control the zone gives the Reds a genuine ace-level performance at the top of the staff. If 2025 was the year he announced himself, 2026 looks like the year he cements his status.
Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, and Brady Singer Holding Things Together
Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder have been counted upon early in the season, but neither pitcher can be the long-term focal point of the Reds’ pitching staff. If the Reds find sustained success, it will be because Abbott, Lodolo, Greene, and Brady Singer answered the bell.
For now, Burns and Lowder have done more than enough to keep the Reds afloat. The fact that Cincinnati is 20-11 without their two best starting pitchers is a testament to the depth of the organization.
The Return of Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo
This is where the ceiling gets really interesting. Hunter Greene was one of the best pitchers in baseball when healthy in recent seasons. His combination of elite velocity and a devastating breaking ball makes him a genuine shutdown starter. Lodolo brings a similar level of reliability when he is right.
Both pitchers are expected to return at some point this season. When they do, the Reds’ rotation could become one of the most formidable in the National League. Heading into any matchup — including a series against the Mets — that is a major advantage waiting to materialize.
The Bullpen Question
The one area of concern for Cincinnati is the back end of the bullpen. The bullpen is arguably the Reds’ biggest weakness heading into the season, but Tony Santillan and Graham Ashcraft are two young relievers who need to produce from start to finish. Santillan was heavily used in 2025, and the expectation is that he becomes more effective rather than just more available in 2026. Ashcraft is taking his first full step as a bullpen arm and needs to show he belongs.
Mets vs Cincinnati Reds Match Player Stats — New York’s Key Performers
When you flip the script and look at mets vs cincinnati reds match player stats from New York’s perspective, the story is one of enormous individual talent buried under a team struggling to find its identity.
Juan Soto — Carrying New York Almost Alone
Juan Soto has unsurprisingly been the Mets’ best hitter this year, posting a .304/.418/.413 line and a 141 wRC+. He is the only other hitter who has made at least 40 plate appearances and been better than league average, alongside Francisco Alvarez at 117 wRC+.
To put Soto’s importance in perspective, this is a man who in 2025 set career highs with 43 home runs and 38 stolen bases. He became the first Met since José Reyes in 2007 to lead the National League in stolen bases, and his 43 home runs were the third most by a Met in a single season.
But even a hitter of Soto’s caliber cannot save a roster by himself. For the Mets to salvage their season, Soto would need to play at an 8.3 fWAR pace — similar to his 2024 season with the Yankees — just to get the team back into playoff contention while Lindor is sidelined. That is an almost impossible ask, even for one of the best hitters in the world.
Francisco Lindor — The Missing Piece
This is the part of the mets vs cincinnati reds match player stats conversation that Mets fans are most frustrated about. Lindor is the player who makes everything else work in that lineup, and right now he is not available.
In 2025, Lindor posted a .267 batting average, .346 on-base percentage, .811 OPS, 31 home runs, and 86 RBIs across 160 games. He also stole 31 bases, showcasing the speed and athleticism that continue to make him one of the most complete players in the game.
He and Soto became the third set of teammates in MLB history to go 30-30 in the same season, joining Howard Johnson and Darryl Strawberry in 1987 and Dante Bichette and Ellis Burks in 1996. That level of production from two players on the same team is extraordinarily rare.
In 2026, however, Lindor never found his footing before the calf injury struck. Manager Carlos Mendoza said that Lindor’s calf strain is worse than Soto’s was, so the absence is likely to last longer than the two-and-a-half weeks Soto missed. Ronny Mauricio was called up from Triple-A Syracuse to fill in as the primary shortstop.
When Lindor does return, his presence will dramatically shift the Mets’ outlook. His return is also something the Reds will need to prepare for in their June series.
Francisco Alvarez and the Supporting Cast
Alvarez deserves more credit than he typically receives. His 117 wRC+ makes him the second-best hitter on the team right now, and his power potential behind the plate gives the Mets a legitimate threat in the middle of the order. Brett Baty has stepped into more playing time with Lindor out, and Carson Benge was elevated to the leadoff spot as Mendoza shuffled the lineup during the team’s losing streak. These are players filling in admirably, but they are not Lindor, and that difference is felt every single night.
Head-to-Head History and What It Means for 2026
The Reds and Mets don’t share a division, which means every series between them carries extra weight. They don’t see each other 18 or 19 times a year like division opponents do. When these teams meet, players and fans alike treat it as an event.
Based on current ESPN scheduling data, the next confirmed matchup between these two clubs is set for June 15, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. By that point, the dynamics of this series could look very different. Lindor may be healthy. Greene and Lodolo could be back in the rotation. Both teams could be in completely different spots in the standings.
The Venue Factor at Great American Ball Park
Great American Ball Park is a hitter-friendly environment. The outfield dimensions and the way the ball travels in the Cincinnati summer air typically favor contact hitters and power bats alike. That is excellent news for a Reds lineup anchored by De La Cruz, Stewart, and McLain. For the Mets, it puts even more pressure on Soto to stay hot and produce in a park where the runs tend to flow.
Wind and weather conditions in mid-June Cincinnati can shift the game significantly, particularly for pitchers. Abbott and the Reds’ rotation will need to manage pitch counts carefully if the conditions are favorable to hitters that night.
Key Storylines to Watch in the Upcoming Series
When you look closely at all the Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats on paper, a handful of fascinating sub-battles emerge that will define how each game plays out.
Reds’ Rotation Depth vs. The Mets’ Struggling Lineup
Abbott and the Cincinnati starters have a clear blueprint going into any series against New York right now. The Mets’ lineup is the worst in baseball outside of Soto and Alvarez. Limiting those two while working efficiently through the rest of the order is a very achievable game plan. The question is whether the Reds’ arms — particularly from the bullpen — can hold leads late in games.
The Stolen Base Battle
One of the most exciting sub-plots in Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats involves speed. De La Cruz already has 8 stolen bases through April. Soto had 38 stolen bases in 2025, the most by a Met in a single season since Eric Young Jr.’s 38 in 2013. When these two teams play, you can expect the stolen base game to be in full effect on both sides. How Francisco Alvarez handles the running game behind the plate will be a crucial factor in every game.
Bullpen Depth — The X-Factor in Close Games
Neither team has an elite, lockdown bullpen right now. Late-inning leads are never safe in this matchup. Santillan and Ashcraft for the Reds need to be sharper than they were in 2025. The Mets have their own relief concerns, particularly with Lindor’s defensive range at short removed from the equation. Defense behind pitchers matters, and without Lindor, the Mets lose one of the best defensive shortstops in the league.
Fantasy Baseball Angle — Who to Target in Reds vs. Mets Matchups
If you’re playing fantasy baseball or daily DFS, the Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats give you some clear targeting opportunities.
Top Targets to Roster:
- Elly De La Cruz — The power-speed combination is elite right now. He’s a must-start any week the Reds face the Mets.
- Juan Soto — His .418 on-base percentage means he’s always in position to score. Target him regardless of venue.
- Sal Stewart — Excellent at-bat quality and growing confidence at the plate make him a high-upside pick.
- Andrew Abbott — Facing a Mets lineup that ranks last in baseball offensively? Abbott is a strong strikeout play.
- Francisco Alvarez — His power numbers are improving, and Great American Ball Park suits his game.
Players to Monitor:
- Hunter Greene — Once he returns from the IL, he immediately becomes one of the top pitching assets in the game. Keep him on your watch list.
- Francisco Lindor — Do not start him in DFS until he’s back, healthy, and showing signs of being ramped up. His track record is elite, but calf injuries can linger.
Conclusion
The 2026 MLB season has already given us one of the more compelling cross-NL storylines in recent memory. The Cincinnati Reds are ahead of schedule, overachieving despite significant injuries to their rotation, and doing it on the back of a generational shortstop in Elly De La Cruz. The New York Mets, meanwhile, are dealing with a nightmare start that has shaken the confidence of their fanbase and put enormous pressure on Juan Soto to will them back into contention.
When you study the Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats in full — offensive output, pitching depth, injury situations, and historical trends — the picture becomes clear. Right now, Cincinnati holds the edge in nearly every category. But baseball has a way of humbling teams quickly. When Lindor comes back healthy, when the Mets’ lineup starts performing closer to its potential, the June series at Great American Ball Park could look very different than what the April numbers suggest.
That is exactly what makes baseball worth watching. The numbers give us context. The games give us answers. Keep an eye on both rosters as the season progresses, because the storyline between these two teams is far from over.
FAQ 1: What are the Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats for the 2026 season?
The Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats in 2026 show a clear talent gap between the two sides right now. The Reds are led offensively by Elly De La Cruz, who is hitting .282 with 10 home runs, 24 RBI, and a .565 slugging percentage through April. On the Mets’ side, Juan Soto holds the lineup together with a .304 batting average, a .418 on-base percentage, and a 141 wRC+, making him the team’s only consistent offensive threat while Francisco Lindor remains on the injured list with a left calf strain.
FAQ 2: When do the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets play each other in 2026?
The Reds and Mets are scheduled to meet in two separate series in 2026. The first series runs from May 25 to May 27 at Citi Field in Queens, New York. A second series follows at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on June 15, 16, and 17. That gives fans six matchups between these two clubs spread across late May and mid-June.
FAQ 3: Who is the best hitter in the Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats comparison?
Based on current 2026 production, Elly De La Cruz is the most impactful hitter in the matchup. He is hitting .282 with 10 home runs, 24 RBI, 26 runs scored, and 8 stolen bases through April, while also posting a remarkable improvement as a switch hitter. Juan Soto of the Mets deserves a close second mention, as his .304/.418/.413 slash line and 141 wRC+ make him one of the most productive hitters in all of baseball right now.
FAQ 4: What is Elly De La Cruz’s batting average and stats in 2026?
As of the end of April 2026, Elly De La Cruz is slashing .282/.391/.565 with 10 home runs, 24 RBI, 8 stolen bases, and 26 runs scored in 31 games. His Statcast numbers are equally impressive, with an average exit velocity of 95.8 mph, a hard-hit rate of 56.3%, and a .411 wOBA. He has hit safely in 9 of his last 10 games, slashing .333/.391/.667 during that hot stretch.
FAQ 5: Is Francisco Lindor playing for the Mets in 2026?
Francisco Lindor is currently on the injured list for the New York Mets. He was placed on the 10-day IL in late April 2026 after straining his left calf while running the bases during a game against the Minnesota Twins. Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed the injury is worse than Juan Soto’s earlier calf strain, meaning the recovery timeline is expected to exceed two and a half weeks. Ronny Mauricio was called up from Triple-A Syracuse to fill in as the primary shortstop in Lindor’s absence.
FAQ 6: What are Juan Soto’s stats for the New York Mets in 2026?
Juan Soto is off to an excellent start for the Mets in 2026. He is slashing .304/.418/.413 with a 141 wRC+, making him the clear team leader offensively and one of very few bright spots in what has been a difficult early season for New York. Soto is also drawing walks at an elite rate, maintaining the high on-base skills that have defined his career. In 2025, he set career highs with 43 home runs and 38 stolen bases for the Mets.
FAQ 7: What is the all-time head-to-head record between the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets?
The Cincinnati Reds hold a slight historical edge over the Mets in their all-time head-to-head record. According to StatMuse, the Reds are 337-307 against the Mets across their entire history of matchups. In more recent years, over the last three seasons combined, Cincinnati has the better record at 10-8. The Mets lead the broader H2H from 1993 onward, having won 94 of 159 games tracked in that specific window, averaging 4.5 runs per game compared to the Reds’ 3.7.
FAQ 8: Who is pitching for the Cincinnati Reds against the Mets in 2026?
Andrew Abbott is the Reds’ rotation anchor in 2026, earning the Opening Day assignment from manager Terry Francona. Despite a slow start to the season with a 5.84 ERA, he delivered a quality start in late April, allowing two runs over six innings in a 6-4 win over the Rockies. Behind Abbott, the Reds are rotating Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, and Brady Singer until Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo return from their respective injuries. Once healthy, Greene and Lodolo are expected to significantly upgrade the rotation.
FAQ 9: How are the Cincinnati Reds performing in the 2026 MLB season?
The Cincinnati Reds have been one of the biggest surprises in baseball through the first month of the 2026 season. They finished April at 20-11 and sit atop the NL Central, having won 11 of their last 15 games. This performance is particularly remarkable given that two of their top starters — Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo — both started the season on the injured list. The offense, led by Elly De La Cruz and rookie sensation Sal Stewart, has been the driving force behind the fast start.
FAQ 10: Why are the New York Mets struggling in 2026?
The Mets had a brutal start to 2026, going 9-19 through the end of April and tying the Philadelphia Phillies for the worst record in baseball at that point. The core problems have been a dysfunctional offense — ranked last in MLB outside of Juan Soto and Francisco Alvarez — and a string of key injuries. Francisco Lindor, the team’s most complete player, went on the IL with a left calf strain. Before that, Juan Soto also missed time with a calf issue. The Mets did stage a similar comeback from a bad start in 2024, but that turnaround had a healthier Lindor driving it.
FAQ 11: What advanced stats should I look at for Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats?
When breaking down Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats using advanced metrics, several numbers stand out. For offense, wRC+ is the most useful tool: De La Cruz and Soto are both well above league average (100 is average). Soto’s 141 wRC+ leads all Mets hitters. For pitching, look at xFIP and SIERA rather than ERA, as they remove the impact of defense. Statcast metrics like exit velocity, hard-hit rate, and barrel percentage give additional insight. De La Cruz’s 95.8 mph average exit velocity and 56.3% hard-hit rate place him among the elite contact quality hitters in baseball this season.
FAQ 12: Who is Sal Stewart and how is he performing for the Reds in 2026?
Sal Stewart is a young hitter for the Cincinnati Reds who has emerged as a front-runner for the National League Rookie of the Year award after the first month of the 2026 season. Through April, he is hitting .286 with a .423 on-base percentage and 12 runs scored in 27 games. He draws walks consistently — nine on the season through April — which tells you he is having quality plate appearances rather than simply putting the ball in play. His defense has also been error-free, which has helped him earn everyday playing time quickly.
FAQ 13: What is Andrew Abbott’s ERA and record for the Reds in 2026?
Andrew Abbott had a tough start to the 2026 season, going 0-2 with a 5.84 ERA through his first several outings. However, he showed signs of turning a corner in late April, delivering a quality start against Colorado — six innings, two runs, five strikeouts — for his first win of the season. His strikeout rate has dropped from 8.06 per nine innings in 2025 to 6.23 so far in 2026, which is the main area of focus for Abbott and pitching coach Derek Johnson as the season progresses. Abbott went 7-1 with a 2.15 ERA in his first 15 starts during the 2025 All-Star first half.
FAQ 14: What are the Mets’ team stats compared to the Reds’ team stats in 2026?
The contrast between these two teams through April 2026 is stark. The Reds are 20-11 and lead the NL Central, running one of the most productive offenses in the National League behind De La Cruz and Stewart. The Mets are 9-19, scoring just 106 runs allowed 141 in their first 28 games, giving them a Pythagorean W-L of 12-19, which reflects genuine run differential problems. Their park factors at Citi Field actually favor hitters slightly (108 batting park factor), which makes their offensive struggles even harder to explain beyond the Lindor absence.
FAQ 15: Is Hunter Greene pitching for the Reds in 2026?
Hunter Greene began the 2026 season on the injured list and has not yet pitched in the regular season as of May 2026. He is expected to return at some point during the season. In 2025, Greene was one of the best pitchers in baseball when healthy, posting a career ERA that ranks among the top starters in the NL. His return will be a major upgrade to the Reds’ rotation, and Cincinnati’s staff ceiling jumps considerably once he is back on the mound alongside Abbott, Lodolo, and Singer.
FAQ 16: What makes the Cincinnati Reds vs Mets matchup important for NL playoff races in 2026?
The Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats matter beyond just individual games because both franchises have playoff aspirations. The Reds are actively competing for the NL Central title, while the Mets — if Lindor returns healthy and the offense comes around — have the roster to go on a 2024-style run. Every head-to-head series between teams chasing wild card spots carries real standings implications. The June series at Great American Ball Park could be especially important if both teams are still in contention by that point in the season.
FAQ 17: How does Francisco Alvarez compare to other catchers in the Reds vs Mets matchup?
Francisco Alvarez is performing as one of the Mets’ most reliable hitters in 2026, posting a 117 wRC+ — the second-best mark on the team behind only Soto. He went 6-for-19 (.316 average) with three walks and a home run in a six-game stretch earlier in the season. His pitch framing behind the plate continues to improve, and his power upside in a hitter-friendly environment like Citi Field makes him a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat. The Reds’ catchers have not posted comparable offensive numbers this season, giving the Mets a position-by-position edge behind the dish.
FAQ 18: What stolen base statistics stand out in Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats?
Speed is one of the most exciting dimensions of this matchup. Elly De La Cruz has 8 stolen bases through April 2026 and is already tied for fifth most in the majors. In 2025, he led the National League in stolen bases at the All-Star break with 46, the most by any Red at the break in franchise history. Juan Soto posted 38 stolen bases for the Mets in 2025, the most by a Met since Eric Young Jr. in 2013, and he is building toward another strong stolen base season in 2026. When these teams play, the stolen base battle between De La Cruz and Soto is genuinely one of the most entertaining sub-plots on the field.
FAQ 19: What does wRC+ mean in baseball stats, and how does it apply to this matchup?
wRC+ stands for Weighted Runs Created Plus, and it measures a player’s total offensive output adjusted for park and league context. A wRC+ of 100 is exactly league average. A wRC+ above 120 means the player is at least 20% better than the average MLB hitter. In the context of Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats, Juan Soto’s 141 wRC+ means he is producing 41% better than an average hitter. Elly De La Cruz’s numbers, combined with his stolen base value, also push him well above the league baseline. It’s the single best tool for comparing hitters across different parks and eras.
FAQ 20: Where can I watch the Reds vs Mets 2026 series games?
All three games of the May 25-27 Reds-Mets series at Citi Field are available on MLB.TV according to ESPN’s scheduling data. The June series at Great American Ball Park is also covered on MLB.TV. Local broadcast options vary depending on your market. Reds games are typically available on Bally Sports Ohio, while Mets games air on SNY. National broadcasts may be picked up by ESPN or Fox Sports depending on the league schedule and game significance.
FAQ 21: How has Elly De La Cruz improved as a switch hitter in 2026?
This is arguably the biggest individual development story in the Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats conversation. In 2025, De La Cruz hit just five of his 22 home runs in 200 right-handed at-bats, and his OPS from the right side was more than 200 points lower than from his natural left side. In 2026, the 24-year-old has shortened his right-handed swing, allowing him to see the ball longer and hit to the opposite field. He already matched his entire 2025 total of five home runs against left-handed pitching in just 26 right-handed at-bats. His OPS is now actually better from the right side at 1.066 than from the left at .819 — a complete reversal from a year ago.
FAQ 22: What is the Mets’ rotation look like when facing the Reds in 2026?
The Mets’ rotation entering their 2026 series against the Reds is anchored by Freddy Peralta, Nolan McLean, and David Peterson. Manager Carlos Mendoza has been cautious about managing pitcher workloads given the team’s history of arm injuries. In the bullpen, veteran closer Devin Williams has been one of the more reliable pieces, though the rest of the relief corps has been inconsistent during the team’s losing stretches. The Mets’ pitching staff has allowed 141 runs in their first 28 games — an average of just over five runs allowed per game — which has compounded their offensive struggles.
FAQ 23: Can the New York Mets turn their 2026 season around like they did in 2024?
It’s possible, but the path is harder this time. In 2024, the Mets were at 24-35 in early June before turning into one of the best teams in baseball the rest of the way. That run was powered by a fully healthy Francisco Lindor, who posted an extraordinary .303/.376/.566 slash line with 24 home runs over 426 plate appearances in the second half. In 2026, Lindor hasn’t even been able to get going before getting hurt. The Mets would need Lindor to return quickly, Soto to sustain his elite pace, and multiple supporting pieces to step up simultaneously. It’s possible — this roster has the talent — but the margin for error is very thin.
FAQ 24: Which fantasy baseball players should I target from the Cincinnati Reds vs Mets matchup?
For fantasy baseball purposes, the Cincinnati Reds vs Mets match player stats offer some of the most valuable targets in any given week during their series. Elly De La Cruz is the top priority: his power-speed combination makes him nearly irreplaceable in standard formats. Juan Soto is equally essential given his elite on-base skills and ability to score runs regardless of who is around him. Sal Stewart is an excellent upside play as a rookie with growing confidence. Andrew Abbott is a strong strikeout streamer against a Mets lineup that ranks last in baseball offensively. Francisco Alvarez rounds out the list as a catcher with legitimate power upside in hitter-friendly parks. Avoid Francisco Lindor in DFS formats until he returns, is fully healthy, and has logged several games back at shortstop.
