The New York Mets (71-85) are heading to Texas to take on the Rangers (78-78) in the second-to-last series of the 2026 regular season. The Mets are already eliminated from postseason contention but might have some motivation to spoil the Rangers’ playoff aspirations.
Over the weekend, the Mets managed to take two out of four games from the Phillies, slightly impacting their division rivals’ playoff chances. However, the Diamondbacks’ failure to perform has kept things stagnant. Despite that, the Diamondbacks did recently take two of three from the Yankees, complicating matters further.
Fans have dealt with the bittersweet farewell to longtime broadcaster Howie Rose, amid watching former player Jacob deGrom pitch for the Rangers, which has increased the emotional weight of this late-season stretch.
As they face the Rangers, the Mets have little to play for but their own dignity. Fans can expect some entertaining moments, perhaps some stat-padding performances, and hopefully, no injuries. Conversely, the Rangers are fighting for a playoff spot, with Jacob deGrom set to pitch on Sunday, while the Mets will face other notable pitchers like Kumar Rocker.
Upcoming Pitching Matchups:
Tuesday, September 22: Sean Manaea vs MacKenzie Gore, 8:05 PM EDT on SNY
- Manaea (2026): 198.2 IP, 132 K, 41 BB, 23 HR, 4.74 ERA
- Gore (2026): 165.2 IP, 172 K, 69 BB, 19 HR, 4.67 ERA
Manaea has had an improved September and is coming off a solid start. Gore has been average at best this year, making him a risky choice for the Rangers given their playoff situation.
Wednesday, September 23: Nolan McLean vs TBD, 8:05 PM EDT on SNY
- McLean (2026): 172.2 IP, 189 K, 69 BB, 17 HR, 3.18 ERA
This will be McLean’s last start of the season. Although he won’t win Rookie of the Year, finishing strong could boost his confidence.
Thursday, September 24: Zac Thornton vs TBD, 2:35 PM EDT on SNY
- Thornton (2026): 79.1 IP, 59 K, 17 BB, 13 HR, 3.40 ERA
This will also be Thornton’s final start, and his unexpected contributions have provided some hope for Mets fans.
As the series unfolds, it will be interesting to see how the Mets play with seemingly nothing at stake but the chance to affect the Rangers’ postseason chances.
