The Mets played a game on Friday night that inspired hope for 2027 rather than disappointment for 2026, which is a decent sign for the team’s future.
Robert Stock stood out as more than just a curiosity. Each reliever that followed him, including closer Kouhiro Chiga, made a case for themselves to earn a place on the opening day roster next season.
Jared Young kept making the most of his opportunities, further demonstrating he could be a valuable asset moving forward.
This all led to a solid 4-1 win over the Nationals, with a crowd of 30,660 at Citi Field. For the Mets (54-69), it was a rare spark of hope in an otherwise tough season.
The night began with Stock, who, at 36, has more of a unique story than a typical player profile. He’s a veteran who has pitched everywhere from independent leagues to Korea and Mexico. After signing a second contract with the Mets, he had to undergo surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome earlier in the spring. His deep knowledge of pitching brings a valuable perspective, especially now at the end of a challenging season.
This opportunity came after a rough outing in Pittsburgh, but Stock showed resilience on Friday night.
“It’s really impressive,” stated interim manager Andy Green, noting that Stock allowed just one earned run and struck out five over 4 1/3 innings. “If he gets in the zone, he’s going to have a lot of success.”
Though he struggled with walks, Stock also managed to control situations well enough to minimize damage. Washington scored in the third inning after Francisco Lindor couldn’t field a grounder cleanly, leading to a run off Brady House’s single.
Other pitchers stepped up, too. Nate Lavender came in with two outs in the fifth, escaping unscathed, while rookie Jonathan Pintaro earned his first major league win with two scoreless innings. Daniel Duarte and Senga also contributed, maintaining the score against the Nationals.
They all have the potential to be part of next year’s roster.
“All we want to do is go out there and play,” shared Pintaro, a former indie ball player. “Do your best to show the world that we deserve this chance and that we have a great opportunity to compete here and help our teammates get wins.”
The Mets’ offense surged in the sixth and seventh innings, highlighted by a home run from Lindor that offset a previous error, and an RBI hit from Carson Benge. Young later hit a memorable shot against former Yankee Jake Bird, with Bo Bichette also driving in a run.
Unless something unanticipated occurs, Lindor, Benge, and Bichette are likely to return with the Mets in 2027.
Young is continuing to prove he fits well within this promising group of players. As a first baseman, he has been consistently improving, boasting a slashing line of .319/.396/.495 over the past 30 games.
“He knows what he’s good at and he sticks to it,” Green remarked about Young, who transitioned from the KBO to becoming a part of the Mets’ core.
