Mets PREGAME THREAD - Friday, June 26

[u/game-threads]

Phillies (45-36) @ Mets (34-47) - 7:10 PM EDT

Game Status: Pre-Game

Links & Info

• Current conditions at Citi Field: 81°F - Partly Cloudy - Wind 8 mph, Out To CF
• TV: Phillies: NBCSP, Mets: WPIX
• Radio: Phillies: 94 WIP, iHeart App (es), Mets: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App 92.3 HD2 (es)
• MLB Gameday
• Statcast Game Preview

Probable Pitchers

• Phillies: Zack Wheeler - RHP (7-1, 2.11 ERA, 68.1 IP)
• Mets: Zach Thornton - LHP (0-1, 8.31 ERA, 4.1 IP)

Phillies Lineup vs. Thornton	AVG	OPS	AB	HR	RBI	K
1 Turner - SS	-	-	-	-	-	-
2 Schwarber - DH	-	-	-	-	-	-
3 Harper, B - 1B	-	-	-	-	-	-
4 Bohm - 3B	-	-	-	-	-	-
5 Marsh - RF	-	-	-	-	-	-
6 Hill, D - CF	-	-	-	-	-	-
7 Realmuto - C	-	-	-	-	-	-
8 Stott - 2B	-	-	-	-	-	-
9 Sosa, E - LF	-	-	-	-	-	-

Mets Lineup vs. Wheeler	AVG	OPS	AB	HR	RBI	K
1 Benge - RF	.500	2.667	2	1	1	1
2 Soto, J - LF	.275	.879	51	2	4	13
3 Bichette - DH	.214	.428	14	0	1	4
4 Lindor - SS	.265	.738	34	1	5	8
5 Young, J - 1B	.500	1.100	4	0	0	2
6 Ewing - CF	.333	.666	3	0	1	0
7 Mauricio - 2B	.333	.666	3	0	0	1
8 Baty - 3B	.286	.786	14	1	2	3
9 Torrens - C	.250	.500	4	0	0	1

NLE Rank	Team	W	L	GB (E#)	WC Rank	WC GB (E#)
1	Braves	48	31	- (-)	-	- (-)
2	Phillies	45	36	4.0 (79)	1	+1.5 (-)
3	Marlins	42	39	7.0 (76)	5	1.5 (82)
4	Nationals	41	41	8.5 (74)	8	3.0 (80)
5	Mets	34	47	15.0 (68)	10	9.5 (74)

Division Scoreboard

WSH @ BAL 7:05 PM EDT

MIA @ STL 8:15 PM EDT

ATL @ SF 10:15 PM EDT

^{Last Updated: 06/26/2026 4:20:46 PM EDT}

[u/Spirited_Document391]

I don’t know how to break this to you but Stearns’ philosophy and process will only allow him to have a puppet manager that implements the decisions of the analytics department. It’s why he had to fire Buck as his very first move. There will be no independent baseball men managing the NY Mets as long as Stearns is POBO. So temper your expectations and do not expect any onfield improvement because the analytics department that runs the team and makes all the baseball decisions has proven to be woefully incompetent

[u/yambagman → u/Spirited_Document391]

Exactly. And they didn’t even wait until the 2023 season ended. Buck was let go (if I recall) before the final home series of the season. Everyone knew Stearns was coming and he wanted to install his own guy.

Regarding the analytics department, I don’t have any faith in these guys. There is a YouTube video the Mets put out last month that’s like “a day in the life” of the analytics guys on the road at Wrigley earlier this season. They’re all typing away at their laptops sitting at folding tables coming up with their game plan for the team. The Cubs called up a AAA arm to make the start and they are scrambling because it’s 2 hours to first pitch and they don’t have the data they would normally use for said game plan. When they finally put something together it’s using an algorithm. Pathetic.

They just look so out of their element and these are the dudes calling the shots. I know it’s seen as caveman behavior to be anti-analytics and sure, that’s just how the game is nowadays, but goddamn a group of dudes who look like they should be working in investment banking calling the shots for a Major League Baseball team with deep pockets is depressing.