The New York Mets (61-76) continue their difficult stretch against first-place opponents when they travel to Tampa for a three-game series against the American League East-leading Tampa Bay Rays (82-54).
The teams last met in June 2025, when Tampa Bay swept the Mets at Citi Field. The Rays also swept the 2024 series in May 2024 at Tropicana Field, before the Mets used the power of Grimace and OMG to fuel their unforgettable comeback and postseason run.
Mets struggle against Astros despite Juan Soto’s return
For the third consecutive series, the Mets faced a first-place team. After losing two of three to the AL Central-leading White Sox in Chicago and two of three to the NL Central-leading Brewers, New York could not overcome the AL West-leading Astros despite Houston’s middling record.
The Mets bookended the series with losses, falling 3-1 on Friday night and 6-3 on Sunday afternoon. They won 6-2 on Saturday behind Nolan McLean’s outstanding performance and a terrific offensive showing from Jared Young, who drove in three runs and collected three of the team’s hits.
Overall, the Mets struggled with runners in scoring position. They went 0-for-11 in their two losses and 4-for-12 in their victory, finishing the series 4-for-23 in those situations against Houston. New York left 16 runners on base across the three games.
The Mets did receive an offensive boost from the unexpected return of Juan Soto, who did not require a rehabilitation assignment after missing 31 games with a Grade 2 strain in his left calf. Soto delivered the go-ahead hit in Saturday’s victory after fouling a ball off his injured calf. On Sunday, he followed Francisco Lindor’s leadoff home run with a first-inning homer of his own. Soto finished the series 2-for-7 with a walk and two RBIs.
Although the Mets’ position in the standings makes the result largely academic, watching the team with Soto in the lineup is preferable to the alternative.
Francisco Lindor climbs Mets’ home run list
For those tracking Mets history and the franchise’s home run rankings, Lindor’s Sunday home run was the 155th of his career with New York. That moved him past Dave Kingman for sixth place on the team’s all-time list. Lindor had tied Kingman with his home run in Tuesday’s win over the Brewers.
Howard Johnson is next on the list, with 192 home runs as a Met. Assuming Lindor remains in New York, as appears extremely likely, it is difficult to envision him passing Johnson next season unless he finishes this year especially strongly and enjoys a healthy, power-filled 2027 campaign. That projection also assumes a full season unaffected by a potential lockout.
More likely, if Lindor plays out his contract in New York, he will move into the top five sometime during the 2028 season. With five years remaining on his contract, Lindor could also eventually pass Johnson and Mike Piazza’s 220 home runs, although health and other circumstances will play a role.
Rays enter series on four-game winning streak
Tampa Bay enters the series after sweeping the Padres at Tropicana Field, extending its winning streak to four games. The victory increased the Rays’ lead over the Yankees to 4.5 games as Tampa Bay tries to hold off New York, which has recently begun to make a push in the standings.
The Rays are tied with the Braves and Dodgers for the second-most wins in baseball, trailing only the Brewers. Tampa Bay and Milwaukee are the only two teams with winning percentages above .600 this season, thanks in part to the Rays’ 54 losses compared with 55 each for Atlanta and Los Angeles.
Tampa Bay is led primarily by its offense, which ranks first in the American League with a .733 OPS and a 105 wRC+. The Rays do not hit many home runs—their 142 rank 10th among AL teams—and their 616 runs are sixth in the league. They do, however, avoid strikeouts, posting an 18.6% strikeout rate that leads the AL.
The Rays’ starting rotation has a 3.57 ERA, third in the American League, and a 3.78 FIP, fourth among AL teams. Their bullpen is the roster’s main weakness, with a 4.06 ERA entering Monday that ranks eighth in the league.
Junior Caminero leads Tampa Bay’s offense
The Mets just faced Yordan Alvarez, who is expected to run away with the AL MVP award. Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero should not be far behind in the voting and is close to Alvarez in two of the three Triple Crown categories.
Caminero enters the series with 37 home runs and 87 RBIs, ranking second and third in the AL, respectively. He is batting .282/.369/.539 with a 149 wRC+ and 4.3 fWAR in 136 games and has been, by far, the Rays’ best hitter this season.
His teammate Chandler Simpson is also chasing Alvarez for the AL batting title. Simpson ranks second with a .309 average in 128 games and is hitting .309/.338/.363. He has not hit a home run, but his speed has made him an impact player. His 37 stolen bases lead the American League.
Yandy Díaz is third in the AL with a .303 batting average and is hitting .303/.371/.465 with 20 home runs and a 134 wRC+ in 131 games. Former Mets player Cedric Mullins is also with Tampa Bay this season and is batting .206/.297/.355 with 14 home runs, 18 stolen bases and an 80 wRC+ in 119 games.
Mets-Rays pitching matchups
Monday, August 31: Robert Stock vs. Ian Seymour, 6:40 p.m. EDT on SNY
Stock (2026): 20.2 IP, 21 K, 13 BB, 2 HR, 7.40 ERA, 4.63 FIP, 182 ERA-
Stock was hit hard in his last start, but even with Johan Tong nearing a seven-inning no-hitter in the minors, he retained his rotation spot for another turn. The Brewers scored early and often, tagging the right-hander for seven earned runs on a season-high 10 hits over four innings. Stock struck out two, walked two and allowed one home run in the loss. His days in the rotation appear numbered unless he can rebound quickly in Monday night’s start.
Seymour (2026): 107.0 IP, 128 K, 32 BB, 19 HR, 4.21 ERA, 4.01 FIP, 100 ERA-
Seymour will make his 12th start of the season alongside 30 relief appearances. The left-hander last entered in the eighth inning and finished Tampa Bay’s game against the Tigers, taking the loss after allowing four runs—three earned—on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. He did not walk a batter, struck out five and surrendered one home run, taking his fifth loss of the season.
Tuesday, September 1: Sean Manaea vs. Freddy Peralta, 6:40 p.m. EDT on SNY
Manaea (2026): 122.2 IP, 120 K, 40 BB, 20 HR, 4.55 ERA, 4.57 FIP, 112 ERA-
Manaea had been excellent in his previous two starts until struggling the third time through the opposing lineup. He was hit hard in his latest outing against the Brewers, allowing six earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk over 5 2/3 innings.
He did well to reach the sixth inning given the early damage, helping preserve the bullpen. Still, it was his first failure to complete six innings since July 18, ending a streak of six consecutive starts. Manaea has been a recent bright spot after a difficult start to the year and will look to finish the season strongly while building momentum before the final year of his contract in 2027.
Peralta (2026): 141.0 IP, 133 K, 54 BB, 22 HR, 5.11 ERA, 4.52 FIP, 125 ERA-
Peralta has actually struggled more since leaving the Mets, adding to the frustration of his 2026 season. The former Met has made five starts since being traded to Tampa Bay, posting a 5.60 ERA and a 4.88 FIP over 27 1/3 innings.
He is coming off his best start with the Rays, throwing six shutout innings against the Tigers to earn his sixth win of the season and his first with Tampa Bay. Peralta scattered two hits, struck out four and did not issue a walk. In his previous start, he worked seven innings against the Orioles but allowed five earned runs on seven hits and took the loss.
Wednesday, September 2: Christian Scott vs. Shane McClanahan, 6:40 p.m. EDT on SNY
Scott (2026): 94.2 IP, 113 K, 44 BB, 10 HR, 3.80 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 93 ERA-
Scott delivered a solid performance through five innings against the Astros before running into trouble in the sixth and taking the loss. He allowed one hit, walked two and did not give up a run through the first five innings. After recording the first out in the sixth, he issued three consecutive walks, ending his night.
Nate Lavender relieved Scott and allowed all three inherited runners to score, damaging the right-hander’s final line. Scott finished with five walks and has now issued nine free passes over nine innings in his last two starts. He endured a difficult August, finishing the month with a 6.04 ERA and a 4.54 FIP over 25 1/3 innings.
McClanahan (2026): 113.0 IP, 103 K, 38 BB, 9 HR, 3.19 ERA, 3.41 FIP, 76 ERA-
McClanahan has taken a long road back after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2023 and missing all of 2024. He then missed the entire 2025 season because of significant nerve irritation that prevented him from pitching.
The left-hander enters the series with a 3.19 ERA and a 3.41 FIP, both well within his career norms. His ERA ranks ninth among AL starting pitchers with at least 110 innings. McClanahan earned a win in his last start against the Padres after allowing four runs—three earned—on three hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Source: www.amazinavenue.com
