3/27/26

A new look Mets lineup showed every bit of versatility on Opening Day 2026.

Over the offseason, the Mets' offense had a near-complete lineup turnover, and the moves in the offseason have already paid dividends in an 11-7 win over Paul Skenes and the Pirates. 

Lindor got things going with a leadoff walk, and Juan Soto followed with a single. Bo Bichette then drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. The following at-bat, Jorge Polanco recorded his first hit in a Met uniform, and in Luis Robert Jr.'s first at-bat, he drew a walk and set Brett Baty up for a bases-loaded situation. Baty made the most of the situation and hit a bases-clearing triple.

“(The Pirates) got on us early, and to turn around and be able to respond in the bottom of the first was huge,” said Brett Baty.

Semien added one more run with a double, Paul Skenes was pulled after 37 pitches, and the Mets finished the first inning with five runs.

In the fourth, Lindor and Soto drew walks to start the inning, which eventually gave way for Luis Robert Jr. to bring Lindor home on a single to left.

Later, the Mets poured even more runs on, putting three more on the board in the fifth. Soto brought in the first with a single that scored Carson Benge, Jorge Polanco walked to bring in Francisco Alvarez, and Robert Jr. hit a single to score Lindor. 

“The fifth inning was as good as the first (inning),” said Manager Carlos Mendoza. “Where we are controlling the strikezone, creating traffic, putting the ball in play on two strikes, and we are going the other way when we need to.”

Another inning came, and the Mets' offense dominated once again; this time, the Mets added power to the outburst. Francisco Alvarez hit a solo shot, and Carson Benge knocked his first big league hit out of the ballpark, and the Mets were soaring to an 11-5 lead.

“I kind of blacked out running around the bases,” said Carson Benge. “I know I got it good off the bat.”

Game one of 162 has already shown what the Mets' lineup could look like over the next several months.

“It’s just one game, but there’s a lot to like,” said Manager Carlos Mendoza.