Mets baseball fans had a scary week, and the 2026 season is nearly over. The New York Mets are 70-84, sit last in the NL East and cannot reach the playoffs. However, the biggest story is health: first baseman Jared Young will miss the rest of the year with a concussion after a frightening collision on September 17. This guide covers the injury update, standings, remaining schedule, key players and the offseason outlook, and we updated it on September 19, 2026.
The Mets entered 2026 with big expectations and one of the most expensive rosters in the sport. Instead, a 12-game losing streak in April, a mid-season managerial change and a trade-deadline sell-off defined the year. Even so, young players gave Mets baseball supporters real reasons for hope down the stretch.
Mets Baseball News: Jared Young Injury Update
What Happened in the Collision
The scare came in the sixth inning of a 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, September 17, at Citi Field. Justin Crawford hit a slow ground ball toward first base. Young reached for it with his right hand while trying to keep a foot on the bag, and pitcher Nolan McLean ran toward first. McLean’s knee then struck Young in the head as the two men collided.
Young lay motionless for several minutes, and medical staff carted him off the field. Players from both teams looked on from the field and the dugouts. According to ESPN’s game report, Young asked what had happened when he came to, and he flashed a thumbs-up before the cart left the field. The Mets also confirmed that he had feeling in his extremities.
The reaction showed how serious the moment looked. Catcher Francisco Alvarez appeared to be praying, and Phillies infielder Alec Bohm took a knee next to third base. The game eventually continued, and Philadelphia won 3-0, with Aaron Nola allowing three hits over seven innings.
Medical Update and Roster Moves
A CT scan at the hospital came back negative, and Young went home overnight. On Friday, interim manager Andy Green said the 31-year-old still had a headache and short-term memory loss. Even so, Green sounded very optimistic about a full recovery, and he said Young kept his sense of humor. The team placed Young on the 7-day concussion injured list, which effectively ends his season, as MLB.com reported.
An NYU Langone sports medicine doctor told MLB.com that a negative CT scan rules out bleeding, which is the most serious complication of a head injury. The same doctor said most patients recover within about two weeks. However, concussion recovery differs from person to person, so the Mets will follow their own medical protocol.
The Mets recalled infielder Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse to replace Young on the roster. Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and Christopher Morel will share time at first base. Meanwhile, McLean was visibly shaken after the play. Green admitted that he probably should not have left his pitcher in the game, according to CBS Sports.
Young was one of the pleasant surprises in an otherwise poor Mets baseball season. He is in his first full big-league year, and he hit .266 with nine home runs and 39 RBIs in 103 games. Yahoo Sports also noted that he earned a role on the 2027 team. You can read the AP report on Yahoo Sports for more details.
Mets Baseball Standings: Where the Mets Sit in the NL East
The Mets are 70-84 and sit fifth in the National League East. They are also officially eliminated from playoff contention. Here is the current division table:
| NL East team | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Braves | 90 | 64 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 85 | 69 |
| Miami Marlins | 76 | 78 |
| Washington Nationals | 72 | 82 |
| New York Mets | 70 | 84 |
The Mets trail the fourth-place Nationals by two games, so a strong finish could still lift them out of last place. They also end the year with a series in Washington, which turns the final weekend into a direct fight for fourth place. That small race gives Mets baseball fans something to follow after the playoff hopes faded.
The Braves have already clinched a playoff berth, and you can revisit their form in our Braves vs Cubs series recap. The Phillies are 85-69 and tied with the Cubs and Padres for the three National League wild cards. They lead Arizona by five games. As a result, the Mets play a spoiler role in this weekend’s series, and our report on the Astros edging the Phillies 6-5 shows how tight that race has become.
The Mets did play spoiler on Friday night. Juan Soto hit a three-run homer and finished with three hits in a 6-3 win. A.J. Ewing’s two-run single capped a three-run first inning, and rookie left-hander Zac Thornton pitched six innings for the win. The victory ended a five-game losing streak, which was the longest under Green, according to the ESPN game recap.
Mets Baseball by the Numbers: 2026 Season Snapshot
Numbers tell the story of this Mets baseball season better than any headline. The list below collects the key figures from the year.
- Record: 70-84, last in the NL East and eliminated from the postseason race.
- Worst stretch: a 12-game losing streak in April, followed by the worst April record in the majors.
- Record on July 4: 36-53, according to CBS Sports.
- Manager change: Carlos Mendoza was fired at 34-47 on June 26, and Andy Green is 35-34 since then through September 15.
- After the deadline: 22-15 through September 15, which ranks sixth in the majors.
- Stars together: Soto and Lindor shared the lineup for only 44 games, and the Mets went 21-23 in those games.
- Latest skid: five straight losses, snapped on September 18 with a 6-3 win over the Phillies.
- Games left: eight, with the finale on September 27.
Overall, these figures show a team that collapsed early and then played respectable baseball once the young players took over. That contrast is the main reason both Yahoo Sports and ESPN see silver linings in this Mets baseball season.
Mets Baseball Schedule: Final Eight Games of 2026
The Mets have eight regular-season games left. They finish the home schedule against the Phillies, then travel to Texas and Washington. The table shows each game in Eastern Time and Pakistan Standard Time.
| Date | Opponent | Eastern Time | Pakistan Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sept 19 | vs Phillies (Citi Field) | 4:10 PM | 1:10 AM (Sun) |
| Sun, Sept 20 | vs Phillies (Citi Field) | 1:10 PM | 10:10 PM |
| Tue, Sept 22 | at Texas Rangers | 8:05 PM | 5:05 AM (Wed) |
| Wed, Sept 23 | at Texas Rangers | 8:05 PM | 5:05 AM (Thu) |
| Thu, Sept 24 | at Texas Rangers | 2:35 PM | 11:35 PM |
| Fri, Sept 25 | at Washington Nationals | 6:45 PM | 3:45 AM (Sat) |
| Sat, Sept 26 | at Washington Nationals | 4:05 PM | 1:05 AM (Sun) |
| Sun, Sept 27 | at Washington Nationals (finale) | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
Each Mets baseball game now carries a different kind of weight. In Texas, the Mets face a Rangers team that is 77-77 and not yet eliminated. In Washington, they meet a Nationals team that is out of the race but sits just two games ahead of them in the standings.
Saturday’s game has extra meaning. The Mets will retire Hall of Famer Carlos Beltran’s No. 15 jersey before first pitch. Christian Scott (4-5, 3.76 ERA) then faces Phillies right-hander Andrew Painter (3-9, 5.54 ERA). Sunday’s finale of the series follows at 1:10 PM Eastern.
Before this series, the Mets lost 7-1 to the Orioles on September 16, when former Met Pete Alonso homered again. They then lost 3-0 to the Phillies on the night of the Young collision. For scores from around the league, browse our MLB scores roundup and the full MLB category.
How the 2026 Mets Season Went Wrong
Offseason Changes
President of baseball operations David Stearns reshaped the roster after the Mets missed the 2025 playoffs. The team did not re-sign Pete Alonso, and it traded Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil. Kyle Tucker chose the Dodgers, so the Mets pivoted to Bo Bichette and added Luis Robert Jr. They also acquired starter Freddy Peralta by trade. According to ESPN, the plan built the roster around Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor.
April Collapse
Things went wrong almost immediately. Soto hit the injured list with a calf strain on April 6, and the team then lost 12 games in a row. Lindor’s calf gave out on April 23, and the Mets finished April with the worst record in baseball. In addition, Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Robert and Marcus Semien hit a combined .218/.282/.308 through May 1, according to Yahoo Sports. May brought hope with a 16-12 record, but the lift did not last.
Mendoza Fired and Andy Green Steps In
The Mets lost six straight in late June, including four home games against the Cubs. Stearns then fired manager Carlos Mendoza on June 26 with the team at 34-47. Senior vice president of player development Andy Green took over as interim manager. He has a 35-34 record through September 15, and he will return to the front office after the season, as MLB Trade Rumors reported. You can also read the Carlos Mendoza page on Wikipedia for his full record.
Deadline Sell-Off and Late Rally
At the trade deadline, the Mets sold Peralta, Clay Holmes, Luke Weaver, Tyrone Taylor, Huascar Brazoban and AJ Minter. Surprisingly, the team then played well. The Mets went 22-15 from deadline day through September 15, which ranked sixth in the majors. Bichette, Carson Benge and Baty bounced back, while rookies gave the club fresh energy.
Injuries also hurt the top of the order. Lindor and Soto played only 44 games together this season. The Mets went 21-23 with both in the lineup and 48-59 without them, according to ESPN’s season review.
Key Players in Mets Baseball to Watch
Position Players
Juan Soto is a five-time All-Star, and he powered the Friday win with a three-run homer. Francisco Lindor sits at 299 career home runs, so the milestone 300th could arrive before the season ends. Meanwhile, Bo Bichette should be the third baseman next year unless he opts out of the $84 million left on his deal.
The rookies deserve attention too. Carson Benge reached base three times on Friday, and A.J. Ewing began the year in Double-A before becoming a regular. Along with Soto, that pair gives the Mets a set outfield for 2027. Brett Baty has also bounced back and now shares time at first base.
Mets Baseball Pitchers to Watch
Nolan McLean has become the ace of the staff. He has 189 strikeouts, which is the sixth-highest total in the National League, and he has made 18 quality starts, as Yahoo Sports noted. McLean is in the NL Rookie of the Year race. Reds first baseman Sal Stewart is the betting favorite, but ESPN expects McLean to finish in the top three. For more on that team, see our Reds vs Padres report.
Lefty Zac Thornton (5-5) and right-hander Christian Scott have earned rotation spots for next season. Kodai Senga has also turned into a strong late-inning reliever, and Nate Lavender owns a 1.76 ERA. Because of this depth, Mets baseball fans can see the outline of a competitive staff.
What to Watch in the Final Week of Mets Baseball
The playoff race is over for New York, yet several storylines remain. Here is what fans should follow over the last eight games.
- Lindor’s 300th homer: the shortstop needs one more to reach 300, and the Mets have eight games left.
- Beltran’s jersey retirement: the No. 15 ceremony on Saturday is a major moment for the franchise.
- McLean’s remaining starts: every outing adds to his Rookie of the Year case.
- Young’s recovery: the team should share updates as he moves through the concussion protocol.
- Rookie development: Benge, Ewing and Thornton can strengthen their 2027 roles.
- Spoiler games: two more meetings with the Phillies could affect the National League wild-card race.
Green also has a chance to finish his interim term on a high note. A strong last week would give the Mets baseball fan base something positive to carry into the winter.
Mets Baseball Offseason Outlook
The first job is hiring a manager, because Green does not want the role long term. Yahoo Sports listed Rocco Baldelli, David Ross and Carlos Beltran as possible candidates. Stearns hired a first-time manager in Mendoza, so it will be interesting to see whether he repeats that approach.
Money is not the issue for owner Steve Cohen, but roster space is. Semien, Polanco and starter Sean Manaea will each earn more than $20 million next season, and the trio combined for negative 1.2 bWAR this year. Therefore, the front office must decide whether to keep them or move on.
Free agency offers a route to improvement. Tarik Skubal tops most rankings, and Peralta is viewed as the second-best starter on the market. Michael King of the Padres also fits. At second base, Luis Arraez, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Brandon Lowe and Gleyber Torres are the established options. As a result, the Mets baseball offseason will be one of the most closely watched in the league.
Culture matters as well. Yahoo Sports argued that the front office overlooked the value of clubhouse continuity when it reshaped the roster and coaching staff. That view does not call for standing still, but it suggests keeping a few familiar leaders. Therefore, the next manager and the next round of signings must fit the young core that emerged this season.
Mets Team Facts and History
- Founded: 1962, and the club plays in the National League East.
- Home ballpark: Citi Field in Flushing, Queens, which opened in 2009.
- Owner: Steve Cohen, with David Stearns as president of baseball operations.
- Manager: Andy Green (interim), who replaced Carlos Mendoza on June 26, 2026.
- World Series titles: Two, in 1969 and 1986.
- National League pennants: 1969, 1973, 1986, 2000 and 2015.
- Recent seasons: 89-73 and an NLCS run in 2024, then 83-79 and no playoffs in 2025.
The Mets and Phillies have played 1,106 times since their first meeting on April 27, 1962. The Phillies lead the all-time series 567-539, according to Wikipedia. However, the Mets won the most recent playoff meeting, a 2024 NL Division Series victory by three games to one.
Mets Baseball FAQs
Are the Mets in the playoffs in 2026?
No. The Mets are 70-84 and last in the NL East, and they are eliminated from playoff contention.
What happened to Jared Young?
Young suffered a concussion on September 17 when Nolan McLean’s knee struck his head during a play at first base. A CT scan was negative, and he left the hospital overnight.
Is Jared Young out for the season?
Yes. The Mets placed him on the 7-day concussion injured list, which effectively ends his 2026 season.
Who is the Mets manager?
Andy Green is the interim manager. He replaced Carlos Mendoza on June 26, 2026, and he will return to the front office after the season.
Who plays first base while Young is out?
Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and Christopher Morel will play first base, and infielder Ronny Mauricio joined the roster.
When is the Mets last game of 2026?
The Mets play their final regular-season game on Sunday, September 27.
Who is the best pitcher on the Mets?
Nolan McLean leads the staff, with 189 strikeouts and 18 quality starts, and he is in the NL Rookie of the Year race.
How many World Series titles have the Mets won?
The Mets have won two World Series titles, in 1969 and 1986.
Where do the Mets play home games?
The Mets play at Citi Field in Flushing, Queens, New York.
How is Jared Young doing after the collision?
Young is recovering at home with a headache and short-term memory loss, and the Mets are optimistic about a full recovery.
Who won the Mets vs Phillies game on September 18?
The Mets won 6-3 behind a three-run homer from Juan Soto, and the win ended a five-game losing streak.
Where can I find Mets baseball news and standings?
This page covers Mets baseball news, standings and schedule in one place, and we update it as new information arrives.
Final Word on Mets Baseball in 2026
Mets baseball ends a difficult year with more questions than answers, but the young core offers hope. Jared Young’s recovery is the top concern, while Nolan McLean, Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing point toward a brighter 2027. Bookmark this page, because we update our Mets baseball coverage after every game and every major roster move.
Related reading on sportsjalwa:
- Latest MLB news and reports
- Braves vs Cubs: full series recap
- Aaron Judge returns as Yankees beat Rockies
- MLB scores roundup
Sources: ESPN, MLB.com, CBS Sports, Yahoo Sports, MLB Trade Rumors and Wikipedia. Standings and schedules can change, so always confirm with MLB.com.
