5 Positive Mets Trends That Are Encouraging for 2027
Here are a few of the good things fans have seen in Queens lately, and what they mean for the Mets moving forward.
At long last, the New York Mets have finally started to play good baseball in 2026. It only took four months, a managerial change, and a complete roster overhaul at the trade deadline to reach this point. Alas, here we are.
New York is 11-4 since the trade deadline, largely due to their resurgent offense and rag-tag bullpen getting the job done. This roster is filled with hungry players, both young and old, who are looking to prove their worth to the organization to be taken into consideration for roster spots next season.
Baring a historic miracle, the Mets’ season will end in September, and the organization will immediately shift focus to 2027.
This recent surge has breathed life back into the team and fanbase, and it has become clear the Mets are not far off from being competitive again. The roster is oozing with intriguing talent, and if the right buttons are pushed in the winter, they could return to contention.
Until then, here are five positive trends that we’ve seen in Queens lately and what they mean for the Mets moving forward.
Stats updated prior to games on August 21.
1. Francisco Lindor’s Return To Form
Before Lindor landed on the injured list with a calf strain at the end of April, he was abysmal, off to one of his now patented slow starts at the plate.
Since his return in late June, he’s posted a .246/.338/.464 triple slash and popped 10 homers. Those numbers certainly don’t jump off the page, but they represent the rock-solid type of production the Mets have come to expect from Lindor.
One of Lindor’s main issues before getting hurt in April was a lack of mental sharpness during games, something very unusual for him. He made more errors than anybody is accustomed to, and during a game in St. Louis, he had a lapse where he forgot how many outs there were while playing the field.
The mental lapses he displayed in April appear to be long gone now, and he seems to be his usual locked-in self on both sides of the ball.
It’s mind-blowing to think that some said it would be wise to trade the best shortstop of this generation at the deadline for whatever fabricated reasons they believed in. Lindor is here to stay with the Mets – David Stearns has assured that – and it’s great to see him back healthy doing what he does best.
2. Carson Benge Playing Like A Star
Benge has not just looked like a promising up-and-coming rookie. He looks like a bona fide five-tool future star.
After a rough first month in the majors, he has slashed .293/.352/.446 since, all while playing elite defense in the outfield. He has 4 DRS and a +5 FRV, and his true strong suit on defense is his arm.
This week, Benge threw out not one, but two runners at the plate in the same inning. The second throw was clocked at 103.9 mph, the hardest recorded throw by a position player in baseball this season.
He has 14 home runs and 18 steals in the middle of August as he looks to become the first rookie in Mets history to record a 20/20 season.
Benge looks as complete a rookie as the Mets have ever had. The best part is, he is still just that. He is still only a rookie. As Benge continues to develop and grow into his role further, he is going to be a cornerstone to build around in New York.
3. Jared Young Could Hold Down First Base
After his strong 2024 season overseas in Korea, the Mets took a flyer on Young, and while he spent most of 2025 in Triple-A, he has excelled in his opportunity to play this year.
His 120 wRC+ ranks second on the team only behind Juan Soto, and he’s launched a career-high eight home runs.
All eight of those homers have come versus right-handed pitching to go with his .277/.343/.476 slash against right-handers in 2026. His ability to hit that side should open the door for the Mets to look to bring in a right-handed hitting first baseman to platoon with him next year.
Young has certainly proved his worth this year and guaranteed himself a roster spot moving forward. Mark Vientos will likely be non-tendered in the offseason, and Jorge Polanco projects to DH, leaving Young and a potential platoon partner to man first base in 2027.
4. Kodai Senga Finding the Closer’s Role
Senga posted a 9.66 ERA in eight starts this season before being demoted to the bullpen. His struggles initially continued out of the bullpen as he looked poised to be discarded at the first chance New York got.
That was until closer Devin Williams landed on the injured list and Senga was given the chance to close out games for the first time in his career. He has excelled in the role so far, going 4-for-4 in save opportunities and surrendering just one run across his last six bullpen appearances.
Senga’s pitch mix works well in a leverage role, but the Mets couldn’t move him into said role until they dealt away multiple back-end arms at the deadline. His “ghost” forkball has looked as sharp as it once did when Senga was putting together a strong rookie campaign in 2023.
Now, Senga has rediscovered his confidence in this new role, and the $15 million he is owed next season could turn out to be a bargain if he can continue to be successful as a high-leverage reliever.
5. New Face Thriving in Leverage Roles
New York dealt four relievers at the trade deadline, which opened the door of opportunity for those who previously may not have gotten any. The aforementioned Senga lumps into the group, but lesser-known names such as Daniel Duarte, Nate Lavender and Jefry Yan have shined.
This group is not full of top prospects or big names, but they are all players who grinded in the minor leagues for years to get to where they are now.
Duarte has been the most impressive of the bunch, posting a minuscule 0.84 ERA in 21 1/3 innings this season while locking down two saves so far. The best part is that he is under team control for multiple years and has an opportunity to stick around in the future.
The two southpaws, Lavender and Yan, have combined to just allow one earned run thus far. While the two throw from the same side, they have vastly different game plans for attacking hitters.
What Yan lacks in control, he makes up for in velocity, reaching 101 mph on the radar gun in his major league debut. He has also been contributing his signature strikeout celebrations, which are always must-see TV.
Lavender does not have the same electric velocity as Yan, but he makes up for it in stuff. His wacky arm angle from the left side makes his high-spin sweeper tough for hitters.
These three are running with the opportunity that they have been granted due to the Mets’ lost season. They have made the most of it to this point and could all be pieces to build around in the future.
Become a Member of Just Baseball
Subscribe and upgrade to go ad-free!
* Save 25% by subscribing annually.
Written by
Joe Browne is an aspiring sports journalist and is currently a freshman at St. John's University. Joe is a lifelong Mets fan who is also passionate…