Mets Series Preview: Mets head west for four-game series with Dodgers

Fresh off a 7-2 homestand, the Mets (37-22) embark on a seven-game road trip that kicks off with four in Los Angeles against the Dodgers (36-23). It’ll be the first time the Mets return to the scene of the end of their improbable 2024 run. The two teams squared off on Memorial Day weekend, with the Mets taking two of three at Citi Field. Last year, the Mets won two of three regular season games at Dodger Stadium but dropped two of three there in the NLCS.

The Mets just completed a sweep of the lowly Rockies to cap off their nine-game homestand. The series kicked off with a 4-2 win on Friday night. Francisco Lindor led off the game with a solo home run, the fifth time this year he has led off a game with a home run. He added a solo shot in the eighth for good measure. Starling Marte contributed a solo home run as well, and Juan Soto added a run-scoring double in the game, which was more than enough for David Peterson.

The Mets again hit three homers on Saturday in an 8-2 victory. The Mets fell behind early when Ezequiel Tovar homered, but Kodai Senga retired the next 17 hitters he faced. In the bottom of the first, Brett Baty cleared the bases with a double and Tyrone Taylor drove him in with a single, and that four-run frame would prove to be enough for Senga and the bullpen. Later in the game, Brandon Nimmo hit a two-run home run and Soto homered on the next pitch of the game. Jeff McNeil would also add a solo dinger for the eighth run.

The Mets took out the brooms in a 5-3 win on Sunday to cap off the successful homestand. With the wind blowing out, the pitchers had to deal with the long ball, and Clay Holmes was bit for two dingers, but that’s really his only two faults in what was his longest career start. The righty went seven innings and allowed three runs on three hits with three strikeouts and no walks. On offense, the Mets got a three-run homer from Alonso, as well as solo shots from Lindor and Soto, while Reed Garrett and Edwin Díaz combined for two scoreless innings of relief to secure the victory.

With the calendar turning to a new month, the Mets will have some decisions to make soon with their roster. Ronny Mauricio is looming in Triple-A, which will give the club some choices on how they deploy some of their young players. Brett Baty has made the decision especially tough with his recent surge. Since May 1, he leads the club with a 140 wRC+ to go along with a .273/.314/.545 slash line. In that time, he’s hit five homers, scored 10 runs, driven in 16, and has a 0.7 fWAR in 22 games. Mark Vientos, on the other hand, has struggled, posting a .259/.307/.350 slash line with a 93 wRC+ in 24 May games. The likeliest person to swap out, however, would be April’s Rookie of the Month, Luisangel Acuña, who hit a meager .193/.242/.211 with a 31 wRC+ in 23 games.

Looking at some other numbers, Soto, aided by back-to-back games with a home run, is slashing .224/.358/.480 with a 134 wRC+ in 27 games since May 1. His seven homers and 17 runs scored both lead the club in that span. Marte, whose roster spot is also in jeopardy, has rebounded nicely since May 1, hitting .286/.400/.381 with a 132 wRC+ in 18 games. Lindor has hit .254/.336/.482 with seven homers and a 127 wRC+ in 28 games since June 1, while Alonso, who had a torrid start to the year, has cooled down with a .234/.281/.432 slash line, five homers, and a 96 wRC+ in 28 games since the start of May.

The Dodgers enter this series after taking two of three against the Yankees at home. The most impressive victory came on Saturday, when they put up 18 runs on the Bronx Bombers. Prior to that, they took two of three from the Guardians. Despite yesterday’s defeat, Los Angeles finds themselves in first in the NL West, two games up on the Padres and three games clear of the Giants.

Monday, June 2: Paul Blackburn vs. Dustin May, 10:10 PM EDT on SNY

Blackburn (2024): 75.1 IP, 59 K, 21 BB, 12 HR, 4.66 ERA, 4.63 FIP, 119 ERA-

Blackburn will come off the injured list to make his season debut on Monday. The Mets acquired Blackburn from the Athletics at the deadline last year, and he made five starts before exiting a game after being struck by a liner. He missed the rest of the 2024 season after a spinal leak was discovered. He came into 2025 relatively healthy, but right knee inflammation sidelined him until this point. In five starts for the Mets last year, Blackburn posted a 5.18 ERA, a 4.69 FIP, and a 1.56 WHIP in 24 ¹⁄₃ innings.

May (2025): 55.2 IP, 58 K, 20 BB, 7 HR, 4.20 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 105 ERA-

May has had his good moments and bad moments in his first season back from Tommy John surgery, which is to be expected. He is in the middle of one of his better stretches right now, as he’s picked up wins in back-to-back starts against the Diamondbacks (six innings, one earned run, five hits, eight strikeouts, one walk) and the Guardians (five innings, three earned runs, four hits, nine strikeouts, two walks). That came after three straight losses.

Tuesday, June 3: Tylor Megill vs. Clayton Kershaw, 10:10 PM EDT on SNY and TBS

Megill (2025): 53.2 IP, 72 K, 27 BB, 4 HR, 3.52 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 90 ERA-

Megill had a really rough month of May but ended it on a high note in his last start. Against the White Sox, he allowed two earned runs on four hits over 5 ²⁄₃ innings. He did walk four, which is not ideal, and struck out six. Overall in May, he pitched to a 5.96 ERA, a 4.14 FIP, and a 1.68 WHIP in 22 ²⁄₃ innings. He struck out 31.1% of batters and walked 14.2% of batters he faced in the month. With Blackburn returning, and with Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas set to begin rehab assignments in the coming weeks, Megill’s time in the rotation could be in jeopardy, so each start is critical.

Kershaw (2025): 11.0 IP, 6 K, 6 BB, 1 HR, 4.91 ERA, 4.81 FIP, 123 ERA-

There are not a lot of sure things in this world, but Kershaw pitching for the Dodgers is one of them. The left-hander is now in his 18th season for L.A. Kershaw briefly faced the Mets back on May 23, but a rain delay forced him out after two hitless innings. He then took on the Guardians and hurled five innings of one-run ball, as he allowed six hits, struck out three, and walked two.

Wednesday, June 4: Griffin Canning vs. Tony Gonsolin, 10:10 PM EDT on SNY

Canning (2025): 53.0 IP, 50 K, 25 BB, 6 HR, 3.23 ERA, 4.09 FIP, 82 ERA-

Canning endured probably his worst start as a Met to date his last time out, as he only lasted three innings against the White Sox. He allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits over three innings. It’s his second straight start in which he didn’t make it into the fourth, those his previous start was due to a rain delay. Still, in each of his last two starts, he has walked four batters and allowed three earned runs. It’ll be interesting to see how he bounces back from his recent rough stretch, because like Megill, he could find himself out of the rotation with Manaea and Montas set to return in the coming weeks.

Gonsolin (2025): 31.0 IP, 32 K, 15 BB, 8 HR, 5.23 ERA, 6.02 FIP, 131 ERA-

Gonsolin is in the middle of a tough three-start stretch in which he’s allowed at least four earned runs in each of those outings. His last time out, he allowed five earned runs on six hits over six innings, but it was good enough to beat the Yankees. Prior to that, he was tagged for four earned runs on seven hits over five innings to the Mets, which remains the lone loss on his record this season.

Thursday, June 5: David Peterson vs. TBD, 4:10 PM EDT on SNY

Peterson (2025): 63.2 IP, 59 K, 23 BB, 4 HR, 2.69 ERA, 3.32 FIP, 68 ERA-

Peterson is coming another strong start as he allowed one earned run on five hits over 5 ²⁄₃ innings against Colorado. Peterson has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his 11 starts this year and currently finds himself in the top 5 in the NL in ERA among qualified starters. He enjoyed his best start of the year against this same Dodgers team, as he went 7 ²⁄₃ innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts back on May 24.

TBD

The Dodgers have not announced a starting pitcher for Thursday’s series finale.