After the New York Mets signed Juan Soto to a 15-year, $765 million contract in the 2024 offseason, the goal for 2025 was singular: win the World Series. Instead, they missed the playoffs entirely.
After a devastating losing record in the second half, the Mets fell from the thick of the playoff race to completely out of it. Heading into 2026, just because they missed the playoffs does not mean their expectations for the new year are any different: With Soto in his prime and Francisco Lindor on this roster, Mets ownership wants every opportunity to go all in.
The Mets in 2026 will be featuring a much different but just as intimidating lineup: Pete Alonso may be gone, but Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco and Marcus Simeon will fill the void in the middle of the order. Freddie Peralta, after a career year, was acquired to be the ace of this staff that was missing in the Mets’ 2025 run.
Check out the 2026 New York Mets TV schedule right here to make sure you catch their quest to bring the World Series to Citi Field.
New York Mets Team Info
Founding Season: 1962
Division: National League East
Home Ballpark:Citi Field
World Series Titles: 2 (1969, 1986)
2025 Finish: Missed playoffs
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How Did the Mets Do in 2025?
The Mets fell short of expectations. With one of the highest payrolls in baseball, those expectations are to at least compete for the pennant. Instead, the Mets failed to make the playoffs at all after a disappointing second half that saw their grip on the race completely release. But for much of the season, they were getting career play out of Juan Soto and Pete Alonso in the middle of the lineup.
Soto hit a career high 43 home runs to go along with a league-leading 38 stolen bases and more walks than anyone in baseball, which contributed to his .396 on-base percentage. This helped him finish third in the NL MVP voting. Yet another elite season at the plate.
Pete Alonso, in what was quietly understood as his last season with New York, led the National League in doubles with 41, batted in 126 runs and hit 30-plus home runs for the fifth straight season. Alonso also set a career high in batting average and slugging percentage to make his fourth straight All-Star team and earn a Silver Slugger award. He will be a major loss in the middle of this lineup.
Francisco Lindor led Major League Baseball in plate appearances, delivering 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases. Lindor posted one of his career best seasons, tying his career high in stolen bases and finishing in the top 10 in MVP voting for the fourth straight season. It was also his first All-Star appearance since 2019.
Brandon Nimmo belted 25 home runs and batted in 92 runs, both of which were career highs for him. But he is off to Texas in exchange for Marcus Simeon.
New York’s Rotation Struggles
New York’s rotation was a much shakier story. David Peterson, after being named an All-Star through the first half of this season, gave up 18 runs in his final four starts and his ERA started to climb as soon as August.
Kodai Senga had a solid season at 7-6 with a 3.02 ERA but was limited to just 22 games.
Clay Holmes had an impressive year in his first season as a starter, going 12-8 with a 3.53 ERA, but struggled to generate the swing-and-miss arsenal, giving up 3.6 walks per nine innings.
In the bullpen, their star was once again Edwin Diaz, who converted 28 saves on top of a 6-3 record with a 1.63 ERA. Diaz was named an All-Star and produced one of his best seasons by WHIP across his impressive career. He, too, will be a void that the Mets will be looking to fill in 2026.
New York Mets 2026 TV Schedule
The Mets open up their season with a three-game stint against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Mets host the Pirates on Opening Day at 1:15 p.m. on NBC and Peacock. Freddie Peralta will get the ball from New York and Paul Skenes will draw the start for the Pirates.
After that three-game stint, New York’s biggest matchup comes in mid-April in LA against the Dodgers from April 13 to April 15.
One of New York’s biggest stretches is from mid-June to early July, where they face the Braves seven times and the Phillies six times. These will be their chief division rivals, with all three teams feeling like they underperformed a year ago.
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
| Thu, 3/26 | vs Pittsburgh Pirates | 1:15 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Sat, 3/28 | vs Pittsburgh Pirates | 4:10 p.m. | |
| Sun, 3/29 | vs Pittsburgh Pirates | 1:40 p.m. | |
| Mon, 3/30 | @ St. Louis Cardinals | 7:45 p.m. | |
| Tue, 3/31 | @ St. Louis Cardinals | 7:45 p.m. | |
| Wed, 4/1 | @ St. Louis Cardinals | 1:15 p.m. | |
| Thu, 4/2 | @ San Francisco Giants | 9:45 p.m. | MLB Net |
| Fri, 4/3 | @ San Francisco Giants | 10:15 p.m. | |
| Sat, 4/4 | @ San Francisco Giants | 9:05 p.m. | |
| Sun, 4/5 | @ San Francisco Giants | 4:05 p.m. | |
| Tue, 4/7 | vs Arizona Diamondbacks | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Wed, 4/8 | vs Arizona Diamondbacks | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Thu, 4/9 | vs Arizona Diamondbacks | 7:10 p.m. | MLB Net |
| Fri, 4/10 | vs Oakland Athletics | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Sat, 4/11 | vs Oakland Athletics | 4:10 p.m. | |
| Sun, 4/12 | vs Oakland Athletics | 1:40 p.m. | |
| Mon, 4/13 | @ Los Angeles Dodgers | 10:10 p.m. | |
| Tue, 4/14 | @ Los Angeles Dodgers | 10:10 p.m. | |
| Wed, 4/15 | @ Los Angeles Dodgers | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Fri, 4/17 | @ Chicago Cubs | 2:20 p.m. | |
| Sat, 4/18 | @ Chicago Cubs | 2:20 p.m. | |
| Sun, 4/19 | @ Chicago Cubs | 2:20 p.m. | |
| Tue, 4/21 | vs Minnesota Twins | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Wed, 4/22 | vs Minnesota Twins | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Thu, 4/23 | vs Minnesota Twins | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Fri, 4/24 | vs Colorado Rockies | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Sat, 4/25 | vs Colorado Rockies | 4:10 p.m. | |
| Sun, 4/26 | vs Colorado Rockies | 1:40 p.m. | |
| Tue, 4/28 | vs Washington Nationals | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Wed, 4/29 | vs Washington Nationals | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Thu, 4/30 | vs Washington Nationals | 1:10 p.m. | |
| Fri, 5/1 | @ Los Angeles Angels | 9:38 p.m. | |
| Sat, 5/2 | @ Los Angeles Angels | 9:38 p.m. | |
| Sun, 5/3 | @ Los Angeles Angels | 4:07 p.m. | |
| Mon, 5/4 | @ Colorado Rockies | 8:40 p.m. | |
| Tue, 5/5 | @ Colorado Rockies | 8:40 p.m. | |
| Wed, 5/6 | @ Colorado Rockies | 3:10 p.m. | |
| Fri, 5/8 | @ Arizona Diamondbacks | 9:40 p.m. | |
| Sat, 5/9 | @ Arizona Diamondbacks | 7:15 p.m. | FOX |
| Sun, 5/10 | @ Arizona Diamondbacks | 4:10 p.m. | |
| Tue, 5/12 | vs Detroit Tigers | 7:10 p.m. | TBS |
| Wed, 5/13 | vs Detroit Tigers | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Thu, 5/14 | vs Detroit Tigers | 1:10 p.m. | |
| Fri, 5/15 | vs New York Yankees | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Sat, 5/16 | vs New York Yankees | 7:15 p.m. | FOX |
| Sun, 5/17 | vs New York Yankees | 1:40 p.m. |
No Mets games today? Find another matchup on the full MLB schedule, which includes MLB players, MLB teams and MLB standings to keep your head in the game.
How to Watch the New York Mets on TV in 2026
If you can’t make it out to the ballpark, there are plenty of ways to catch televised NY Mets games on DIRECTV. Below are the networks and channels you’re likely to find games to watch on.
- SportsNet New York (Regional Sports Network) – DIRECTV Channel 639
- FOX SPORTS 1 – DIRECTV Channel 219
- MLB NETWORK® – DIRECTV Channel 213
- ESPN– DIRECTV Channel 206
- ESPN 2 – DIRECTV Channel 209
- MLB EXTRA INNINGS®
- ABC – Find your local ABC channel
- FOX – Find your local FOX channel
- TBS – DIRECTV Channel 247
Best New York Mets Players in 2026
The Mets have one of the highest payrolls in baseball, and with that comes no shortage of serious talent. Here are some of the top Mets players to watch right now.
Juan Soto, Outfield
With massive expectations on his shoulders with the contract he signed in the offseason, Soto, for his part, on a Mets team that missed the playoffs, did his job. He set a new career high with 43 home runs. Prior to last season, the most bases he had stolen in a year was 12. In 2025, he stole 38 to lead the National League. He also led Major League Baseball in walks for the fourth time in his career and won his third straight Silver Slugger.
With payback on his mind and the confidence on the field, Soto continues to be among the top hitters in all of Major League Baseball, turning every plate appearance into must-see TV.
Francisco Lindor, Shortstop
Lindor put together his first All-Star season since 2019, hitting 31 home runs and stealing 31 bases. He will once again be a prominent part of a lineup that can score runs. The 12-year veteran has been a mark of consistency for almost the entirety of his career, and this season might be the best team around him yet.
Bo Bichette, Shortstop
With the loss of Pete Alonso, the Mets were in need of some offensive firepower. Enter Bo Bichette.
After a brutal 2024, Bichette was largely written off. But the two-time All-Star battled through injuries and was the league leader in hits and batting average before a left knee sprain sidelined him for much of September.
In the postseason, though he was limited in his ability to run, Bichette batted .348 with six RBIs. With a full season to recover and one of the best lineups in the league around him, this could be a second breakout for Bichette in New York.
Marcus Semien – Second Base
Semien is a mark of consistency. He’s led the American League in games player four times in the last six seasons. He led the league in hits in 2023, a year in which he finished third in MVP voting. But after a down year at the plate in 2025, it was as if none of that ever happened.
The Mets are banking on the fresh confines of Citi Field can bring that Silver Slugging bat back to life.
Freddie Peralta, Starting Pitcher
One thing that the Mets were missing from a year ago is a definitive ace, and they solved that problem by trading for last year’s NL leader in wins, Freddie Peralta.
Peralta was exceptional for the league’s best regular season team, going 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Still in his prime, Peralta set a career high in innings pitched with his lowest average against and WHIP.
For the Mets to make it out of the NL East, they need Peralta to be every bit the ace that he was last season.
Nolan McLean, Starting Pitcher
Over the course of the last two months, Nolan McLean went 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA and gave the Mets a bright, glimmering hope for their rotation. They ultimately missed the playoffs, but McLean, if that sample size is to be believed, has the stuff to quietly make this and firm up the top half of the rotation behind Freddie Peralta.
McLean was especially good at home, where he went 2-0 with a 0.37 ERA. The question will be, is he ready for a full-time workload in what is ostensibly his first rookie season?
Clay Holmes, Starting Pitcher
Holmes was a reliever for the first six years of his career, but when the Mets signed him last year, they saw his ability to be a starting pitcher. And they largely were right. Holmes started 31 games, more than doubled his previous career high in innings pitched all while posting a 3.53 ERA.
With a season’s experience as a starter and the pressure off to be a front-end starter for the rotation, Holmes is in a position of providing quality depth to the rotation.
David Peterson, Starting Pitcher
After going 10-3 with a 2.90 ERA in just 21 starts back in 2024, Peterson started 2025 on a heater. He had six wins by the All-Star break and made the All-Star team. But then he fell off toward the end of the season, including giving up 18 runs in his final two starts.
As the likely four starter in this rotation, Peterson doesn’t need to be an ace to be a quality part of this pitching staff.
Carson Benge, Outfield
The Mets’ number two prospect and 19th overall pick back in 2024, the Mets have big dreams for Benge. And he’s already rewarded them with highlights in spring training.
The contributions to fill the void of Pete Alonso are going to need to probably come from multiple positions, and Benge could be the one that fills that void for a long time. Benge brings power and speed to the outfield, along with elite contact skills and good speed, and could contribute right away.
Jonah Tong, Starting Pitcher
The 22-year-old was 10-5 with a 1.43 ERA across the minors last season. He put together an impressive debut with five shutout innings against the Padres and could be competing for a back-end rotation spot.
Mets Rivalries to Watch in 2026
The Mets are in a highly competitive NL East and their primary rivals are their division foes, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves, and their cross-town adversaries, the New York Yankees.
Battle of the Broads: New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies
The Mets and the Phillies have been division rivals for decades, and the relatively short distance between Philadelphia and New York City adds some regional spice to every game between these two teams, especially when they’re both coming into the season with World Series expectations. The Battle of the Broads, as it’s known, is certain to be one of the rivalry’s best chapters.
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
| Thu, 6/18 | @ Philadelphia Phillies | 6:40 p.m. | MLB Net |
| Sat, 6/20 | @ Philadelphia Phillies | 7:15 p.m. | FOX |
| Sun, 6/21 | @ Philadelphia Phillies | 7:20 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Fri, 6/26 | vs Philadelphia Phillies | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Sat, 6/27 | vs Philadelphia Phillies | 4:10 p.m. | |
| Sun, 6/28 | vs Philadelphia Phillies | 1:40 p.m. | |
| Thu, 7/16 | @ Philadelphia Phillies | 7:00 p.m. | |
| Sat, 7/18 | @ Philadelphia Phillies | 4:05 p.m. | |
| Sun, 7/19 | @ Philadelphia Phillies | 1:35 p.m. | |
| Thu, 9/17 | vs Philadelphia Phillies | 7:15 p.m. | FOX |
| Fri, 9/18 | vs Philadelphia Phillies | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Sat, 9/19 | vs Philadelphia Phillies | 4:10 p.m. | |
| Sun, 9/20 | vs Philadelphia Phillies | 1:40 p.m. |
New York Mets vs. Atlanta Braves
These two teams are both looking a lot better than they did when they each missed the playoffs in October. The Mets and Braves are both prime bounce-back candidates with rosters that are simply too talented to imagine missing the playoffs twice in a row.
The Mets fell apart in the second half and Atlanta just could not stay healthy all at the same time. But regardless of the reason, these two teams will likely be neck and neck all season long.
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
| Fri, 6/12 | vs Atlanta Braves | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Sat, 6/13 | vs Atlanta Braves | 4:10 p.m. | |
| Sun, 6/14 | vs Atlanta Braves | 1:40 p.m. | |
| Fri, 7/3 | @ Atlanta Braves | 7:15 p.m. | |
| Sat, 7/4 | @ Atlanta Braves | 8:08 p.m. | FOX |
| Sun, 7/5 | @ Atlanta Braves | 12:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Mon, 7/6 | @ Atlanta Braves | 7:15 p.m. | |
| Mon, 7/27 | vs Atlanta Braves | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Tue, 7/28 | vs Atlanta Braves | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Wed, 7/29 | vs Atlanta Braves | 1:10 p.m. | |
| Mon, 8/10 | @ Atlanta Braves | 7:15 p.m. | |
| Tue, 8/11 | @ Atlanta Braves | 7:15 p.m. | |
| Wed, 8/12 | @ Atlanta Braves | 7:15 p.m. |
The Subway Series: New York Mets vs. New York Yankees
Separated by just the D Line and the 7, the Mets and Yankees rivalry has, for much of the teams history, been parallel. With the Mets in the National League and the Yankees in the American League, they didn’t start playing more frequently until the turn of the century.
Now city supremacy can be decided on the field to the delight of fans of each team across the The Big Apple.
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
| Fri, 5/15 | vs New York Yankees | 7:10 p.m. | |
| Sat, 5/16 | vs New York Yankees | 7:15 p.m. | FOX |
| Sun, 5/17 | vs New York Yankees | 1:40 p.m. | |
| Fri, 9/11 | @ New York Yankees | 7:05 p.m. | |
| Sat, 9/12 | @ New York Yankees | 1:35 p.m. | |
| Sun, 9/13 | @ New York Yankees | 1:35 p.m. |
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