NY Mets News: Christian Scott usage, Jorge Polanco injury, NL Wild Card stat

The New York Mets took down the San Diego Padres without much worry on Friday night. A 5-0 victory with role models starring, Jared Young and Luis Torrens each homering, was headlined by the performance of Christian Scott on the mound.

After 5.2 innings of work and 98 pitches, Scott was removed after Manny Machado singled for San Diego’s third hit of the game. On offense on paper that looks middle of the pack at worst, Scott helped put them in their place.

The outing was yet another one where Scott failed to reach a full 6 innings, but a more efficient version of the budding top Mets starting pitcher did show. Carlos Mendoza was asked after the game about the plan with him and it sounds like that single, in a then 4-0 game, was enough for the skipper to end the night.

Should the Mets push Christian Scott a little more?

At 98 pitches, Scott was in the modern danger zone. After walking 2 and fanning just 3 batters, Scott had yet to cross into triple digits. Rather than allow for a chance to make a 4-0 game become a 4-2 affair, Mendoza cautiously gave the kid his best chance at leaving on a high.

In the Mets’ previous game, Freddy Peralta tossed 101 pitches. Comparing the two isn’t fair with Peralta as the proven veteran and moreover, not coming off of Tommy John surgery. It’s almost easy to forget Scott is in his first year back from missing half of 2024 and all of 2025. He has looked every bit ready for the spotlight in recent outings. If you haven’t bought in yet, it may be time.

Jorge Polanco is becoming a generation’s Jed Lowrie

Jorge Polanco was expected to join the Mets in San Diego, but apparently needs a little more time. Updates on him have been moderate at best. He’s close to a return and yet sounds so far.

Prior to Friday’s game, Mendoza got specific about what he Mets need to see out of Polanco on his rehab:

“We have got to get him to a point where he’s going four at-bats as a DH or seven innings on defense, so you won’t see him here in San Diego.”

Four at-bats or seven innings on defense sounds like a low bar. It doesn’t even include back-to-backs or the quality of the performance. It’s becoming difficult to not think of Polanco in the same way we did Jed Lowrie whose lengthy injuries kept him out virtually for all of 2019 and we never saw him at all in the shortened 2020 campaign.

The Mets are one of the best in one stat in the NL Wild Card race

5.5 games out of a NL Wild Card spot after their win vs. the Padres, they actually own one of the better run differentials of the teams competing for those 6 spots. The Philadelphia Phillies hold the second Wild Card with a -20 run differential. The Cincinnati Reds remain 2 games behind with a -48 run differential.

Meanwhile, the Mets at -8 appear to be the owners of some bad luck or at least tight losses. Blame this on multiple extra inning games where they either won or lost closely fought battles. 

The key to nearly even run differential has been the pitching. The Mets offense continues to scuffle more often than not. Their 256 runs is 13th in the NL, ahead of only the Phillies and Padres and right behind their next opponent, the St. Louis Cardinals. They’ve allowed the fifth-most runs in the NL with the Padres, Phillies, and Cardinals bunched up alongside them, too.

Run prevention has, oddly, worked well for the Mets this season. The problem is the offense has underperformed almost across the board.

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