Ranking the 4 NY Mets Opening Day lineups SNY put together for 2026

SNY’s four hypothetical 2026 lineups weren’t just content. They were a reminder that the New York Mets are headed for an offseason where change isn’t optional but inevitable. Each lineup sketches a different philosophy for how aggressive this front office might get, from combinations that carry the weight of old habits to others that spark a genuine sense of possibility. The real intrigue comes from seeing how sharply they contrast once you put them in order.

4. Lineup #1

This lineup ranks fourth because it appears poised to repeat the same disaster that Mets fans witnessed unravel last season. The whole thing carries the charm of last year’s graded-F group project being resubmitted with a cleaner font and a new staple. It isn’t a fresh approach. It’s the same mistake, dressed up as an idea.

Luis Robert brings 7 OAA, but two straight seasons under a .675 OPS and a .300 OBP turn the upgrade into a lineup-card tweak that won’t change the outcome. Joe Ryan’s 3.42 ERA and top-20 percent metrics help, but he isn’t the ace the Mets need. Without the hope of Carson Benge and another year of Mark Vientos and Jeff McNeil, this still plays like a rerun no one asked for.

3. Lineup #4

The fourth SNY lineup lands in third because the blueprint actually makes sense, even if it leans more on preventing runs than producing them. Tarik Skubal gives the Mets the ace-level presence they’ve missed, and pairing Cody Bellinger with Harrison Bader creates a legitimately run-saving outfield. Luis Torrens throwing out over 40 percent of would-be base stealers only strengthens the identity.

The problem is the offense. Bader’s .236 /.284 /.373 line from his last Mets stint won’t move anyone, Torrens offers little with the bat, and Jeff McNeil and Mark Vientos keep the bottom half quiet far too often. Bellinger brings clutch value, but the lineup around him falls short of real punch.

2. Lineup #3

Lineup 3 takes second because the upgrades land exactly where this roster needed them. Mets fans may not celebrate seeing Mark Vientos at first, but Kyle Schwarber’s bat erases that concern quickly. Bo Bichette is the real spark; when healthy, he’s a .300 hitter with 60-extra-base-hit potential, the kind of presence that reshapes an offense.

Sandy Alcantara, one year removed from Tommy John surgery, offers frontline potential if he’s anywhere near his peak. Carson Benge finally gets a path to centerfield, and anything close to his minor league production becomes an immediate upgrade. This version of the Mets reaches October with the talent to stay there.

1. Lineup #2

Lineup 2 gets Mets fans making World Series plans without hesitation. The defensive upgrade at first helps, but keeping Pete Alonso’s bat locked into the DH spot is the real win, giving the lineup a cleaner, deeper shape. Kazuma Okamoto brings legitimate .300 potential with 30-homer power, and Ketel Marte remains one of the most reliable offensive second basemen in baseball. Freddy Peralta keeps you in every game, and with this lineup producing runs in bunches, that will be more than enough. Robert Suárez isn’t Edwin Díaz, but he’ll get plenty of save chances with an offense this explosive dictating the pace most nights.