Rising Apple
FanSided

Projected NY Mets starting lineup vs. a right-handed pitcher with Cedric Mullins

Here's what we can expect from the Mets against a righty.
ByTim Boyle|
Aug 1, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Cedric Mullins (28) looks out of the dugout before a game against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Aug 1, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Cedric Mullins (28) looks out of the dugout before a game against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

We didn’t see Cedric Mullins in the New York Mets starting lineup on Friday, leaving us wondering exactly what Carlos Mendoza thinks one through nine will look like when they face a right-handed pitcher. Fortunately for us, the league is made up of mostly humans (a few obvious aliens) and not cats. Did you know there is an oddly high rate of cats being left-pawed? The more you know…

Over at FanGraphs, their lineup has Mullins looking like more than just a Tyrone Taylor replacement. Their guess is as good as anyone’s where Mendy will insert his newest bat.

This is what FanGraphs expects the first Mets lineup vs. a righty will look like

It’s uncomplicated. Predictable. Maybe even a little tiresome considering how poorly this offseason has performed.

1) Brandon Nimmo, LF
2) Francisco Lindor, SS
3) Juan Soto, RF
4) Pete Alonso, 1B
5) Jeff McNeil, 2B
6) Mark Vientos, DH
7) Cedric Mullins, CF
8) Francisco Alvarez, C
9) Ronny Mauricio, 3B

Mullins becomes the number seven hitter although that could be up for some debate. He has more power than Jeff McNeil. McNeil’s familiarity with batting behind Alonso is most likely to keep him there with Mullins slotting in, as anticipated, as the number seven hitter.

The lineup breaks up all of the lefties thanks to switch hitters Francisco Lindor and Ronny Mauricio. It feels lengthier, especially if the team is able to get any level of consistency from Mark Vientos, Francisco Alvarez, or Ronny Mauricio.

Notably, Brett Baty is missing from the lineup. The lefty swinger is one of the players who low-key just became a little less relevant. If he’s not going to start against right-handed pitchers regularly, what role does he have? Mauricio’s struggles against left-handed pitchers has made him unusable in those spots. Baty, with expected splits of performing better against righties, is in a competition with Mauricio possibly based on whoever is the hottest at the moment.

Mendoza hasn’t been afraid to mix up the lineup last season or this with the big bats, sorting them in a different order at the top. With no signs of a major change on the way, we can safely expect something close to, if not exactly as, what FanGraphs has listed.

Home/New York Mets News