What a realistic NY Mets starting rotation depth chart for 2027 looks like

In what was a lost season in 2026, the New York Mets had three starting pitchers emerge as future key pieces of their rotation: Nolan McLean, Christian Scott and Zac Thornton. Now, let's try to project how this unit might look around this trio in 2027.

Assuming the Mets lose out on prized free agent ace Tarik Skubal, they will still need to add several external pieces to their rotation this offseason. There are a few names out there who could complement McLean, Scott and Thornton next season and beyond. So lets' dive into what the rotation might look like next year without Skubal.

1. Nolan McLean (RHP)

It appears that the Mets have a future ace on their hands in McLean. The right-hander went 12-10 with a 3.16 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 3.59 FIP, 128 ERA+, 194 strikeouts and a 3.0 bWAR across 179.2 innings (31 starts) in his first full season in the majors. This comes after he went 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA in eight starts upon being called up to make his MLB debut down the stretch of 2025. McLean struggled briefly earlier in the season, but bounced back to show why he is being viewed as the franchise's ace of the future. McLean will step up to be the Mets' No. 1 starter in 2027.

2. Michael King (RHP)

Right-hander Michael King could opt-out of his deal with the San Diego Padres after this season, and if he does the Mets should be all over him in free agency. King has already proven he can perform in New York, given his time with the Yankees, and he is coming off a strong season with the Padres. In 32 starts (185 innings), King went 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 4.13 FIP, 126 ERA+, 159 strikeouts and a 4.1 bWAR. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns loves to give out short-term contracts to starting pitchers, and the 31-year-old King could fit this bill in the offseason if they raise his AAV.

3. Clay Holmes (RHP)

How about a reunion with an old friend? The Mets traded Clay Holmes to the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline because he will likely opt-out of his contract in the offseason. If he does, the Mets should be aggressive in trying to bring him back. Holmes, a former closer, signed a three-year, $38 million deal with the Mets in the 2024-2025 offseason to become a starter, and it worked out well. Holmes had a 3.26 ERA in 42 appearances (40 starts) as a Met. Despite a broken leg suffered back in May, Holmes has managed to post a 3.29 ERA and 2.0 bWAR in 18 starts this season between New York and Chicago. Holmes is one of the few good moves Stearns has made since the Mets lost in the NLCS in 2024. The Mets should bring him back to bolster the rotation if he is open to a reunion this winter.

4. Christian Scott (RHP)

After undergoing Tommy John surgery down the stretch in 2024 and missing all of last season as a result, righty Christian Scott showed flashes of being a top starter this year. In 23 starts (110 innings), Scott posted a 3.85 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 3.61 FIP, 105 ERA+, 134 strikeouts and a 1.7 bWAR this season. He has certainly earned a spot in the 2027 starting rotation based on his performance in 2026. Scott was the Mets' No. 5 prospect and highest-ranked pitcher in their system in 2024, per MLB Pipeline. Having Scott as the team's No. 4 starter heading into next season wouldn't be the worst blueprint. The Mets are hopeful that Scott can take the next step in 2027 after what he showed on the mound this season.

5. Zac Thornton (LHP)

Coming in as the No. 5 starter in our projected rotation for next season is left-hander Zac Thornton. The rookie made his MLB debut in late May and only got better as the year progressed. The southpaw went 5-6 with a 3.42 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 4.51 FIP, 119 ERA+, 63 strikeouts and a 1.7 bWAR in 84.1 innings (15 starts). He also held an impressively low 5.3 percent walk rate, which was in the 95th percentile in baseball, per Baseball Savant. The 24-year-old improved his nutrition, conditioning and game-planning between starts this year, which led to better preparation and results on the mound. He doesn't particularly throw hard, but he attacks hitters and is aggressive in the strike zone. For that, he emerged as a future key piece in the Mets' rotation.

6. Sean Manaea (LHP)

The last two seasons have been rough for left-hander Sean Manaea, but he is still owed $25 million next season on the final year of his three-year, $75 million deal. The Mets will hope that they can salvage Manaea in some type of useful swingman role next season, but they should only rely on him as depth. Manaea will make his final start of the year on Sunday, which is the final game of the regular season. Leading up to this point, the lefty went 6-7 with a 4.67 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 4.44 FIP, 87 ERA+, 141 strikeouts and a -0.1 bWAR in 144.2 innings (32 appearances, 18 starts). As good as Manaea was in 2024, he has struggled immensely since re-signing with the Mets in the 2024-2025 offseason. Maybe Manaea can bounce-back if he's fully healthy next season? Possibly, but he can't be counted on other than being a depth starter in 2027.

7. Jonah Tong (RHP)

New full-time manager Andy Green's recent comments about top prospect Jonah Tong were quite telling. In the long-term, Green is a "huge believer" in Tong and he thinks the young starter is going to be a huge piece for the Mets moving forward. However, Green indicated that Tong will be counted on as a depth starter who begins next year in Triple-A and can hopefully come up during the season and dominate since World Series winning teams don't accomplish this goal with just five starters. Tong is very clearly still in the stage of needing to prove to the Mets that he belongs in the big league rotation. The 23-year-old had an up-and-down year in the minors a season after posting a 1.43 ERA and 179 strikeouts to lead the minor leagues. In the majors, he posted a 3.82 ERA across seven appearances and four starts this season. As a result, we're currently projecting Tong as the Mets' No. 7 starter on their depth chart for next season.

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