​NEW YORK – The Mets came up short in a tough Tuesday night showing, unable to overcome a patchwork pitching effort as they dropped a four-run decision to the Kansas City Royals. The offense did its part, delivering 12 runs, but the night belonged to the Royals’ pitching and the Mets’ inability to contain it. A.J. Ewing stood out at the plate, recording a career-best four hits and scoring four times while driving in three runs, but even that standout performance was not enough to tilt the scales in New York’s favor.
The Mets dug into a lineup that featured a mix of veterans and young players, with Ewing providing a bright spark amid the struggle on the mound. Kodai Senga, Austin Warren, and Matt Seelinger all surrendered four earned runs or more, contributing to a rough group effort on the mound. In the end, the Mets could not keep pace as the Royals built their lead, stringing together hits and timely at-bats to manufacture runs.
Following a chaotic weekend in Atlanta, New York will look to rebound with a more rested pitching staff as they shift focus to Wednesday night’s game at Citi Field. The 7:10 p.m. matchup will feature the Mets attempting to get back on track against a Royals club that has also endured its own share of struggles this season. Both teams entered the day with matching records at 38-54, highlighting just how tight the race is within the late-season landscape for these two clubs.
For the Mets, Christian Scott will get the ball in his 12th start of the year. Scott’s last outing against the Braves saw him surrender three earned runs on two hits and four walks over four innings, while also recording seven strikeouts. He brings a 2-1 record into the tilt with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP across 49 innings this season. New York will rely on Scott to stabilize the rotation and limit the damage from the Royals’ lineup.
On the Royals’ side, Steven Cruz will open the game out of the bullpen, marking his 27th appearance of the season. Cruz holds a 2-2 record with a 5.08 ERA as he steps into the opener role, aiming to set a tone early for Kansas City and give the bullpen a chance to control the Mets’ potent bats.
In terms of projected lineup activity, the Mets will likely lean on a mix of their everyday players and several recent contributors. At the plate, A.J. Ewing will be in center field and Juan Soto will roam left field, with Bo Bichette patrolling the third base position. Francisco Lindor will handle shortstop duties, Carson Benge will serve as the right fielder, Jorge Polanco will be the designated hitter, and Jacob Young will occupy first base. Behind the plate, Francisco Alvarez will catch, while Brett Baty will see time at second base.
This matchup comes as the Mets aim to tighten up their approach at the plate and in the field, while also seeking better performance from their pitching staff. The team will need to minimize free passes, limit damage from early counts, and keep the Royals’ hitters off balance to flip the script in front of a home crowd eager for a win. With both teams carrying similar records and a season filled with ups and downs, Wednesday’s game has the potential to influence the early stretch run and set the tone for the remainder of the week at Citi Field. This report originally appeared on NorthJersey.com as part of ongoing coverage of the Mets’ lineup and game plan for today’s clash with Kansas City.