The Mets’ season may have enough life left for a late push, but the bigger picture is already staring them in the face. With August winding down and roster expansion around the corner, September has become the perfect month to sort through the organization’s young pitching and see who might matter next year - and beyond.
If David Stearns were making the calls, the three names to bring up would be Jonah Tong, Jack Wenninger and Jonathan Santucci.
That starts with Tong, who has already given the Mets a taste of both sides of the coin. He flashed the kind of upside that made him intriguing when he reached the majors last year, but the results were rough: a 7.71 ERA and several outings that never really got off the ground.
This season at Triple-A Syracuse has been uneven too, with a 4.86 ERA, though the last month has looked much better. Over his last seven starts, Tong has posted a 2.56 ERA.
Even with that recent surge, the Mets appear inclined to keep Robert Stock in the rotation. That decision makes some sense from a caution standpoint, especially given Tong’s earlier struggles and the confidence issues that followed.
But the argument for the younger arm is hard to miss. Stock is a stopgap.
Tong is supposed to be part of what comes next.
And this time, the circumstances are different. Tong was asked to help a team that was collapsing in the playoff chase.
That’s a heavy burden for a young pitcher. September would give him a cleaner setting - no pressure cooker, just a chance to stack quality starts and carry that momentum into spring training.
Wenninger belongs in that same conversation. His year at Syracuse has also been uneven, finishing with a 4.17 ERA across 101.1 innings. But he’s been sharper lately, including a five-inning no-hit outing last week.
Five hitless innings for Jack Wenninger! 💪5.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 6 K pic.twitter.com/DshIS9gAuH
Santucci is the other obvious name to get a look. He has moved quickly through the minors and now stands as the Mets’ top pitching prospect. His four-seam fastball and slider give him real swing-and-miss stuff, and he would also give the club a left-handed option in the rotation.
That’s the bigger point here: the Mets know the rotation needs serious help, and the offseason will have to address it. Nolan McLean looks like ace material, while Christian Scott and Zac Thornton have shown they can handle full-time starter roles.
But beyond that, things are unsettled. The club will need veteran stability, and a reunion with Clay Holmes would fit.
Still, September is the time to learn what the organization already has.
For Tong, Wenninger and Santucci, that opportunity could matter. A strong month now would not fix everything, but it could give all three a real jump heading into next spring.
In Other News...
Mets Need To Stop Delaying Three Roster Auditions
The Mets have reached the point in the season where the next wave of roster decisions is less about patience and more about information gathering. Jonah Tong, Nick Morabito and Zach Franklin have all done enough in the minors to make the conversation unavoidable, and the case for bringing them up is not just about reward, but about finding out what each player can actually handle before the calendar turns toward 2027.
Roster rules always complicate these choices, and the Rule 5 Draft adds another layer of urgency for a front office that can ill afford to wait too long. The Mets do not need to force every prospect into the big leagues at once, but delaying all three auditions only stretches the uncertainty further, especially when each player has already made a compelling enough case to deserve a real look. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Young Arms Face A Test Andy Green May Not Fully Allow
Andy Green spent part of this week thinking like a manager and part of it thinking like a pitcher trying to survive an impossible matchup. With the Mets bringing three young arms into a series against the Astros, the interim manager knows exactly what kind of stress comes with letting a developing pitcher work through a dangerous middle of a lineup, especially when Yordan Alvarez is lurking there and has already drawn a pile of intentional walks this season.
Greens answer has been shaped by his own past, including the rare experience of facing Barry Bonds, a reminder that some hitters force managers to choose between development and survival. Christian Scott got the first crack in the series and saw Alvarez several times, walking him once during his outing, but the larger question for the Mets is how far Green is willing to push his young pitchers in that same spot before the game plan gives way to pure strategy. [Read more 🡒]
Clay Holmes Is Already Setting Up A Big Cubs Decision
Clay Holmes has already given the Cubs something to think about well beyond the stretch run. After coming over from the Mets at the trade deadline, the right-hander has continued to work as a starting pitcher, a role he embraced after signing a three-year, $38 million deal before the 2025 season.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports that Holmes is expected to opt out after the 2026 season and try free agency rather than remain under contract with the Mets in 2027. For the Cubs, that turns a short-term addition into a longer conversation, with the next chapter for Holmes still pointing toward a market that could get very interesting. [Read more 🡒]