New York Mets DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Slumping New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos will retreat to the bench for Wednesday's series finale against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Brett Baty will take over at third base and will bat eighth against Twins right-hander David Festa. This will be Vientos' first day off of the season. After a breakout 2024 season in which he hit .266/.322/.516 with an .837 OPS, 27 home runs and 71 RBI in 111 games played, the 25-year-old has started off cold in 2025, going 9-for-62 (.145) with no home runs, four doubles, four RBI, nine walks and 14 strikeouts in 17 games. It will be more concerning if his slow start to the year drags into May, but hopefully this day off will get Vientos right. Baty hasn't been any better, going 5-for-36 (.139) with no homers and just one RBI early on for the Mets. The former first-rounder has never faced Festa in his career.

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso turned in a productive game in a 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Alonso went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and a double but it wasn't enough to overcome the Twins. The veteran infielder kicked off the scoring in the game with a solo homer in the first, a shot that traveled 416 feet with an exit velocity of 106.9 MPH. Alonso is off to a great start this season, hitting .356 with five homers, 11 runs, and 20 RBI through 59 at-bats. While the batting average won't last as he's never hit over .271 in his career, Alonso remains an elite source for homers and RBI in all fantasy leagues.

New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (knee) was scheduled to throw a second live batting practice session on Tuesday as he rehabs from inflammation in his right knee, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. The skipper said the goal is for Blackburn to build up to 65 to 70 pitches before he returns from the 15-day injured list. The 31-year-old veteran tossed his first live BP session last Friday and could be cleared to start a minor-league rehab assignment if he doesn't suffer a setback on Tuesday. Blackburn should be expected to need at least a couple rehab starts before rejoining the big-league roster. When he's activated, Blackburn won't be a lock for a starting rotation spot after struggling to a 5.18 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB in his five starts for the Mets to close out 2024. He won't be of much use in fantasy in a long-relief role.

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (hand) will shift his minor-league rehab assignment from Single-A St. Lucie to Double-A Binghamton on Tuesday, instead of Triple-A Syracuse, because of weather concerns, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. In three rehab games with St. Lucie, the 23-year-old backstop went 1-for-10 with a run scored, two walks and three strikeouts. He is recovering from surgery to fix a broken hamate bone in his left hand, but if he can continue to avoid any setbacks, he could be ready to come off the injured list to make his season debut at some point next week. The Venezuelan catcher hit a disappointing 11 home runs in 2024 and played in only 100 games due to injury after clubbing a career-high 25 round-trippers in 2023. With better health once he returns, Alvarez could bounce back in the power department at a position that lacks power.

New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil (oblique) will remain with Single-A St. Lucie on his minor-league rehab assignment from a strained right oblique until Thursday before heading to Triple-A Syracuse, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. If McNeil doesn't suffer a setback with his oblique over the weekend at Syracuse, he should come off the 10-day injured list at some point next week to make his season debut. In his first two rehab starts with St. Lucie, the 33-year-old former batting champion went 2-for-5 with a walk and a run scored. When he's back in New York with the Mets, McNeil is expected to take over primary duties at second base in Queens. Until then, Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuna have been platooning at the keystone. Since winning a batting title in 2022, McNeil has mostly been an empty batting average contributor in fantasy.