Zac Thornton showing he can be key option for…
Eighteen pitchers in Mets historical past have concluded their first 10 major league begins with a sub-3.00 ERA.
There have been rocket ships such as Tom Seaver (2.64), Nolan Ryan (2.80) and Matt Harvey (2.73).
There is at least the making of a promising arm in Nolan McLean (2.16).
There have been footnotes such as Masato Yoshii (2.25) and Charlie Puleo (2.94).
And now there’s a curiosity who would possibly be turning into one thing more because through his first 10 major league begins, Zac Thornton’s ERA is 2.88.
With the 2026 season unofficially over, the 2027 rotation is wanting a bit more promising every time the lefty is given the ball.
Tuesday that meant Thornton holding down the Brewers — who entered as the fourth-highest-scoring offense in the game — for six innings in which he allowed just one run during a 3-2 victory at Citi Field.
“I thought I did a fine job just kind of changing speeds on them, basically one through nine, kind of used all the pitches,” said the left-hander, who blended in seven distinct pitches, six of which induced a swing-and-miss.
He didn’t issue a stroll and threw 62 of his 89 pitches for strikes.
A pitcher recognized for guile had a bit more fuel, maxing out at 95.4 mph and later acknowledging with a smile, “I’m definitely seeing those 95s up there.”
He would love to keep that velocity, but it’s attainable he was a bit more energizing pitching on six days’ relaxation.
Whether he has the additional tick or not, he continues to impress for a membership that would possibly be starting to pencil him in to the 2027 rotation.
Zac Thornton held Milwaukee to one run over six innings in the Mets’ 3-2, 10-inning win over the Brewers on Aug. 25, 2026 at Citi Field. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
“I think he is who we thought he was: a fearless competitor who doesn’t care who gets in the batter’s box,” said interim supervisor Andy Green, “who might give up a home run on the first pitch of the game, and the rest of the game, he’s going to do what he does.”
Thornton only allowed one fourth-inning run — which most likely deserves an asterisk, William Contreras awarded a double when a delicate ground ball took a unusual flip away from Bo Bichette — and in any other case, the Brewers didn’t have an reply for Thornton’s kitchen sink.
Virtually no one has since Thornton debuted with a four-run, 4 ¹/₃ inning clunker in Washington, which is the last time he has allowed 4 earned runs in a recreation.
Luis Robert Jr. drilled his sixth home run in his past 14 video games, red-hot during a span in which his OPS has risen from .606 to .737.
Luis Robert Jr. around the bases after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning of the Mets’ 10-inning win over the Brewers. Jason Szenes for New York Post
Carson Benge tallied three more hits and an intentional stroll, slashing .303/.363/.466 since May 1.
How Green will deal with the taking part in time of his catchers the remainder of the season will bear watching.
For a second straight recreation, Francisco Alvarez sat in favor of Luis Torrens, this time against Brewers lefty Kyle Harrison.
Sometimes against opposing righties Green has performed both, but against the southpaw it was Eric Wagaman who served as designated hitter relatively than Alvarez.
Alvarez has been the usually unquestioned starter when healthy since 2023, while Torrens has been among the sport’s best backups since arriving in the 2024 commerce.
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Before going 1-for-4, Torrens — who is the superior defender — entered hitting .393 with six home runs and 13 RBIs over his past 10 video games. Alvarez is in a 2-for-33 slide.
“I think we’re still going to see Alvy out there very consistently,” Green said. “I believe both of those guys are persevering with to see the sector fairly a bit as we wrap up this season.
“Alvy obviously has gone through a stretch where he hasn’t swung the bat the way he has traditionally, but he’s really received well.”
Green defended Alvarez’s “under the hood” protection, in which Statcast has believed him to be a roughly average framer, barely above average at throwing out runners and poor at blocking.
The often lighter-hitting Torrens excels at each defensive class.
“I still believe immensely in Alvy’s upside,” Green said of the 24-year-old, who has had good seasons but not yet the breakthrough that reminds of his former No. 1-prospect-in-baseball pedigree. “He’s still going to get a lot of at-bats.”
Green said he had no real update on Juan Soto, who has been sidelined for over a month (since July 24) with a left calf pressure, or Devin Williams, out since Aug. 7 with a proper shoulder pressure.
Green said the membership still believes both will return this season.
Mark Vientos is “not particularly close” to being an option for the Mets, Green said.
Vientos has gone 0-for-8 with a stroll in three video games with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse so far in his first motion since fracturing his hand on July 9.
“We’ll let kind of his play, how he feels and kind of the progression in general be determined by what happens on the field a little bit,” Green said. “When you hurt your hand, you need to get some at-bats and get going.”
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