Key Unit's Strong Start Has Been Positive Takeaway for Mets

Which unit has gotten off to a nice start for the New York Mets after one week?

Mar 29, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the second inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

With the first week of the season coming to a close for the New York Mets, the team has a 3-3 record following a disappointing series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. While it hasn’t been a perfect start, there have been some encouraging signs for the team. 

Following a nice series win against the Pittsburgh Pirates at home, including a win against Paul Skenes, the Mets had a bit of a letdown versus a Cardinals team that isn’t supposed to be very good. 

With a lot of new faces in the batting order, the offense was abysmal in the series, totaling just five runs. Being shut out in the second game of the series certainly was not good to see, and this unit will have some work to do. 

While the lineup has underperformed as a unit so far this year, the team has seen some good performances from other areas. One area in particular was a concern for the team this winter, but it has started the campaign on a positive note. 

Anthony DiComo of MLB.com recently wrote about one of the top takeaways from the first week of the season for the Mets being their starting rotation getting off to a hot start. 

Strong Start is Encouraging

New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Based on what happened in the second half of last season, seeing the starting rotation get off to a strong first week is very encouraging. Last year, this was a unit that fell apart with injuries and ineffective performances being an issue. However, those struggles led the franchise to call up a player like Nolan McLean, who figures to be a fixture in the rotation going forward. 

Furthermore, while there is some good, young talent for the unit and in the minors, it has been some of the veterans getting off to nice starts. Overall, this is a group that does have some excellent talent, and the addition of Freddy Peralta this winter gave them an anchor of the staff. 

Due to the struggles of last year, seeing pitchers like Clay Holmes, Kodai Senga, and David Peterson sustain a high level of play throughout the year will be key. All three of those pitchers have looked really good at times, but they have also had their fair share of struggles. If this unit can stay healthy and pitch up to its potential, the Mets are going to be a difficult team to deal with in 2026.