As the season’s opening pitch approaches in just a few days, the New York Mets are finalizing their 26-man roster for Thursday’s game against the Houston Astros. While the team has not made an official announcement, the roster is starting to take shape.
The Starting Rotation: Six Arms For Five Spots
The Mets are anticipated to begin the season with six starters: Clay Holmes, Tylor Megill, Griffin Canning, David Peterson, Kodai Senga, and Paul Blackburn. The inclusion of Blackburn is significant—he is expected to serve as a long reliever, providing a backup option if any of the starters struggle early in a game.
The Bullpen: Locks and Last-Minute Decisions
Edwin Díaz, the Mets’ dynamic closer, leads the bullpen, joined by Ryne Stanek, Danny Young, José Butto, and Reed Garrett—all of whom are expected to make the roster. This leaves two open spots, with four pitchers competing for them: AJ Minter, Dedniel Núñez, Max Kranick, and Huascar Brazobán.
Minter and Núñez are both recovering from injuries, which complicates the situation. Núñez is already ruled out and will begin the season in the minors to regain strength.
This leaves Minter as the key player to watch. If the Mets deem him ready, only one of Kranick or Brazobán will make the final roster.
The Final Battle: Kranick vs. Brazobán
Baseball can be unforgiving, and the stats don’t always capture the full picture. Both Kranick and Brazobán have been exceptional this spring. Kranick has posted a stellar 1.46 ERA in 12.1 innings, striking out 15 and keeping his WHIP at an impressive 0.81.
Brazobán has been almost as effective, with a 1.69 ERA over 10.2 innings and 14 strikeouts. They’ve done everything in their power to make a strong case for the roster. If the Mets decide Minter needs more time to get fully game-ready, both Kranick and Brazobán could find themselves on the roster.
If not, one of them will have to wait for their opportunity. It’s the kind of tough decision that keeps front offices awake at night—choosing between two deserving pitchers with only one spot left.
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