Game Chat: Royals vs Mets, 7:10 PM

Wednesday, July 8, 2026 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Steven Cruz (2-2, 5.08) vs. RHP Christian Scott (2-1, 3.49)
SNY

Every game only counts as one win or one loss. The Mets wrapped up a four-game series with the Braves where they split the series but played way worse than two wins. Last night just picked up with that feeling as the Mets lost 16-12 against the Royals. It’s a game the Mets should have won. The Royals made three errors on a play early in the game that led to a little league home run for Carson Benge. The Mets scored 12 runs, until last night they always win at Citi Field when scoring at least 11 runs. Every time the Mets bats took a commanding lead the Mets pitching immediately squandered it.

Rather than starting the day with a three-game winning the streak the Mets look to avoid a losing streak tonight. Every game counts as one win or one loss. A simple 5-3 win today counts as much as whatever has happened in the last week.

Mets Lineup

1. A.J. Ewing – CF
2. Juan Soto – LF
3. Bo Bichette – 3B
4. Francisco Lindor – SS
5. Carson Benge – RF
6. Jorge Polanco – DH
7. Jared Young – 1B
8. Brett Baty – 2B
9. Francisco Alvarez – C

Starting Pitcher: Christian Scott

Christian Scott has made 11 starts for the Mets season totaling 49 innings with a 3.49 ERA, 4.36 FIP, 1.347 WHIP and a 119 ERA+. The Mets need some length from Scott tonight after the last couple of taxing games on the Mets bullpen. Last time out Scott allowed three runs over four innings. In his last three starts he has pitched 13 innings allowing nine runs from 12 hits and seven walks. Home runs have also become a problem recently. Scott went five starts without allowing a home run and now has allowed six in his last three starts. The only member of the Royals to see Scott in a major league game before is Lane Thomas (0-for-3).

Opposing Lineup

1. Carter Jensen – C
2. Bobby Witt Jr. – SS
3. Jac Caglianone – 1B
4. Lane Thomas – CF
5. Salvador Perez – DH
6. Michael Massey – 2B
7. Nick Loftin – 3B
8. Isaac Collins – LF
9. Tyler Tolbert – RF

The Royals have a bullpen game tonight behind Steven Cruz. Over seven games and 28 1/3 innings Cruz has a 5.08 ERA, 5.87 FIP, 1.447 WHIP and an 82 ERA+. He pitched as an opener back on June 26th holding the White Sox scoreless over 1 1/3 innings. A game where the Royals eventually lost 22-1. Cruz hasn’t allowed a run in his last outings, totaling 6 1/3 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

Game Notes

The Mets made more roster moves on Wednesday to get fresh arms available: DFA’d Matt Seelinger for assignment, placed Austin Warren on the IL with a right forearm strain, recalled righty Tobias Myers from Triple-A and selected the contract of right-hander Xzavion Curry from Triple-A.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Cool down the Royals Bats. In the last two games the Royals have scored 31 runs off of 41 hits. They have done like a month’s worth of Mets run scoring. Last night the Royals never felt out of the game, despite fielding and pitching poorly allowing the Mets to score 12 runs from 13 hits and three errors. Christian Scott have to find ways today to cool everyone from potential AL MVP Bobby Witt Jr. to 9th in the lineup Tyler Tolbert down. If you missed it, Tyler Tolbert set a record near the end of the game yesterday recording a hit in 12 consecutive at bats.
2. A.J. Ewing up top! What a table setter for the Mets! A.J. Ewing on Monday night went a disappointing 0-for-4, but everyone behind him hit. Last night went 4-for-4 including his sixth home run of the season. Soto, Bichette and Benge behind him all hit and Ewing scored in four of the five times he was on base. That’s a recipe for success!
3. Juan Soto. Soto now has a five game hit streak going where he has gone 7-for-21 with three home runs and five walks. The two things he has done exceptionally well since he has joined the Mets is hit bombs and work walks. Going into yesterday’s game (Baseball Reference still hasn’t updated at the time of writing), Soto was leading the league with a .414 OBP, his fourth highest OBP in his career. He also was leading in SLG (.570), OPS (.984) and OPS+ (173).

Let’s go Mets!