Since 2019, the New York Mets have been the team that is always close to a breakthrough but they never can. It has been seen by the multitude of times they missed the playoffs or failed to win the division. This led to the Mets having a massive overhaul, losing four of it’s longest tenured players. With trades and signings, the lineup is set to be different – much different. Only time will tell if it can change, but it is setup to be among the best, if not the best in all of baseball.
What the Mets Lineup Looks Like for 2026 So Far
1. SS, Francisco Lindor
2. RF, Juan Soto
3. 3B, Bo Bichette
4. 1B, Jorge Polanco
5. 2B, Marcus Semien
6. CF, Luis Robert Jr.
7. LF, Bret Baty
8. DH, Mark Vientos
9. C, Francisco Alvarez
This lineup could definitely change with how these players perform in spring training and if Carson Benge, one of the top prospects in the league, can start in outfield. Right now though, this lineup is already more balanced then the 2025 lineup, which failed do to inconsistent play. Other than the top 4 in the lineup, the Mets felt the impact of injuries and young players who couldn’t quite get it together. The lineup for 2026 could be massively affected by injury, as Alvarez, Robert Jr., and even Vientos had those problems last season.
Breaking Down the Lineup
1, 2, 3 Spots
Now, it’s time to break down some very important pieces to the lineup and the Mets success in 2026. The first three are the reliable Lindor, Soto and Bichette. This alone is going to be absolute chaos for opposing pitchers. Soto is the most rounded out offensive player in the league- good at just about everything, average, power, walking, and not striking out. Bichette was second in the league in batting average, which will lead to runs with Soto either before or after him in the lineup.
4, 5, 6 Spots
The middle of the lineup, Polanco, Semien, and Robert Jr. is going to depend on how these guys can do. Simply put, a good version of Vientos or even Robert Jr. could lead to them being the cleanup hitter. Polanco did amazing things in 2025 after not seeing a good season since 2019. He hit 26 homers with a good average in just 138 games. Doing the same thing in New York would be amazing. Semien will be more important for his veteran presence than anything, as J.D Martinez was in 2024. In 2024, Martinez helped Vientos unlock his true potential, as he hit 27 homers in just 111 games with a good average as well.
Even then though, a rebound from Semien would be great. Finally, Robert Jr. can single handedly change the Mets season. This is especially true if he can stay healthy. In 2023, in his last full season, Robert Jr. hit 38 homers and had a good .264 average. In back-to-back seasons, Robert Jr. in more limited action hit 14 homers with an average around .224, although he improved in patience at the plate in 2025 (more walks, less K’s). If Robert Jr. can stay healthy and do even just a little better than he did in from 24-25, he can be an X-factor for New York. Especially since Robert Jr. is replacing Tyrone Taylor who literally did nothing offensively in 2025.
7, 8, 9 Spots
Finally, at the end of the lineup, the Mets should see Baty, Alvarez, and Vientos, and maybe someone else. Baty is easily being overlooked. After doing very little offensively in his first 3 seasons, just 15 homers and a ugly average, he broke out into a more well-rounded hitter in 2025. Baty was a bit too hot and cold, but nonetheless he hit 18 home runs with an alright .254 average. Such numbers could lead to an even better year in 2026, and it feels quite likely that will happen. Alvarez is someone to completely watch next season after looking like a monster in 2025.
Alvarez started the year badly with an bad average, and little power. However, he was sent down to Triple-A and brought back up after he raked. In limited action due to some injuries, he hit over .300 with 8 home runs in 38 games. It was a completely different version of Alvarez, as he hit with more confidence and power. In 2026, if he can stay healthy, he can break out into what many fans have envisioned over the years.
Finally, when it comes to Vientos, he is quite possibly the most important player on this team when it comes to breaking out. For one month, Vientos last season at one point hit .280 with 8 home runs. But other than that, Vientos struggled to stay healthy, and just didn’t look good at all. In 2024, after missing the first portion of the season, Vientos was the most important player for the Mets offensively. Including the postseason, Vientos hit 32 home runs in 124 games. In 2026, such a version of Vientos would single handedly push them over the top.
In 2026, the lineup will depend on how players can bounce back. To put the lineup in prospect, ever player has at least hit 18 home runs in the past. Such a lineup is a big gamble because it can get affected by injuries and underperformances. However, out all lineups in the league, none have such a high ceiling. Mets fans have to be excited for 2026, because this lineup can be the best in the league.
Main Image: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
