Mets Hesitate on Jonah Tong’s Next Start as Rotation Options Multiply

The New York Mets declined to commit to another start for top prospect Jonah Tong following a short, troublesome outing in Friday’s 8-3 loss to the Texas Rangers, with manager Carlos Mendoza saying the organization will use Monday’s off-day to discuss rotation plans.

Tong failed to record a third out in the first inning, charged with six runs on four hits and three walks over 40 pitches as Texas mounted an early rally. "We'll see" whether Tong makes another start, Mendoza said, adding that the club may use the lefthander in a tandem with another starter if it chooses to keep him in the big-league mix.

Tong’s outing came after he had shown promise in his first two big-league starts, allowing five earned runs in 11 innings against the Marlins and Reds. Against the Rangers, Texas batters displayed notable patience: of the first 19 pitches they saw, they swung only once, and two walks helped fuel the rally that ended Tong’s night.

The Mets have repeatedly said they will be "creative" with a group that currently includes six rotation options and a seventh pitcher at Triple-A still trying to prove himself. Kodai Senga, a former front-line starter who has battled a right hamstring strain and ineffective outings upon returning, made a positive debut with Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. Senga allowed one run on three hits with no walks in six innings and struck out eight. Under roster rules, Senga cannot be recalled to the majors until Sept. 20 unless another player is injured.

Beyond Tong and Senga, the Mets’ internal options have produced mixed results this month. Nolan McLean has solidified a spot after earning playing time, and Brandon Sproat had a strong debut. Sean Manaea and Clay Holmes have shown intriguing stuff but typically have not gone deep into games, making them possible piggyback choices. David Peterson, who had struggled in earlier starts, allowed three runs in five innings in Philadelphia on Thursday. Meanwhile, Huascar Brazobán provided length in relief of Tong on Friday, throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings — the second-longest scoreless relief outing of his career.

Offensively, Francisco Álvarez provided the Mets’ first run with an opposite-field solo home run in the third inning. Cedric Mullins, who has been part of a platoon in center field after struggling since his trade from Baltimore, returned to the lineup and went 1-for-3 with a single off Jacob deGrom. Mullins had sat against left-handed starters in recent games; the Mets had activated José Siri to cover some of those starts, and Jeff McNeil moved to center in one game.

Mullins’ struggles in New York have been pronounced: he entered the recent stretch with a .183/.297/.280 slash line in 31 games with the Mets. Co-hitting coach Jeremy Barnes said the team has been working with Mullins on getting a more direct path to the ball and not letting his hands fall behind, adjustments intended to help him handle inside pitches more effectively. "The thing that we’ve talked to him about is not losing things behind him, getting out in front," Barnes said.

The Mets organization also paused to honor former manager Davey Johnson, who died Sept. 5 at 82, with a moment of silence. Bobby Valentine, who served as Johnson’s third-base coach with the Mets in 1984 and later worked with him elsewhere, praised Johnson’s early adoption of statistical analysis. "Davey was one of the most selfless star players that I was ever around," Valentine said. "Davey got that early. Davey was cool."

The club will enter the off-day with multiple roster and usage questions ahead of the season’s final weeks. Tylor Megill remains out while seeking additional medical opinions for elbow tightness, Mendoza said, and that situation could also affect the Mets’ short-term plans. The team’s decision-making over the next few days is likely to include tactical uses of starters in tandem roles, short-term bullpen lengthers and the timing of Senga’s eventual return to the majors if the club opts to push him back to the big-league roster after Sept. 20.

Given the combination of youth, recent call-ups and veterans seeking to regain form, the Mets face a compact window to balance development and competitiveness as they finalize the pitching mix for the stretch run.