Sports Today Tuesday, September 22
← Back to today’s slate MLB matchup · September 22, 2026
New York Mets
71-85 · 5th in NL East, 21 GB
Bats heating up
LHP Sean Manaea · Command specialist
@
Texas Rangers
78-78 · 1st in AL West
Offense cooling lately
LHP MacKenzie Gore · High-strikeout arm
MLB · Globe Life Field · 5:05 PM PT

Team Identity

New York Mets
Season-to-date, 156 games, 6,052 PA.
A balanced offense without a standout strength or glaring weakness. The bats have been heating up lately.
Power
Average49
Contact
Below Avg32
Plate Discipline
Average50
Speed
Well Below22
RISP
Below Avg43
Recent Form
Trending Up
Hit rate is up 6% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.
Texas Rangers
Season-to-date, 156 games, 5,991 PA.
An opportunistic offense that cashes in scoring chances. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Average48
Contact
Average51
Plate Discipline
Average54
Speed
Below Avg42
RISP
Above Avg80
Recent Form
Trending Down
Total bases per PA is down 16% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.

What This Game Is About

Biggest Advantage

Rangers' offense is defined by being opportunistic, and this game tests whether Mets can match it.

Swing Factor

Rangers rank in the 48th percentile in extra-base production, while Sean Manaea sits in the 10th percentile at suppressing total bases.

Momentum

Mets are trending up and Rangers are trending down over their last 10 games.

Key Matchups

Can Sean Manaea limit Rangers' power?
Rangers rank in the 48th percentile in extra-base production, while Sean Manaea sits in the 10th percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · RangersRangers: 0.344 TB/PASean Manaea: 0.416 TB/PA allowed (618 PA)High confidence
Can MacKenzie Gore miss enough bats?
MacKenzie Gore strikes hitters out at a 23.6% clip (68th percentile); Mets carry a 21.7% strikeout rate.
Edge · MacKenzie GoreMacKenzie Gore: 23.6% K rateMets: 21.7% K rateHigh confidence
How do Rangers handle left-handers?
Rangers have produced better against left-handers this season (0.373 vs. 0.344 TB/PA overall).
Edge · Rangersvs left-handers: 0.373 TB/PA (1754 PA)overall: 0.344 TB/PAModerate confidence
How do Mets handle left-handers?
Mets have produced worse against left-handers this season (0.330 vs. 0.343 TB/PA overall).
Edge · MacKenzie Gorevs left-handers: 0.330 TB/PA (1735 PA)overall: 0.343 TB/PAModerate confidence
Can MacKenzie Gore limit Mets' power?
Mets rank in the 49th percentile in extra-base production, while MacKenzie Gore sits in the 44th percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · MetsMets: 0.343 TB/PAMacKenzie Gore: 0.348 TB/PA allowed (729 PA)High confidence

Pitcher Trends

Sean Manaea
Sean Manaea
New York Mets · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts5.5/start
Hits allowed6.1/start
4 or fewer Strikeouts — 4 of last 65 or fewer Hits Allowed — 3 of last 6
21% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.
MacKenzie Gore
MacKenzie Gore
Texas Rangers · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts4.0/start
Hits allowed5.1/start
4 or fewer Strikeouts — 5 of last 65 or fewer Hits Allowed — 4 of last 6
24% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.

Player Trends

Danny Jansen
Danny Jansen
Texas Rangers · 0.286 hit rate · 0.357 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L108 / 10L2514 / 25
Hit rate is up 94% over his prior baseline, with hits in 7 of his last 8 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 7%.
Carson Benge
Carson Benge
New York Mets · 0.289 hit rate · 0.489 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L108 / 10L2518 / 254-game hit streak
Total bases per PA is up 34% over his prior baseline, with hits in 8 of his last 10 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 18%.
Brett Baty
Brett Baty
New York Mets · 0.259 hit rate · 0.296 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L108 / 10L2517 / 253-game hit streak
On-base rate is up 53% over his prior baseline, with hits in 6 of his last 8 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 19%.
Ezequiel Duran
Ezequiel Duran
Texas Rangers · 0.146 hit rate · 0.171 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L105 / 10L2515 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 57% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 10 games.
Justin Foscue
Justin Foscue
Texas Rangers · 0.222 hit rate · 0.278 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L106 / 10L2517 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 38% over his prior baseline, with hits in 3 of his last 7 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 39%.
Brandon Nimmo
Brandon Nimmo
Texas Rangers · 0.184 hit rate · 0.263 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L106 / 10L2514 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 28% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 9 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 39%.

Players Positioned to Succeed

75
Carson Benge
Carson Benge
1+ Hit
New York Mets
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
74
Corey Seager
Corey Seager
1+ Hit
Texas Rangers
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
72
Juan Soto
Juan Soto
1+ Hit
New York Mets
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
70
Marcus Semien
Marcus Semien
1+ Hit
New York Mets
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
70
Bo Bichette
Bo Bichette
1+ Hit
New York Mets
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
69
Josh Jung
Josh Jung
1+ Hit
Texas Rangers
Why it stands out
Low recent strikeout rate
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted

Expected Game Shape

BalancedLow confidence

Competitive profile without a clear stylistic tilt. Mets bring stronger recent momentum.

Early edge Rangers Driver No single dominant factor Volatility Elevated
  • Both probable starters grade around the 44th percentile in combined suppression.
  • Mets are trending up; Rangers are trending down.

Storylines to Watch

Is Danny Jansen the one to watch?
Danny Jansen enters as Rangers' hottest bat. Hit rate is up 94% over his prior baseline, with hits in 7 of his last 8 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 7%.
0.286 hit rate · 0.357 TB/PA · 0.147 hit rate · 0.289 TB/PA
Can Ezequiel Duran snap out of it?
Ezequiel Duran has cooled off. Total bases per PA is down 57% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 10 games.
0.146 hit rate · 0.171 TB/PA · 0.243 hit rate · 0.400 TB/PA
Can Mets handle MacKenzie Gore's strikeout stuff?
Mets have been a below-average contact team while MacKenzie Gore misses bats at an above-average rate — a swing factor early.
Mets contact percentile: 32
Based on plate appearances before 2026-09-22, with today's posted lineups when available. Injuries, weather, bullpen availability, and park factors are not yet included.