Mets Shake Up Lineup: Carson Benge Leads Off, MJ Melendez Shines

In a bold move to invigorate a struggling offense, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza made significant changes to his lineup ahead of Friday’s series opener against the Cubs. Among the adjustments, Carson Benge was elevated to the leadoff position, a role he embraced with enthusiasm during his first career start there.

Benge quickly made his presence felt, starting the game with a 105 mph lineout and later adding a single up the middle. His performance continues a promising trend, as the young outfielder is currently on a three-game hitting streak, having reached base in six of his last seven outings. Mendoza praised Benge’s recent at-bats, stating, “He continues to have good at-bats. Yesterday he hit the ball hard, had that single, but I think it just comes down to personnel. We have to get some guys back in the lineup, then you start making those decisions—but in the meantime, I feel like leaving him there makes the most sense.”

Meanwhile, MJ Melendez, who had a rocky start in Syracuse this season, has turned heads since being called up to the Mets. After a solid debut against Shohei Ohtani, where he went 2-for-4 with two doubles, Melendez continued to impress on Friday. He reached base three times with a walk and two well-hit singles, marking a strong start to his time with the big league club. Mendoza noted, “Really good at-bats. We saw it from the first game against Ohtani, hitting the ball hard, using the whole field, controlling the zone—he’s been really good for us offensively and he’s going to continue to get opportunities.”

For Saturday’s matchup, Melendez is back in the lineup, hitting fifth as the designated hitter. However, with Jorge Polanco now on the injured list, there’s a possibility that Melendez could see time at first base in the coming weeks, further showcasing the team’s reliance on his versatility and offensive skills.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.