New York Mets pitcher Zac Thornton is steadily building a case for a spot in the team's 2027 rotation. Through his first 10 major league starts, Thornton has maintained a 2.88 earned run average, a mark that places him among a select group of pitchers in Mets history.
On Tuesday, Thornton delivered another strong outing, holding the Milwaukee Brewers, who entered the game as the fourth-highest-scoring offense in the league, to just one run over six innings. The Mets secured a 3-2 victory in 10 innings at Citi Field.
"I thought I did a fine job just kind of changing speeds on them, basically one through nine, kind of used all the pitches," Thornton said after the game. He showcased a varied arsenal, mixing seven distinct pitches, six of which generated swings and misses. He also avoided issuing any walks and threw 62 of his 89 pitches for strikes. The left-hander also noted an increase in velocity, topping out at 95.4 mph.
Interim manager Andy Green commented on Thornton's performance, stating, "I think he is who we thought he was: a fearless competitor who doesn’t care who gets in the batter’s box." Green added that Thornton "might give up a home run on the first pitch of the game, and the rest of the game, he’s going to do what he does."
Thornton's lone run allowed came in the fourth inning, on a play where a ground ball took an unusual bounce away from infielder Bo Bichette. Since his debut, which included a four-run outing over 4 1/3 innings, Thornton has not allowed four earned runs in a game.
In other team news, manager Andy Green provided updates on injured players. He indicated that both Juan Soto, sidelined with a left calf strain since July 24, and Devin Williams, out since Aug. 7 with a right shoulder strain, are still expected to return this season. However, Mark Vientos, who fractured his hand on July 9 and has begun playing in minor league games, is "not particularly close" to rejoining the major league club.
The team's catching situation also remains a point of interest. For the second consecutive game, Francisco Alvarez was out of the starting lineup, with Luis Torrens catching against the Brewers' left-handed pitcher. Alvarez has been the primary catcher since 2023, while Torrens has performed well as a backup since his acquisition in a 2024 trade. Before Tuesday's game, Torrens was hitting .393 with six home runs and 13 RBIs over his previous 10 games, while Alvarez was in a 2-for-33 slump. Green stated that both catchers will continue to see significant playing time as the season concludes, and he expressed continued belief in Alvarez's upside despite his recent struggles. Mets pitcher Zac Thornton held Milwaukee to one run over six innings in the Mets’ 3-2, 10-inning win over the Brewers on Aug. 25, 2026 at Citi Field. Mets batter Luis Robert Jr. round the bases after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning of the Mets’ 10-inning win over the Brewers.