Mets Face Pitching Shortage Ahead of Cardinals Matchup

New York could be short-handed on the mound with several relievers unavailable

Mar. 30, 2026 at 8:27pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's windup and delivery, with sharp planes of color representing the Mets' pitching challenges.A cubist interpretation of the Mets' pitching predicament, with the team's depleted bullpen forcing a heavy workload on the starting pitcher.NYC Today

The New York Mets are heading into Monday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals with a potential pitching shortage, as they are likely to be without four relievers - Luke Weaver, Huascar Brazoban, Sean Manaea, and Richard Lovelady - due to heavy usage over the weekend. This puts added pressure on starter Clay Holmes and long reliever Tobias Myers to cover the majority of the innings.

Why it matters

The Mets' bullpen depth will be tested early in the season, and their ability to manage the pitching staff effectively could have a significant impact on the outcome of this particular game against a tough Cardinals team.

The details

The Mets' pitching predicament stems from an extra-inning game over the weekend that taxed the bullpen. With several key relievers unavailable, the team will need strong outings from Holmes and Myers to avoid putting too much strain on the remaining pitchers.

  • The Mets are facing the Cardinals on Monday, March 30, 2026.

The players

Clay Holmes

The Mets' starting pitcher for Monday's game against the Cardinals.

Tobias Myers

A former starter who is currently operating in a long-relief role for the Mets.

Luke Weaver

A Mets relief pitcher who is likely unavailable for Monday's game due to heavy usage over the weekend.

Huascar Brazoban

A Mets relief pitcher who is likely unavailable for Monday's game due to heavy usage over the weekend.

Sean Manaea

A Mets relief pitcher who is likely unavailable for Monday's game due to heavy usage over the weekend.

Richard Lovelady

A Mets relief pitcher who is likely unavailable for Monday's game due to heavy usage over the weekend.

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What’s next

The Mets will need to carefully manage their pitching staff and rely heavily on Holmes and Myers to get through Monday's game against the Cardinals.

The takeaway

The Mets' pitching depth will be tested early in the season, and their ability to navigate this short-handed situation could set the tone for the rest of their series against the Cardinals.