The Mets and Angels are set to face off in a three-game series from May 1-3 in Anaheim. Key points include Christian Scott's return to the rotation after Tommy John surgery.
Key points
Mets and Angels face off in a three-game series
Series starts on May 1 in Anaheim
Christian Scott returns to the rotation
Scott's first start post-surgery lasted 1.1 innings
Predictions focus on team performance and pitching
MetsAngelsChristian Scott
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Here are five things to watch and predictions as theMetsand Angels play a three-game series in Anaheim starting on Friday night...
Scott's first big league start since Tommy John surgery did not go well, with the 26-year-old right-hander lasting just 1.1 innings due to a lack of command.
During his outing, Scott gave up one run while issuing five walks and hitting one batter, but didn't allow a hit.
He was sent down to Triple-A Syracuse the day after the start, but the Mets were able to call him back up without having him spend the required 10 days in the minors since he replaced an injured player (Kodai Senga). With Senga on the IL and David Peterson's future in the rotation up in the air, the expectation is that Scott will get a serious look.
Scott's stuff looked great in spring training, and he walked only two batters in 13.2 innings for Syracuse before being promoted the first time. So it is fair to believe his bout of wildness during his first start had more to do with nerves than anything.
He'll get his second shot in Friday's series-opener.
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McLean retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced, including six via the strikeout. But in the fourth inning, he was jumped, giving up back-to-back hard-hit singles and a walk to load the bases with none out, and then surrendering a run-scoring single. He escaped the jam with a strikeout and double play, but it was the kind of inning McLean hadn't had all season.
In his fifth and final inning, McLean retired the side in order.
Overall this season, McLean has been dominant, with a 2.55 ERA (2.24 FIP) and 0.849 WHIP to go along with 45 strikeouts in 35.1 innings -- a strikeout rate of 11.5 per nine.
Soto has reached base 17 times in 34 plate appearances since returning from the IL.
In his first at-bat against the Nationals on Thursday afternoon, Soto was robbed of a home run by James Wood, who leapt and snatched a ball that would've otherwise cleared the wall easily. Soto ripped a single his second time up. In his third plate appearance, Soto was pitched around and walked. His fourth time up, Soto smoked a ball off the center field wall for a double.
Mar 31, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) hits a single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium.
Mar 31, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) hits a single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium. / Jeff Curry - Imagn Images
It will be interesting to see how the Angels pitch to Soto since Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco, and Luis Robert Jr. are all on the IL, while the rest of the Mets' lineup has struggled.
If they give him pitches to hit, he'll probably punish them. If not, he'll take his walks and it'll be left to the rest of the lineup to come through.
After being limited to just 111 combined games in 2023 and 2024 due to injury, Trout was able to play 130 games in 2025. And he was solid, posting a .797 OPS and popping 26 homers.
So far this season, he looks like vintage Mike Trout.
Trout carried a .999 OPS and 10 homers into play on Thursday. Meanwhile, he was leading the AL with 29 runs scored and leading all of baseball in walks (32).
The Angels' offense as a whole has been fearsome, with just six teams having scored more than their 150 runs entering play on Thursday.
Mets will avoid Jose Soriano
Soriano has been the best pitcher in baseball this season, posting video game numbers in 42.2 innings over his first seven starts.
He is leading the league with a 0.84 ERA and has a ridiculous 509 ERA+. Soriano has allowed just 24 hits and struck out 49.
So the Mets are lucky they won't have to face him during this series.
Against New York, the Angels will send out Walbert Urena (4.76 ERA, 2.21 WHIP), Reid Detmers (4.28 ERA, 1.10 WHIP), and Jack Kochanowicz (3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP).
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Juan Soto
Soto has been locked in since returning.
Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?
Nolan McLean
This will be the first look the Angels get at McLean.
Which Angels player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?
