New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza is receiving backlash for his starting lineup on May 7. Mendoza has been no stranger to controversy during the 2026 season. Despite high hopes, the Mets are currently last in the National League East. Not only are they in the basement, but New York is also tied for the fewest wins in Major League Baseball.
Because of the team’s ongoing struggles, Mendoza is on the hot seat before a quarter of the campaign is complete. After all, New York has the highest total payroll in baseball in 2026. Despite the concerns, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has publicly backed his manager. The exec told reporters on May 1 that the club “does not intend” to make a coaching change at the moment.
Since Stearns’ comment, Mendoza’s Mets are 4-1, including a three-game win streak. New York will attempt to sweep the Colorado Rockies with a victory on Thursday. While the team is playing better as of late, fans are not happy with Mendoza’s new lineup. Superstar slugger Juan Soto is once again hitting leadoff on May 7. Soto recently switched to the top spot and is one for seven with a home run in the position.
Along with their best hitter atop the order, Mendoza has also benched Carson Benge and M.J. Melendez. The controversial move likely comes down to Thursday’s matchup. Colorado is starting the game with the left-handed Jose Quintana on the mound. Both Benge and Melendez are hit from the left side of the plate.
New York Mets Coach Benches Stars for Recently Acquired Veterans
GettyCarlos Mendoza has a .517 win rate with the New York Mets.
Benge entered the season as one of the highest-rated hitting prospects in baseball. He has, however, struggled to acclimate to big-league pitching so far with the New York Mets. Nevertheless, as some fans have pointed out, Benge is relatively hot at the plate over the last two weeks. The outfielder has 12 hits in his last 10 starts for the club (.308 batting average) during this timeframe.
Like Benge, Mendoza does not like giving Melendez at-bats when facing southpaws. In fact, the outfielder has only one total plate appearance against lefties on the season. The Mets coach is going with Austin Slater and Andy Ibanez in place of the duo. Slater, with a career .381 slugging percentage, will serve as New York’s cleanup hitter on the day. According to Statmuse, Slater has slashed .263/.353/.422 against southpaws in his MLB career.
Soto Responds to Hitting Leadoff For New York
While the fans are frustrated with Mendoza’s choices, Soto has been supportive of the changes. The superstar was asked about his move to the leadoff spot following the New York Mets’ win on May 6. “I told [Mendoza] right away, whatever he wants,” Soto replied, as reported by SNY. “Wherever he wants me, I’ll be there — anything I can do to help the team out, I’m going to be open to it.”
Ultimately, Mendoza’s lineup alterations will be criticized less the more New York wins. If Thursday’s moves end up working out, supporters could start backing the coach’s decisions more. However, if things do not work out on May 7, tensions may very well continue to grow.
Mets Fans Fume as Coach Makes Unpopular Lineup Changes