Scott belongs in '27 rotation. How does the rest fall into place?

NEW YORK -- With Nolan McLean, Zac Thornton and Christian Scott lined up to pitch in the Subway Series this weekend, the Mets spent their time at Yankee Stadium providing a glimpse of 2027. While McLean struggled on Friday night, Thornton and Scott both thrived, the latter holding the Yankees to two solo homers Sunday in a 2-0 loss.

For Scott, it was another chance to prove he belongs in the 2027 rotation. At this point, he has probably done enough.

“I feel like we’re a really confident group,” Scott said. “Just being able to do that consistently at a high level throughout a whole season is going to be special.”

Yet as president of baseball operations David Stearns said last month, repeating one of baseball’s most popular maxims, “You can never have too much starting pitching.” So who might join Scott in the Mets’ 2027 rotation?

The locks: McLean, Scott
Friday’s hiccup aside, McLean has easily been the Mets’ best starter this season, leading the team in nearly every major pitching category. That’s not to say McLean has been perfect; to the contrary, bouts of inconsistency have plagued him all summer, prompting interim manager Andy Green to say frequently that there’s another level McLean can reach. Still, McLean has done more than enough to secure his spot on the 2027 team.

While Scott has likewise proven inconsistent in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, his overall results have been solid, with a 3.76 ERA over 22 outings. That will play on any team. The only question is whether Scott will slot as a mid-rotation or back-end starter for the Mets.

“I think Christian Scott’s really good,” Green said. “He is getting better and better every time we watch him.”

Little left to prove: Thornton
While Thornton doesn’t feature the stuff or the experience that McLean and Scott do, he continues to show that his winning quotient is real. In one of his stiffest tests to date on Saturday, Thornton held the Yankees to two runs over seven innings. His velocity has been ticking up lately as well, legitimizing his bid to become a long-term starting option for the Mets.

Right now, there’s no reason why New York would deny him a role in the rotation, though that could change depending on the nature of its offseason shopping.

Said Thornton: “I feel like every outing that I have here, I’m still trying to prove myself, prove that I can compete at the Major League level, prove that I can be on this ’27 roster and rotation.”

Lots left to prove: Sean Manaea, Jonah Tong
It has been a disjointed season for Manaea, who entered Spring Training ostensibly as part of a six-man rotation, only to lose his grip on a starting gig when his velocity flagged. Manaea instead found himself in the Opening Day bullpen before rejoining the rotation, thriving for a bit, then more recently falling victim to a series of midgame lapses. Overall, Manaea has produced a 4.79 ERA over 16 starts and 14 relief appearances. He hasn’t recaptured the frontline potential he flashed back in 2024.

No matter what the Mets think of Manaea, he still has one year and $25 million left on his contract. That’s probably too much to eat in a salary dump, either by cutting Manaea or trading him. So he should be back with the team next spring, looking to prove his worthiness of a rotation spot.

As for Tong, he’s trying to put a positive spin on a disappointing summer that saw him confined to Triple-A Syracuse for most of it. Tong, who returned to the Mets with a promising start on Monday, needs a positive September more than anyone on this list.

Prospect wing: Jonathan Santucci, Gary Gill Hill, Jack Wenninger
The Mets on Sunday named Santucci their organizational Pitcher of the Year, rewarding the left-hander for a season that’s seen him flirt with the Minor League strikeout crown. Santucci’s rough start to his Triple-A career could cost him a realistic chance at breaking camp with the 2027 Mets, but he shouldn’t need much additional seasoning.

“The big leagues, my ultimate dream, is only one step away now,” Santucci said earlier this month at Triple-A Syracuse. “Just keep chugging along, keep getting better.”

Also close to the Majors is Gill Hill, who was part of the Freddy Peralta trade from the Rays, but who profiles more as a back-end starter if he’s a long-term rotation option at all.

As for Wenninger, he’d probably already be in the Majors if not for some notable control issues. While Wenninger, too, has produced better results of late, his walk rate remains elevated enough to give the Mets pause.

External targets: Tarik Skubal and many more
Among the most significant offseason questions facing the Mets will be their appetite to pursue Skubal, the top free agent available on the market at any position. Even if McLean develops into a true frontline starter, the Mets could use another ace to pair with him. Skubal is obviously just that sort of pitcher.

After Skubal, the best free-agent options available are probably Michael King and Clay Holmes, who can both opt out of their deals. The Mets have passed on opportunities to acquire King in the past, and while a reunion with Holmes would make them stronger, it wouldn’t necessarily increase the ceiling they displayed in 2026.

On the trade market, familiar names like Sandy Alcantara and Joe Ryan may or may not be dealt. Perhaps the Mariners or Brewers will part with some starting pitching depth. Those answers won’t become clear for several months, but a Mets team in need of pitching will surely seek them out eventually.