Starting pitching was one of the biggest question marks for the New York Mets heading into the 2025 season. Ace Kodai Senga missed nearly all of 2024 due to a series of injuries, and last year’s most consistent arm, Sean Manaea, opened this season on the injured list with an oblique strain. David Peterson emerged as a breakout performer in 2024, but skepticism lingered about whether he would be able to replicate that success.

Yet, just a month into the season, those doubts have been strongly silenced thanks to a dominant and somewhat unexpected showing from the Mets’ starting rotation.

Tylor Megill, once projected to begin the season in the bullpen or Triple-A, has emerged as one of the best starters in baseball. Through his first six outings, the right-hander has posted a 1.74 ERA with 39 strikeouts. Senga, back in form, has arguably looked even better, compiling a 1.26 ERA and 25 strikeouts across five starts.

One of the boldest moves by the Mets’ front office this offseason was signing former Yankees closer Clay Holmes and converting him into a starter. That gamble has paid off tremendously, as  Holmes owns a 2.64 ERA and has struck out 36 batters over six starts.

Perhaps the most surprising contributor so far, though, has been Griffin Canning. After finishing 2024 with an American League-worst 5.19 ERA among qualified starters, Canning has completely turned things around in Queens. The free-agent acquisition boasts a 2.61 ERA with 31 strikeouts and is tied for the second-most wins in the majors with four.

Thanks to this remarkable collective pitching performance, the Mets are off to a scorching start. At 21-10, they own the best record in Major League Baseball and lead the National League East by 3.5 games over the second-place Phillies. Incredibly, no Mets starter has allowed more than four runs in a single outing through the team’s first 31 games—already setting a new modern National League record, surpassing the previous mark of 27 games. Their dominance is reflected in a league-best 2.64 team ERA, and an even more commanding lead in starting rotation ERA.

What makes this feat even more impressive is the fact that New York is still missing key arms. Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, and Paul Blackburn have yet to make their 2025 debuts, showcasing just how deep this Mets pitching staff has been.

While the offense has been heating up as of late, it hasn’t been the focal point of this team. The Mets rank 13th in batting average, 11th in home runs, and 9th in runs scored. However, Pete Alonso has been a force at the plate, ranking fourth in MLB in batting average, third in RBIs, and second in OPS.

This afternoon, the Mets will send Senga to the mound in the rubber match of their series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He’ll face Zac Gallen, who has struggled out of the gate with a 1-4 record and a 5.57 ERA. With the pitching staff off to a historic start and the team clicking despite early injuries, the Mets have already exceeded expectations and show no signs of slowing down.