The Mets are leaning into a young pitching core, with Jonah Tong set for another start after a rough major-league debut. Management stresses resilience and a fast bounce-back, framing Tong, Nolan McLean, and Brandon Sproat as rotating pieces in a piggyback approach alongside Sean Manaea, who must elevate his fastball and overall mix to keep the rotation intact as the team eyes a potential playoff run. Kodai Senga is heading to Triple-A Syracuse for another tune-up before reassessment. Meanwhile, Luis Torrens could return soon, Tyrone Taylor nears rehab after a family birth, and Francisco Lindor’s family and Roberto Clemente ties provide a hopeful backdrop for a competitive, culturally united Mets squad.

Stearns publicly endorses Mendoza, signaling stability at the managerial level as the club plots its path through a demanding schedule against the San Diego Padres. The cross-town spotlight on Lindor’s family, plus Diaz’s Puerto Rico ties, adds a layer of leadership and belonging that the club is trying to translate into on-field success. In Toronto terms, the Mets are balancing immediate needs with long-term development while keeping playoff chances alive.

The underlying narrative is about turning early-season adversity into a design for sustained competitiveness: rebuilds in the rotation, leveraged bullpen considerations, and a clear plan to maximize innings from veterans like Manaea while giving prospects time to mature. Expect continued experimentation and strategic restarts as the Mets chase meaningful late-season opportunities.

bet365 is rolling out a new-user boost: $150 in bonus bets after wagering at least $5, with a simple sign-up flow and a 30-day claim window. New players deposit $10+ and place a first bet of $5 or more to unlock the promo, with the bonus bets usable on any markets. The offer expires seven days after any leftover bonus bets remain. On Sunday, bettors can choose from two NFL preseason games—New Orleans vs Jacksonville at 1 p.m. ET and Chicago vs Buffalo at 8 p.m. ET—plus a slate of 15 MLB games, highlighted by Padres vs Dodgers and Mariners vs Mets. Fantasy players should weigh using the bonus for risk-adjusted bets and DFS lineups across both leagues, while tracking starter reps and bullpen usage in the preseason.

The Saints-Jaguars showdown features a quarterback carousel in New Orleans with Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough, and Jake Haener, while Jacksonville may roll Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne Jr. for brief sequences as they gear toward Week 1, with Jacksonville favored by 2.5. In Chicago, Caleb Williams is slated to debut as the Bears’ first preseason starter, aiming to push Chicago past a 2.5-point spread and an over/under of 40.5. MLB action centers on the Mets versus Mariners Little League Classic with Clay Holmes on the mound for New York and George Kirby for Seattle, shaping a narrative around strikeout and out-prop markets (Holmes 4.5 Ks; Kirby 17.5 outs). Padres-Dodgers and Mets-Mariners provide stacked DFS stacks and prize-pool considerations as the day unfolds.