Mets Travel to Pittsburgh for Three-Game Series Against Pirates Without Star Outfielder Soto

The New York Mets begin a three-game road series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday at PNC Park, with the matchup set for 6:40 p.m. ET. New York will face the Pirates without outfielder Juan Soto, who is sidelined with a calf injury, marking a significant absence as the team continues its season.

The Teams and Current Form

The Mets (50-66) arrive in Pittsburgh riding momentum from a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Guardians. However, their road record stands at 25-32 this season, a concerning statistic heading into a three-game contest at an opposing ballpark. The Pirates (57-60) are positioned competitively in the standings and will face a Mets lineup dealing with injury complications.

Starting Pitchers and Betting Outlook

Rookie left-hander Zac Thornton takes the mound for New York despite recent struggles, having allowed seven earned runs across his last five outings. Pittsburgh counters with Carmen Mlodzinski (4-3, 3.76 ERA), making a spot start with Mitch Keller unavailable. According to betting projections, Pittsburgh holds slight favorability at -131 on the money line, while New York sits at +118. The over/under for combined runs is set at 8, with analytical models projecting the game will exceed that total.

Where to Watch

Friday's opening game broadcasts on WPIX at 6:40 p.m. ET. The following two games in the series will air on SNY. Viewers can stream the series through DIRECTV, which offers multi-day free trial access, or through MLB.TV for out-of-market fans, though blackout restrictions may apply in some regions.