Juan Soto, Mets strive to claim series against Rafael Devers and Giants

Sep 4, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers (16) hits a three run home run in the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Juan Soto and Rafael Devers are putting up big numbers for sub-.500 teams. Soto and the New York Mets will look to clinch another series win on Saturday afternoon, when they host Devers and the San Francisco Giants in the middle game of a three-game set. Left-hander Zac Thornton (3-4, 2.93 ERA) will start for the Mets against Giants right-hander Anthony Molina (2-0, 3.77). The Mets hit five home runs on Friday, when Nolan McLean grinded through six innings and earned the win as New York held off a late Giants rally in a 10-6 victory. Soto didn't get in on the homer-hitting fun Friday, when he finished 0-for-4 with an RBI forceout, a run and a stolen base. Francisco Alvarez delivered a pair of solo blasts while Mark Vientos (three-run homer), Bo Bichette (two-run homer) and Francisco Lindor (two-run homer) went deep with at least one runner on. But Soto's presence in the lineup after missing five weeks with a strained left calf is a reminder the Mets (64-77) haven't given up on the season despite residing in last place in the National League East for much of the summer. Soto is 4-for-21 with two homers and four RBIs in six games since his return. But his season-long OPS of .934 would rank second in the NL -- behind leading NL Most Valuable Player candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong -- if he had enough plate appearances to qualify and is just below his career mark of .947. "Anytime you are stepping on the field (in) a major league game, games are important and wins and losses are important," Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Friday. "I think that's what Juan's presence means. That's what him battling to get back as quickly as he (did) means to us and to the group." Staying healthy hasn't been a problem this season for Devers, who has played in all 142 games while serving as one of the few bright spots for the Giants (58-84), who are on pace for just their second 90-loss season since 2009. Devers single-handedly kept the Giants in the game Friday, when he finished 3-for-4 with five RBIs. He opened the scoring for San Francisco with a two-run double in the third inning and hit a three-run homer in the eighth to pull the visitors to 9-6 and force the Mets to go to closer Kodai Senga. Alvarez hit his second homer in the bottom of the eighth, after which Senga threw a hitless ninth in a non-save situation. Devers has at least two hits in seven of his last 12 games, a stretch in which he is hitting .413 with seven homers and 18 RBIs. He has 33 homers, five shy of his career high set with the Boston Red Sox in 2021 and the most for a San Francisco slugger since all-time home run king Barry Bonds went deep 45 times in 2004. "Attitude, preparation, all those things are just spilling out on the field during the game," Giants manager Tony Vitello said. "You are seeing an exceptional player be who he is." Thornton didn't factor into the decision in his most recent start last Sunday, when he allowed two runs over five innings as the Mets fell to the Houston Astros 6-3. Molina earned the victory in his first start of the season on Monday after giving up three runs over five innings in the Giants' 7-3 win over the Atlanta Braves. Thornton has never opposed the Giants, and Molina is 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA in two career relief appearances against the Mets. --Field Level Media