Zac Thornton Makes Strong Case for Mets' 2027 Rotation Spot

Thornton's command, low walk rate plus a six-inning, one-run outing against the Brewers position him as a cost-controlled starting option for the Mets' unsettled rotation this offseason.

Overview

Thornton allowed one earned run over six innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in his latest start, finishing that outing with seven hits, four strikeouts and no walks.
Through 10 major-league starts he has a 2.88 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, six quality starts, 40 strikeouts and just 14 walks across 56.1 innings.
His profile is command driven: he threw 62 of 89 pitches for strikes in the Brewers game and showed an uptick in fastball velocity after extra rest with a peak of 95.4 mph and a 93.1 mph average.
The Mets’ rotation remains unsettled heading into the offseason, so Thornton will be evaluated alongside Nolan McLean, Sean Manaea and Christian Scott as the club weighs internal, cost-controlled options and possible upgrades.
The club-wide context that helped Thornton get opportunity includes deadline trades that trimmed veteran relievers and rookie bullpen contributions from Nate Lavender, and the Mets will watch Thornton's remaining starts and pitch-mix adjustments to decide his 2027 role.