Mets Make Bo Bichette Decision After 26 Games

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Apr 26, 2026 11:28 AM ET

The New York Mets entered 2026 with World Series ambitions. Through 26 games, however, the reality has been about as grim as it gets. A 12-game losing streak, the longest for the franchise since 2002, saw the Mets fall to 7-16, the worst record in baseball, prompting genuine questions about whether this roster could turn things around.

They finally snapped the skid with back-to-back wins over the Minnesota Twins. But the Colorado Rockies walked into Citi Field and handed them a 4-3 loss Friday night to cool whatever momentum they'd built. New York sits at 9-17, fourth in the NL East, and will hope to return to winning ways on Sunday.

The centerpiece of their struggling infield has been Bo Bichette. The 28-year-old signed a three-year, $126 million deal with New York and was moved from shortstop to third base to accommodate Francisco Lindor.

New York Mets third baseman Bo Bichette (19).© Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Through 26 games, Bichette is hitting .239 with a .581 OPS, one home run and 12 RBIs, a far cry from the .311 average and .840 OPS he posted in his final season with the Toronto Blue Jays.

But with Lindor sidelined due to a calf strain, the New York Mets are making a change. Bo Bichette will get his first start at shortstop as a Met on Sunday against the Rockies, returning to the position where he spent his entire major league career in Toronto.

Game 1 #LGM pic.twitter.com/V6aBwcZ8Uf
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 26, 2026

During his seven-year stint with the Blue Jays, he earned two All-Star selections and led the American League in hits twice. He compiled a career slash line of .294/.337/.469 with 111 home runs and 437 RBIs through 748 games in Toronto.

Moving him back to short, even as a temporary measure, is a practical call. Manager Carlos Mendoza had initially indicated that Ronny Mauricio, recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, would serve as the primary shortstop during Lindor's absence (h/t Anthony DiComo of MLB.com)

But with Bichette's bat still searching for life and his comfort level clearly higher at his natural position, getting him back in familiar territory against a struggling Colorado team (11-16) makes sense. Brett Baty, who recorded two RBIs on Friday, is expected to take over at third base.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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