Mets vs. Guardians Lineups Reveal Deadline Divide

The New York Mets opened their Aug. 4, 2026, series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field with A.J. Ewing, Francisco Lindor, and Bo Bichette in the first three lineup spots. Sean Manaea started for New York against Cleveland left-hander Joey Cantillo, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 p.m. EDT.

The confirmed lineup card showed the first immediate consequence of Monday's trade deadline. Cleveland placed Jo Adell second one day after acquiring him, while New York kept Ewing, Lindor, and Bichette together after moving eight Major Leaguers in seven notable deals.

Confirmed Mets and Guardians lineups

New York entered the opener at 47-66, while Cleveland was 57-56. The records gave the lineup decisions different contexts. The Mets had moved nearly one-third of their active roster, while the Guardians entered the day above .500 after adding Major League help for a postseason push.

Ewing had also led off in New York's July 30 lineup against Miami. Lindor and Bichette followed him in the same order five days later in Cleveland. That continuity survived the deadline even as the players behind the top three changed.

Manaea and Cantillo Set Up a Left-Handed Matchup

Manaea and Cantillo were both left-handed starters, but neither club removed every left-handed bat. New York started Ewing, Benge, and Young from the left side. Cleveland kept Kwan, DeLauter, and Bazzana in its order.

Lindor switched to the right side against Cantillo. Martínez and Rocchio gave Cleveland two switch hitters against Manaea. The lineup cards show that neither club used a full right-handed platoon, with DeLauter remaining third for Cleveland and Benge staying fifth for New York.

The game preview identified two verified form notes. Manaea was seeking his fourth quality start in five outings. DeLauter had recorded at least one hit in 23 of 29 games since returning from the injured list on June 28, 2026.

Cleveland arranged its first three hitters left-right-left with Kwan, Adell, and DeLauter. That forced Manaea to move between different sides of the plate before reaching Hoskins in the cleanup spot. New York's first six alternated less cleanly, but its order still placed left-handed hitters Ewing and Benge around the established bats of Lindor, Bichette, Alvarez, and Robert.

Manaea's previous assignment against Los Angeles was examined in an earlier Dodgers-Mets pitching matchup report. Cleveland presented a different opening sequence because Adell separated two left-handed hitters at the top of the order.

Adell Starts After Cleveland's Deadline Moves

Cleveland acquired Adell, 27, from the Los Angeles Angels, Foster Griffin, 31, from the Washington Nationals, and Nathaniel Lowe, 31, from the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 3, 2026. The club's deadline account details how the three moves added an outfielder, a starting pitcher, and a first baseman.

Adell went directly into right field and the second lineup spot against Manaea. The matchup was supported by his 2026 split: a .909 OPS against left-handed pitching, compared with a .593 OPS against right-handers. Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said after the deadline, “We feel we're a better baseball team today than we were 10 days ago.”

Lowe did not start on Aug. 4. Hoskins played first base, in line with Cleveland's plan to use Lowe for most at-bats against right-handers and Hoskins against left-handers. Griffin was listed to start the Aug. 6 series finale.

New York's deadline took the opposite form. The Mets' transaction review lists seven notable deals, eight Major Leaguers moved, and 12 prospects acquired. President of baseball operations David Stearns said, “We think we added a tremendous amount of talent to the organization that will help us going forward.”

The Aug. 4 lineup showed which established players remained. Lindor, Bichette, Alvarez, Robert, and Semien were still in the order, while Ewing and Benge occupied two outfield positions. Cleveland changed its lineup immediately by adding Adell near the top. New York changed the supporting cast without moving its first three hitters.

Interim manager Andy Green submitted the Mets lineup after the club's June managerial change. The timing and background of that decision remain available in the report on the Mets naming Green interim manager.

Lindor Returns to the City That Drafted Him

Lindor, 32, returned to the organization that selected him in the first round of the 2011 draft. His player biography lists Cleveland as the club that took him with the eighth overall pick.

He batted second and played shortstop rather than receiving a one-off ceremonial assignment. It was the same place in the order he occupied behind Ewing and ahead of Bichette against Miami on July 30.

That repeated top three provides the clearest line through New York's roster changes. Ewing retained the leadoff role, Lindor remained the switch-hitting shortstop in the second spot, and Bichette stayed behind him. The deadline altered much of the roster, but not the order's opening sequence.

Broadcast Details and Remaining Series Schedule

The confirmed broadcast listings and the remaining probable pitchers were published on the clubs' schedule and pitching pages.

The Mets broadcast page identifies SNY and WHSQ 880 AM. Cleveland's broadcast guide lists CLEGuardians.TV, WTAM, and WARF, while the probable-pitcher page includes the game-specific television options.

The series continues on Aug. 5 at 6:40 p.m. EDT with Christian Scott listed against Tanner Bibee. The Aug. 6 finale is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. EDT, with Nolan McLean matched against Foster Griffin.