The San Francisco Giants travel to Citi Field on Saturday, September 5, 2026, for a 4:10 p.m. ET first pitch against the New York Mets. Anthony Molina gets the ball for San Francisco against Mets right-hander Zac Thornton in what figures to be a significant late-season regular-season contest. The game airs on NBCS BA and SNY on television, with radio coverage available on KNBR 680 for Giants fans back home.

Giants vs. Mets Game Preview: September 5, 2026 at Citi Field

Starting Pitchers: Molina vs. Thornton

Anthony Molina draws the start for San Francisco in this one. Detailed season stats for Molina are not available heading into this game, so the story on the mound will be written in real time this afternoon. The same is true for New York's Zac Thornton — the Mets' starter enters without publicly confirmed ERA or win-loss figures for this preview. Both pitchers are worth watching closely early, as the lineup each faces will set the tone.

New York Mets Starting Lineup

The Mets are running out a legitimate offensive challenge for Molina. New York's lineup as confirmed for Saturday:

• 1. Francisco Lindor, SS
• 2. Juan Soto, LF
• 3. Bo Bichette, DH
• 4. Carson Benge, RF
• 5. Jared Young, 1B
• 6. Marcus Semien, 2B
• 7. A.J. Ewing, CF
• 8. Francisco Alvarez, C
• 9. Brett Baty, 3B

That is a lineup built around legitimate offensive threats at the top. Lindor and Soto at one and two give New York a dangerous combination to lead off innings, and Bichette hitting third adds another bat that Molina cannot take lightly. Semien, a veteran presence, slots in sixth and keeps the lineup from having a soft spot in the middle third. Molina will need to work carefully and command the strike zone if he wants to navigate this order without damage.

Keys to Watch for the Giants

• Molina's command early: Getting through the top of the Mets order cleanly in the first and second innings will be critical. Lindor and Soto are the kind of hitters who make you pay for walks and mistakes left over the plate.
• Giants lineup against Thornton: San Francisco's lineup is not confirmed yet for this game, which makes it worth watching how manager Bob Melvin constructs the order against a starter the Giants may not have deep familiarity with.
• Bullpen depth: With both starting pitchers carrying question marks in terms of recent form and workload, the Giants' bullpen could be a deciding factor if Molina is pulled early.
• Francisco Alvarez at the plate: Batting eighth for New York, Alvarez is the kind of catcher who can change a game's momentum with one swing. Molina must not let the lineup cycle to him with runners aboard.

Prediction

This is a matchup where the Giants are working with limited information on both sides of the pitching ledger, which makes confident game-score projection difficult and honestly a little dishonest if you dress it up otherwise. What is clear: San Francisco is walking into a Mets lineup that has real firepower at the top, and Molina has to be sharp. The Giants have the pitching depth to compete in games like this, but the offense needs to show up against a starter they may not know well. Call it a competitive, low-scoring game that comes down to which bullpen blinks first. Edge, cautiously, to whoever generates early traffic on the bases. Giants fans tuning in on KNBR 680 should buckle in for a tight one.