Carson Benge Sets Challenge For Paul Skence As Pirates Face Mets On Opening Day

FLUSHING, N.R.—The 2026 season begins with a marquee collision of rising star and established ace on Monday when the New York Mets host the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field, and 23-year-old outfielder Carson Binge has no intention of easing into the spotlight. Named to the Opening Day roster on March 23 by manager Carlos Mendoza, the first-round prospect will step into the box against reigning National League Cy Young winner Paul Skence, setting up a classic rookie-versus-flamethrower showdown.

The assignment is nothing new for Binge, who forced his way north with a .366 Grapefruit League showing and a .281/.385/.4 72 slash line with 15 home runs and 47 extra-base hits across three minor-league levels last season. A separated shoulder to veteran Mike Tauchman cleared a path, but Binge seized the opportunity with elite bat tracking, a compact left-handed swing and a 92.1 mph average exit velocity during his Triple-A stint.

“Starting out with the best, it’s pretty cool,” Binge said of facing Skence, who delivered a 1.97 ERA and 216 strikeouts in 2025 while routinely touching 100 with a power slider. “I’ll try to win every pitch, every AB, and find any way you can to win.”

Skence’s triple-digit arsenal has overwhelmed hitters since his debut, yet B has thrived against velocity this spring, working deep in the box and showing patience that kept whiff rates low. He led the Mets in hits in exhibition play and will bat in a lineup anchored by Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and Luis Robert Jr., easing the burden of a debut against the league’s most dominant arm.

For the Mets, the season opener is more than a ceremonial flag drop; it is a statement of faith in a youth movement designed to challenge the powerhouse Pirates. For Binge, it is an immediate referendum on a prospect pedigree that has been accelerating through the system since draft day.

Monday’s first pitch will mark the beginning of a pennant race, but it will also spotlight a single confrontation between a rookie unfazed by the moment and an ace seeking to remind the league why he holds the crown.