Mets’ Zac Thornton ready to play spoiler against division-hopeful Yankees

Zac Thornton understands the Yankees still are playing for the American League East title, so he carries a responsibility. 

“We want to be spoilers to some people’s seasons,” the Mets left-hander told The Post on Friday. “We did a little bit of that last week in Miami — that felt good to spoil some seasons — so we have got to keep it on.” 

The rookie will have an opportunity to leave his mark Saturday, when he is scheduled for his Subway Series debut. Thornton has been among the Mets’ surprises this season, emerging from obscurity in spring training to post a 3.53 ERA over 12 starts for the team. 

In Miami, the Mets swept three games against a team clinging to National League wild card possibilities. Hope for the Marlins had all but faded once the final game was complete. 

Thornton is familiar with at least one member of the Yankees: his minor league career largely overlapped with that of rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. 

“Every single level that I have been at, I have thrown to Lombard, so it will be fun to throw to him in the big leagues,” Thornton said. “We have had some good battles throughout the years. He’s a good hitter. He’s always getting the ball in play, so he’s a tough guy to strike out.” 

Any conversation about the Yankees lineup starts with Aaron Judge, who returned from the injured list this week. 

New York Mets pitcher Zac Thornton pitches in the first inning as the Mets play the San Francisco Giants on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, at Citi Field in Queens, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post

“A really good player, but at the end of the day hitting is hard, and I am going to go out and throw my stuff and see what guys can do with it,” Thornton said. 

The lefty wasn’t his best in his last start, when he surrendered six earned runs over five innings (including four homers) in a loss to the Giants last Saturday. It was the first time since his major league debut on May 20 that Thornton allowed more than three earned runs in a start. 

“I think I fell into a trap of trying to be too cute early on in counts, where if I pound the zone early, I won’t really be in as many hitters’ counts as I was last week,” Thornton said. “I m just trying to do my job to get my guys in good counts.” 

Thornton is anticipating the moment. 

“It will probably be the closest thing we’ll get to a playoff atmosphere this year,” Thornton said. “It’s probably really good just for my development as a pitcher, to kind of feel these crowds and see if I can rise to the occasion.”