Robert Stock knows how he can improve during shaky Mets audition

Robert Stock knows his reality. The journeyman right-hander — 36 years old and getting his first consistent look at starting games at the MLB level — knows that each outing doubles as an audition. 

The Mets have other options — including Jonah Tong — in the minors who could push for starts across the final month of the season. They have 26 games left after Saturday’s contest against the Astros to figure out potential roles for 2027, when they expect to compete again.

And Stock, who has flashed some good and some ugly, is scheduled to start Monday against the Rays coming off his worst outing of the year, when he allowed seven runs on 10 hits across four innings against the Brewers on Wednesday. 

With more clunkers like that one, his feel-good story from the last month — and his spot in the rotation — could be in jeopardy. 

“Luckily, they’re still giving me the ball,” Stock told The Post when asked about what the last month has meant and what the final month could mean, “so I’m gonna keep on making improvements and try and prove that it’s something that I can do — regardless of what my role is next year or even for the rest of the year. It’s just, I want to be pitching in the major leagues and so I’m gonna continue to improve.” 

At his best, Stock allowed one run across five innings against the Marlins on Aug. 2. He strung together 8 ²/₃ innings across two starts where he allowed just two runs — with only one of those earned.

New York Mets starting pitcher Robert Stock throws to the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at Citi Field in Queens, New York on August 26, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

But in between those promising glimpses were two brutal outings, where Stock surrendered 15 combined runs and 19 combined hits. 

He received a semi-endorsement for, at the very least, one more start from interim manager Andy Green earlier this week — that “without being fully committed,” Green anticipated handing the ball to Stock the next turn through the rotation. Tong, who struggled for most of the season, pitched 5 ²/₃ shutout innings in his last start Aug. 22 and made another start Saturday for Syracuse. 

Stock’s winding career has included stops in Korea and Mexico, as well as a stint with the Long Island Ducks. He also underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgery earlier this year before returning and clawing his way to the majors.

Recently, he has tried to recover some of his velocity that he said he lost by being so focused on trying to throw strikes.

New York Mets starting pitcher Robert Stock reacts after giving up a three-run home run to Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang in the fourth inning on August 26, 2026, at Citi Field in Queens, New York. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

During his Aug. 8 start against the Pirates, his four-seam fastball averaged 96.8 mph, and that has dipped to 95.5 and 95.4 in his two most recent starts on Wednesday and Aug. 19, respectively, according to Baseball Savant. 

And Stock knows that each start now carries ramifications that could impact his immediate Mets future. 

“I have to prove that I can get guys out every fifth day, and especially through the third time through the order — I’ve had tremendous troubles doing that so far,” Stock said. 

Mark Vientos (right hand fracture) continued his rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday, hitting second and serving as the designated hitter. He entered just 2-for-14 through his first five games with Double-A Binghamton and then with Triple-A. 

Carson Benge, who drove in the lone Mets run in the series opener against the Astros, entered play Saturday with a .352 average and a .955 OPS across his last 27 games — collecting the third-most hits in the majors (37) and the best average in the National League across that stretch.