The New York Mets are back at Citi Field, and the sense of urgency is palpable. After a mixed nine-game road trip out west—where they won five but struggled to generate consistent offense—the Mets are looking to flip the script. The bats went quiet in five of those games, managing three runs or fewer, and they missed a chance to sweep the Diamondbacks by scoring just one run in each of the final two contests. Now, as they open a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night at 7:10 p.m., the message from the clubhouse is clear: it's time for a change.

"We’ve got to be better than what we’ve shown. That’s not a secret," manager Carlos Mendoza said. "We’ve been in a slump for quite a bit now. We have to be able to play consistent, good baseball. Put together complete games—pitching, defense, offense, timely hitting. It starts one day at a time, one game at a time, but it’s not early anymore."

To inject some life into the lineup, the Mets are turning to their top position player prospect, A.J. Ewing. The 21-year-old makes his major league debut on Monday, starting in center field and batting eighth. It's a bold move that could provide the spark this offense desperately needs as they face a Tigers team that's been struggling themselves.

On the mound, Freddy Peralta gets the ball for his ninth start, looking to build on his second win of the season last time out. With a 2-3 record and a solid 3.12 ERA, Peralta will need to bring his best against Detroit's Jack Flaherty, who enters with an 0-3 mark and a 5.56 ERA. It's a matchup that could set the tone for the series—and for the Mets' push to turn their season around.

This series is just the beginning of a critical stretch for New York. After the Tigers, they'll host the Yankees for the Subway Series starting Friday, meaning every game counts. For fans looking to gear up for the action, make sure you're repping your favorite team in style—because if there's one thing Mets fans know, it's that the season is far from over.