Mets Say They Follow MLB Rules After In-Game AI Strategy Claims

What happened: New York Mets interim manager Andy Green rejected concern that the club is operating outside Major League Baseball rules after a report connected the organization to artificial intelligence use for in-game strategy decisions. According to The Guardian, Green said before Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies that the Mets remain fully compliant with MLB.

The issue stems from claims by Adam Ottavino that the club used AI for pitch decisions. The Guardian also noted that MLB recently restricted dugout iPad functions, a detail that matters because the dispute is not just about whether teams study data, but how live information can be delivered and used during games.

Why it matters: Baseball has always been a sport of sequencing, tendencies and probabilities, but the line between preparation and real-time automated decision support is becoming more sensitive. The Mets’ position, as stated by Green, is procedural: whatever the rules are, the club follows them and MLB determines compliance. That does not resolve the broader question of how teams should be allowed to use AI during live competition.

Competitive impact: If a team can use advanced systems to guide pitch selection, bullpen decisions, defensive positioning or hitter-specific approaches in real time, the edge could be significant. But the confirmed source material does not say MLB found wrongdoing, and it does not specify exactly what tool was allegedly used, when it was used, or whether decisions were automated rather than informed by staff analysis.

That distinction is important. Clubs already use large amounts of data before and during series. The controversy becomes sharper only when technology is alleged to influence in-game decisions through channels the league has restricted or closely regulates. MLB’s recent iPad limitations suggest the league is already trying to define the boundary between allowed information and prohibited live assistance.

What to watch: The next step is whether MLB comments publicly or takes any formal action. Green’s answer puts the burden on the league’s compliance process. If MLB says the Mets are within the rules, this becomes part of the wider policy debate around AI and dugout technology. If the league investigates further, the focus will likely move from general AI anxiety to specific mechanics: what information was available, who accessed it, and whether it violated device or communication rules.

Confidence: Confirmed by the source are Green’s statement that the Mets remain compliant with MLB rules, Ottavino’s claim about AI being used for pitch decisions, and the recent MLB restrictions on dugout iPad functions. Still needing follow-up are the exact nature of the alleged AI system, whether MLB has reviewed the specific claims, and whether any rule clarification or discipline follows.