While certain individuals continue to do their best to ease any worries about the starting rotation, the Mets suffered a huge blow on the injury front over the weekend.

To that end, let’s recap all the good and the bad from the last batch of Grapefruit League games in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

HOLMES MASTERCLASS

The decision to stretch Clay Holmes into a starter looks more and more like a home run with each passing day. Granted, we’re still in the throes of spring training. It is foolish to overreact to anything during this time of year. With that said, however, Holmes has taken to his new role with ease and has looked mighty impressive thus far. His strong spring continued on Sunday against the Nationals. In three 2/3 innings, the righty extended his scoreless streak to 9 2/3 innings. He allowed one hit and walked three but struck out eight. Holmes’ nasty sinker mowed through the Nationals lineup, and he elicited 13 swings and misses in total on Sunday.

It remains to be seen just how much Holmes will be able to give the Mets as a starter over a full 162-game regular season. But, as the old adage goes, quality over quantity is always preferred. We’ve certainly seen a lot of quality from Holmes so far.

SPRING STANDOUT

Every team in baseball will see a shock star performer emerge from the monotony of spring training exhibition games. It happens every single year. Well, Max Kranick has been that man for the Mets this spring. The righty has been making impressive noise throughout camp in a bid to make the Opening Day roster. He threw another scoreless inning out of the pen on Friday, registering 97.7 mph on one of his pitches – the hardest he’s thrown in spring training. In total, Kranick has allowed no runs and no walks with four hits and eight strikeouts in seven outstanding innings. With a minor league option, it remains to be seen if Kranick does break camp with the major league ballclub.

But, whether he does or not, the 27-year-old possesses both nasty stuff and a lot of upside. As a result, he has what’s needed to become a multi-inning threat out of the bullpen at some point in 2025.

SIGN OF THINGS TO COME

The entire Juan Soto experience has started perfectly for the Mets so far. By every indication, the superstar hitter with the record contract has fitted in comfortably, and he is already emerging as a real leader in that clubhouse. Furthermore, Soto has lived up to his lofty billing on the baseball diamond. In seven spring training games, the generational hitter is slashing.400/.471/.867/.1.337 with two homers, one double, two walks and five RBIs. He finished 3-for-3 against the Marlins on Saturday, including an opposite-field RBI double. All in all, Soto has come exactly as advertised. It will be a thrill to watch him put on a hitting masterclass in Queens.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

3 DOWN 

ALL-TIME BODY BLOW

The Mets were dealt an especially nasty punch to the stomach on Sunday. It was announced that Francisco Alvarez willmiss six to eight weeks with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. The catcher will undergo surgery. It is a huge blow to the Mets, who will now rely on Luis Torrens as their everyday catcher. But it is arguably a bigger blow for Alvarez, who hoped to author a comeback year after a tough 2024 season. The slugger reworked his swing and tweaked his mechanics in the hope of becoming a real X-Factor for the Mets in 2025. Instead, he will now begin the year on the shelf.

Of course, there is always the danger of setbacks and complications with any kind of injury. As such, you can make a compelling argument that the Mets should go out and bring in another catcher. Yasmani Grandal, who is a free agent, arguably offers the most offensive upside of all the options available. Other alternatives include former Mets catchers James McCann and Tomás Nido. It is important to note, however, that the latter would require a trade given that he is currently with the Tigers. The Mets do have internal options, too, but going outside of the organization for an insurance policy might be the better play.

Whatever the Mets decide to do, though, there is no replacing Alvarez, and his absence at the start of the season is a notable setback for both team and player.

SLOW PROGRESS

Setbacks are proving to be the theme of spring training for Brandon Nimmo. The outfielder is battling soreness in his right knee – a fight he is currently losing. Despite being expected to return to the lineup on Sunday, that proved to not bethe case. Instead, Nimmo received a gel injection and sat out. He will rest through at least Monday and then will continue to ramp up. However, while there is no structural damage, the persistent soreness is somewhat concerning. Nimmo has been limited to just two plate appearances so far this spring. That lack of preparation is hardly conducive to getting off to a fast and productive start in 2025. We will see what happens the rest of the way, but Nimmo’s nagging knee soreness is a worrisome development worth keeping an eye on.

TOUGH SLEDDING

Things are starting to take shape with the starting rotation, but there are still question marks over the backend. Paul Blackburn was considered a contender to win a spot at the back of that rotation. However, it has been a rough camp for the veteran. Through three starts, Blackburn has allowed eight hits, four walks, two home runs and seven runs (six earned), while recording just one strikeout. He got roughed up pretty badly in his last outing on Friday too, giving up three runs on five hits. He allowed two homers in that one while walking two batters.

As things stand, Blackburn is probably lagging behind Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning in what is effectively a three-horse race for a rotation spot. However, still recovering from spinal leak surgery, there is time for Blackburn to turn things around. After all, it isn’t about how you start but, rather, how you finish.

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An efficient first inning in which he threw 15 pitches—11 of which were strikes—allowed Senga to stay in the game for a second inning of work. Senga got the first two outs with ease before allowing a slow infield single which was awkwardly played by Pete Alonso. It was no bother for Senga as he erased the next batter quickly and retired the side.

In his two innings of work, Senga threw 31 pitches (20 strikes), allowed two hits, no walks, and recorded two strikeouts. His fastball hovered around 95 miles per hour in what was a positive outing regarding Senga’s health entering this season.

Senga was followed out of the bullpen by David Peterson, who also made his first Grapefruit League appearance this spring. Peterson looked sharp, consistently pounding the strike zone and keeping opposing hitters off the basepaths. In three innings of work, Peterson threw 37 pitches (25 strikes) and allowed no runs on a hit and zero walks while striking out five.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Despite the strong outings from Senga and Peterson, the Mets’ bats couldn’t capitalize early on. Their lineup included many of their top guys, yet their first baserunner that didn’t reach via an error was with one out in the fifth inning. Connor Gillispie and Janson Junk each recorded two innings without allowing a walk or a hit before Xzavion Curry got into trouble in the fifth by allowing a walk and a single. Still, the Mets couldn’t bring the runners home, keeping it a scoreless game.

The 0-0 tie was finally broken in the top of the sixth inning, which was an unlucky one for José Buttó. He didn’t give up much hard contact (the hardest hit against him was 82.7 miles per hour), but he nevertheless allowed two infield singles and a blooper over shortstop to drive a runner home.

The Mets answered right back in the bottom of the inning, instantly getting a runner on third after José Azócar singled and advanced after the ball got past the center fielder. After a Francisco Lindor lineout, prospect Simon Juan hit a sacrifice fly out to center field to even the game.

TJ Shook, Huascar Brazobán, Max Kranick, and Tyler Zuber all entered in relief for the Mets as they tried to keep the Marlins at one run. Kranick, who has already had a spectacular spring, impressed with three strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings. The relief staff succeeded in keeping the Marlins to their one run, but with the Mets’ offense unable to capitalize, the result was a 1-1 tie.

Player of the Game: David Peterson

As good as Peterson looked in 2024, there’s always a little bit of hesitation when it comes to him, considering he’s alternated good and bad years each year he’s been in the majors. If Monday was any indication, however, 2025 could be an even better year for him if he manages to stay healthy. He looks sharp and ready to be a staple in a rotation reeling with injuries.

Injury Updates

The Mets provided updates on two key players before Monday’s game. Outfield prospect Drew Gilbert, who was marredby injury in 2024, might not appear in any Grapefruit League games this spring. The Mets want to take it slow with Gilbert, though they expect him to be ready for the start of the minor league season.

Additionally, Brandon Nimmo has been dealing with a sore right knee, explaining why he has not seen any Grapefruit League action since his lone appearance on Friday. Carlos Mendoza called it a “low level of concern,” though, and he expects Nimmo to be in Tuesday’s lineup.

On Deck

The Mets will travel to Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter on Tuesday to take on the Cardinals, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET. Pitching matchups are to be determined. The game will be broadcast on ESPN and can also be listened to on Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM.

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Spring training games are now officially underway and the New York Mets will begin their Grapefruit League schedule on Saturday afternoon.

In total, the Mets will play 31 spring training games – 32 if you include the Spring Breakout. And, as always, there is a ton of intrigue and excitement prior to the first Grapefruit League contest.

Furthermore, there is something really quite beautiful about the start of spring training games. You can feel the weather start to change, we have actual baseball games to digest and it all means Opening Day is just getting closer.

To that end, here are some compelling storylines to watch out for over the next few days…

SIX THINGS TO WATCH 

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

STAR ATTRACTION

Spring training games mean very little in the grand scheme of things, other than acting as a means for players to ramp up to the games that do matter. They also provide a platform for prospects to impress and fight for roster spots. Outside of those two things, however, the results in these Grapefruit League games won’t matter.

What will matter, though, and especially on Saturday, will be fans getting the first opportunity to see Juan Soto in a Mets uniform in an actual game environment. Soto will make his unofficial debut for the team in Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener against the Astros. It will be a moment Mets fans have been waiting for all offseason long, and maybe even longer than that.

Granted, Soto will only play a few innings before making a swift exit from the game, but the occasion will still be special for all involved. After watching Soto hit at a Hall of Fame level for other teams, including the Yankees, it will be nice to see the generational hitter do it in Mets colors. A home run in his spring debut would be even nicer.

Plus, with manager Carlos Mendoza leaning towards hitting Soto second in the lineup, behind Francisco Lindor, it will be fascinating to see how the lineup with Soto in it takes shape over the course of spring training.

TRANSITION TIME

Outside of Soto, one of the Mets’ biggest offseason additions was Clay Holmes, who signed a three-year, $38 million contract in December. What was bigger perhaps, however, was the news that the Mets intend on using Holmes as a starter in Queens. The righty saved 74 games over a three-year span for the Yankees, including 30 in 2024 before losing the closer job in September after also blowing 13 saves.

Those days are seemingly behind Holmes now, and his transition to a full-time starter will begin on Saturday. The two-time All-Star is expected to get the start against the Astros on Saturday, and the hope is he will go around three innings. Of all the things to keep an eye on during the early weeks of spring training will be how Holmes adjusts to his new role, and how that will impact the rotation as we edge closer to Opening Day.

COMPETITION TIME

Without doubt the biggest question mark hovering over this team is the starting rotation. President of baseball operations David Stearns is again banking on the collective effort rather than relying on one or two elite arms to carry the pitching. It was a strategy that paid off in a huge way in 2024. We will see if similar magic can happen in 2025.

You can’t be blamed if you have doubts, though. Outside of Sean Manaea, there are a lot of question marks. And we will get some answers to the test throughout the first batch of spring training games. Can Holmes become a reliable starter? What will Kodai Senga look like after an injury-ravaged 2024 season? Will David Peterson continue to pitch at a high level? Can Paul Blackburn be a consistent arm over the course of a full season? And who will win the battle for that sixth spot in the rotation with Frankie Montas currently injured? Can Tylor Megill add some much-needed consistency to his game? Or will Griffin Canning enjoy a strong start to spring and move ahead of Megill in the depth chart? Or could there be a late addition to the rotation?

All of those pitching storylines will be intriguing to watch play out over the first load of Grapefruit League games. And the rotation will continue to be the biggest conversation starter in the buildup to Opening Day.

Brandon Sproat, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

PROSPECT WATCH

One of the most enjoyable and fun aspects of spring training is getting to watch the future stars of tomorrow battle and make the most of their chance in big league camp. The Mets have a handful of prospects who could earn a call-up to The Show at some point in 2025. Arguably the most intriguing prospect to keep an eye on in the early part of spring training will be Brandon Sproat. The right-handed pitcher has filthy stuff and looks certain to pitch in the majors at some point in 2025. A fast start in spring training could mean a call-up in May or June. Sproat is arguably the prospect most fans are invested in given how important pitching is, and his early spring starts will be must-watch.

Other names to keep an eye on will be Luisangel Acuña (more on him later), Ryan Clifford, Jett Williams, and Drew Gilbert. Williams and Gilbert were hurt for most of 2024, so will need a big spring training in order to prove their health. And, as for Clifford, the outfielder has a lot of power and a dominant spring could pave the way for a call-up later on in the season. All in all, the first few games will allow us all an opportunity to see how talented and ready some of the organization’s top prospects really are.

SECOND BASE FLEXIBILITY 

Both David Stearns and owner Steve Cohen have spoken about the importance of roster flexibility this offseason. Stearns expanded on that point when closing the door on a return for Jose Iglesias. Instead, there could be an open competition at second base this year. Jeff McNeil, who is looking to prove that he’s still got something left in the tank, could be the Opening Day second baseman. However, there will seemingly be opportunities for the likes of Brett Baty and Acuña to challenge McNeil for the job in spring. Throw Nick Madrigal and, when he’s healthy, Ronny Mauricio into the mix too. Overall, the intense battle for reps at second – and an infield utility role – could shape up to be one of the most fascinating developments to fixate on as games begin.

NEW FACES

Outside of the notable additions of Soto and Holmes, the Mets were busy this offseason. Madrigal and Canning were on-the-margin signings, Jose Siri was signed to improve the outfield defense, and Frankie Montas and A.J. Minter were notable pitching acquisitions. When you throw in the returns of Sean Manaea, Pete Alonso, Jesse Winker, and Ryne Stanek, Mets fans will have plenty of new and familiar faces to pay close attention to in the first few games of Grapefruit League action. After all, watching old heroes and fresh names for the first time after a long winter is always one of the biggest thrills of spring training.

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Spring, as it always is, proved to be a long slog down the home stretch as appetite for games that actually matter grew and grew by the day. After all, there’s only so much  Grapefruit League action a sane person can take.

Luckily, the actual fun stuff begins at Citi Field on Thursday and we’ll get to see if this is a team that can actually compete for a playoff berth in 2024.

Until then, however, we’ve got some downtime to conduct a quick review of the past couple of days or so of Grapefruit League play. It is time for our final 3 Up, 3 Down of spring training…

3 Up

Photo by Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

LASTING IMPRESSION

Sean Manaea signed off from spring training in style during his last start of camp on Monday. The left-handed pitcher was pretty much unhittable through the first 4 2/3 innings against the Yankees. Manaea did give up a two-run double, but that was the only black mark against him in the box score.

He finished with just two earned runs, no walks and seven strikeouts over five innings in an outing that will will no doubt fill the veteran with confidence heading into the regular season. More importantly, Manaea had his stuff working for him, including a filthy breaking ball that tormented the Yankees lineup. Manaea ends his spring with a 3.24 ERA, 21 strikeouts, four walks and no homers allowed in 16 2/3 innings. He’ll hope to carry that into his first Mets start against the Tigers on April 1.

COMING THROUGH UNSCATHED

I’m starting to accept the fact I need to look at the bigger picture with Starling Marte as it pertains to his spring. While I’m concerned by the overall performance —.167/.239/.190/.430—I think the fact that the veteran outfielder stayed on the field and looked athletic while playing is the bigger and most substantial takeaway. You can’t read too much into spring training statistics anyway and, hopefully, a pain-free camp will pave the way for a return to form for Marte come Opening Day.

GOODBYE SPRING TRAINING 

Spring training is always fun to begin with because it means baseball is back, but the novelty soon wears off. There are only so many meaningless games you can watch before getting bored. Plus, as already mentioned, you can’t put too much stock into anything spring-related, so the whole exercise just becomes a bit tedious by the end. Thankfully, we can now look forward to games that actually matter and Opening Day is always a joyous occasion worth celebrating. Proper baseball is almost back, and it feels so damn good.

3 Down

Shintaro Fujinami, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

DRESS REHEARSAL LETDOWN

José Quintana will get the Opening Day start for the Mets on Thursday, and he will be hoping it goes better than his last start of spring training. The veteran lefty gave up five runs and walked four in three innings against the Astros on Saturday, including a three-run homer to Alex Bregman to open the game. Finishing spring with a 6.19 ERA, Quintana will be hoping that he’s now ironed out any kinks in time for the regular season.

Now, again, stats don’t mean much in spring training, but the Mets will need Quintana to be a lot better right from the jump, especially with Kodai Senga out to begin the year.

GOODBYE FOR NOW

You can make a compelling argument that the bullpen lacks a real swing-and-miss option outside of Edwin Díaz. Shintaro Fujinami could have been that guy. The flame-throwing reliever allowed five earned runs on four hits with four walks and five strikeouts during spring training, and he was optioned to minor-league camp on Saturday.

The Fujinami experience is truly wild but when he has his best stuff, he could be a potent weapon to bring out of the bullpen. If he can find a way to really harness his control while in the minors, then hopefully that will lead to a return to the big leagues at some point in 2024 for Fujinami, who could be a tantalizing late-inning option behind Díaz.

WORRYING TREND

At the risk of sounding like I’m on repeat, you have to take everything you see in spring training with a massive grain of salt. That’s just fact. However, it isn’t uncommon to see certain trends carry over into the regular season and that’s why I was a little concerned by the no-show from the offense on Monday. The lineup, which will be very similar to the one we’ll see on Opening Day, managed just two hits all game and was shutout by the Yankees. It was the third time this spring that the Mets had been shut out, although I’m less worried about the first two instances. But the fact this lineup could only muster two hits all game did raise some red flags. There are concerns about the bottom of the lineup as is, and I think the sooner J.D. Martinez is ready the better.

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The starting pitching continues to be a real strength, while the offense has hit an almighty towering wall over the past handful of games. Of course, it is foolish to put too much stock into anything spring training related, but there are certain trends manifesting that will be worth keeping an eye on.

And, on the day where the best prospects in the Mets’ farm system will take center stage in their Spring Breakout outing against the Washington Nationals, let’s run through the good, the bad, the encouraging and the concerning from the past few days of Mets camp…

3 Up

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

PITCHING MASTERCLASS

I’m going to preface what I’m about to say by again stating that you have to take everything that happens in spring training with a gargantuan grain of salt. In saying that, however, the Mets must be feeling really good about their starting pitching two weeks out from Opening Day. Luis Severino continues to impress, and he has now allowed just one earned run on five hits while striking out eight with no walks in nine innings of work this spring.

At the backend of the rotation, José Buttó continues to deal in his bid to make the Opening Day roster as the No. 5 starter. The righty pitched four scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday and has allowed just one earned run while striking out nine in 10 total innings of work. When you consider that Tylor Megill, Adrian Houser and José Quintana have also dealt this spring, then the starting rotation looks to be in good shape. However, we’ll see if that proves to be still true once the regular season gets underway.

WELCOME RETURN 

At the time of writing this, Jeff McNeil is on track to make his spring training debut this Sunday, though that will depend on how the second baseman feels after workouts over the next couple of days. McNeil, who has been dealing with biceps discomfort all spring, will face high velocity in batting practice on Friday. There is no doubt that the sooner the Mets can get their two-time All-Star back in the lineup, the better. After enduring a down year in 2023, McNeil will need to bounce-back if the Mets are to be competitive in 2024, and getting some at-bats in at the tail end of spring training will be key to getting off to a fast start.

YES TO J.D. 1

Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported this week that the Mets are in contact with slugger J.D. Martinez and that the interest seems to be mutual. I’ve been singing the same tired old song all offseason that Martinez would be the perfect fit for this team. I haven’t changed my mind on that. The six-time All-Star hit .271/.321/.572/.893 with 33 homers and 27 doubles for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023. Martinez can mash for fun, he can put the ball in play, he gets on base at a high clip, and he would offer a lot of lineup protection for Pete Alonso in the designated hitter role. Come on David Stearns, go and get this deal done.

3 Down

Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

NO TO J.D. 2

Joel Sherman of The Post reported that the Mets are having “serious talks” about bringing back J.D. Davis to Queens. I don’t think this is a good idea. Davis has been a net negative defensively while he’s also hardly been super-productive at the plate over the last couple of years. Plus, bringing back Davis would take away reps at the hot corner from Brett Baty and Mark Vientos, which wouldn’t be smart.

We need to see if Baty and Vientos can stick in the big leagues this year, and bringing in another third baseman would be counterproductive to that. The J.D. that makes the most sense is Martinez because of his big bat and the fact that he wouldn’t block Baty or Vientos at third. Plus, Vientos can fill in at DH when Martinez needs an off day. It is just my opinion, but J.D. Davis just wouldn’t be much of a fit on this roster.

OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES

Again, results in spring training are nothing but tonka trucks, but we can only report on what is happening right in front of us. As such, the fact that the offense has slowed down this week is slightly concerning. The bats have gone cold, scoring just seven runs in the last four games at the time of writing this while being shutout twice in that span. Brandon Nimmo, Alonso, Harrison Bader and Starling Marte went a combined 1-for-10 over a two-game span earlier in the week. Yes, the offense did put up six runs against the Astros on Wednesday, but then they were blanked by the Cardinals the following day. Again, it is spring, but the bats struggling this close to Opening Day is hardly a positive sign.

TIME TO PANIC?

The Mets say they aren’t worried about Starling Marte, but I’m not so sure I share that sentiment. The veteran outfielder has struggled greatly this spring, hitting just .091/.130/.091/.221 with two hits in 22 at-bats. Holy yikes. Marte is hitting the ball hard and far – he blasted one that left the bat at 108.5 mph on Monday – but the overall numbers are almost too ugly to ignore at this point. When you also consider that he had a down year in 2023, I’d say it is only normal to start panicking if the two-time All-Star still has plenty left in the tank. I think the opening few weeks of the 2024 regular season will tell us a lot about where exactly Marte’s game sits.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: The Story Of Two JD’s, Offensive Struggles, Pitching Hope appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Competition is really heating up for the final few roster spots available as we edge closer and closer to Opening Day. For those already guaranteed a spot in the big leagues, the remaining 16 games of Grapefruit League action will be used as a dress rehearsal for the regular season.

With that said, let’s dive into this week’s 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 Up

Edwin Díaz. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

DÍAZ’S RETURN

It has been almost a year since Edwin Díaz went down hurt while celebrating at the World Baseball Classic. The star closer was lost for the year and, in truth, the Mets never truly recovered from that gut punch. Fast forward to the present day and Díaz will finally return to the mound on Monday. The righty will throw up to 20 pitches against the Marlins in his first real taste of action since tearing his patellar tendon in 2022. Given his importance to this franchise, Díaz’s spring training debut will be a significant moment for the Mets. The two-time All-Star is the straw that stirs the drink for that bullpen.

HOT CORNER COMPETITION HEATING UP

The 2024 season will be boom or bust for both Brett Baty and Mark Vientos. If they succeed, then the void at third base is filled for the next little while. If they fail, however, the Mets will have to figure out what to do with their two top prospects. It is a good thing, then, that both players have flashed signs of promise thus far. Vientos hit his second homer of the spring in a loss to the Tigers on Sunday, following a two-hit game on Saturday. Baty, meanwhile, also had two hits on Saturday and is now hitting .222/.276/.370/.646 this spring. There is still plenty of work to be done by both players, but this weekend was a step in the right direction.

HOUSER SHOWING OUT

This has been a pretty solid spring training for Adrian Houser so far. After a good first start, the righty struggled in his second start but rebounded emphatically in his third on Sunday. The veteran, who is expected to round out the rotation, tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings against Detroit. Houser retired all ten batters he faced and struck out five. He also had great results with his sinker while locating his fastball to perfection. If the Mets can get solid outing after solid outing from Houser, the rotation should be in a good spot heading into 2024.

Shintaro Fujinami, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

3 Down

STILL SOMETHING MISSING

Something just doesn’t feel right with this group. As currently constituted, the 2024 Mets are just missing something, and I’m down on their chances to compete for a Wild Card spot. Call me a negative Nancy all you want, but that’s my gut feeling. This team is in need of another solid starter, as well as a big bat for the middle of the lineup. Sure, I get the argument that this is a transition year and a year for certain prospects to make their mark. However, will it really be good for the development of those young players to be on a team that piles up the losses? I’m not so sure.

BULLPEN STRUGGLES

Sunday wasn’t a good day for those looking to win one of the final spots in the bullpen. Shintaro Fujinami, who carries so much intrigue, laid a Godzilla-sized egg in his outing. The righty allowed three hits and two runs as the Tigers took a 3-1 lead in the eighth inning. Jorge López also struggled, allowing three hits and one earned run in his one inning of work. Given how close we are to Opening Day, having a stinker could prove costly for the likes of Fujinami, who will be hoping to nail down a place in the bullpen.

DON’T FIX WHAT ISN’T BROKEN

Reports surfaced over the weekend suggesting that Brandon Nimmo would be willing to move away from the leadoff spot. Nimmo himself lent some credence to those claims, although manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that Nimmo would remain the leadoff hitter as long as everyone else was healthy. However, there did appear to be an iota of doubt in Mendoza’s words, which suggests a change could happen at some point this year. That would be a mistake. 

Nimmo has established himself as an excellent leadoff hitter. He led the Mets in on-base percentage in 2023, 2021 and 2018. Furthermore, the outfielder’s OBP ranks 11th in all of baseball since making his debut in 2011, above the likes of Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. It just doesn’t make any sense to move Nimmo away from the leadoff spot. He is the perfect man for that role and will continue to be.

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It has been a near-perfect start to spring training for the Mets, who are 4-1 in Grapefruit League play heading into Thursday’s game against the Astros.

Granted, results don’t really matter all that much in spring training, but performances and trends do. There have been plenty of positives for the Mets on that front.

Not everything has been great, however, and to open up the 2024 series of 3 Up, 3 Down, we’re going to dive into some positive and negative trends that have emerged after the opening five games of spring training…

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

3 Up

Splash Brothers

Klay Thompson is currently adjusting to a new role with the Golden State Warriors, one far removed from his glory days as one of the best shooters in the NBA. It is also a period of adjustment for Klay’s brother, Trayce Thompson, who is trying to adapt to a new team while trying to win a job in the major leagues. So far, it is going pretty damn well. Trayce, who signed a minor league deal with the Mets earlier in the offseason, has been on an absolute heater to begin spring training. He is 4-for-7 with two homers and six RBIs in three games. That’s impressive. What’s more impressive is the fact that Thompson had two hits and a grand slam earlier in the week, while both of his hits against the Cardinals clocked in at over 103 mph.

It is still incredibly likely that Thompson will begin the year in the minors, but should injuries impact the outfield early, then Thompson is putting himself right at the front of the line for a call-up to the big leagues. He may be the less famous of the Thompson brothers, but Trayce has certainly been one of the headline acts in Port St. Lucie up to this point.

Prospects Showing Out

Spring training is always fun because it gives fans a tantalizing glimpse at the stars of tomorrow. Given that the Mets are in the middle of a hard reset as they look to bolster their farm system, this year’s spring training holds a lot more importance when it comes to evaluating prospects. And it has all been pretty positive so far. Drew Gilbert has arguably been the standout prospect so far, including going 1-for-1 with two RBIs against the Marlins on Tuesday. His hitting approach at the plate caught the eye, and it is feasible to think that Gilbert could be called up to the majors later in the year.

Jett Williams flashed his speed in the win over the Cardinals on Wednesday, while Nate Lavender, Alex Ramirez and Luisangel Acuña have all impressed too. Spring training is all about seeing what you have, and the Mets must be pleased with what they’ve seen from some of their rookies so far.

Familiar Act

I’m not inside his head, but I’m pretty sure that Pete Alonso was relieved to get back to the grind of preparing and playing baseball every single day. After an offseason that featured nonstop talk about his future with the Mets, Alonso has been all about ensuring it is business as usual on the field. The slugger, who will become a free agent after this season, went 2-for-2 against the Cardinals with a double and his first home run of the spring. After recording career-lows in a number of batting categories in 2023, including a .318 on-base percentage, Alonso has been working on making adjustments in his approach at the plate, including his chase rate.

It has certainly paid off early in spring training. In attempting to become a more complete hitter, Alonso is setting himself up for a monster year and it remains to be seen whether it will be his last one in Queens.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

3 Down

Pitching Curse Continues

At this point, it is probably best to just expect that a key pitcher will go down hurt in spring training for the Mets. It was Jacob deGrom in 2022. It was Edwin Díaz in 2023. And Kodai Senga continued that somewhat unfortunate tradition this year after sustaining a capsule strain in his throwing arm. By the way, file me under the banner of those who had no idea what a capsule strain even was. Anyway, Senga is unable to throw for at least three weeks after receiving an injection, but given that we’re talking about the Mets here, don’t be surprised if that timeframe proves to be optimistic at best.

Regardless of how long Senga is out, it is just a crushing blow for a team that is putting a lot of hope into a rotation full of question marks. There is a lot of boom or bust potential with that group. New ace Senga was the sure thing after a dazzling debut season in Queens, in which he went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 29 starts. Now we hope he’s back sooner rather than later. Not exactly the start to the season the Mets were hoping for.

Pitching Depth

With Senga out for at least the start of the 2024 season, the conversation around the Mets’ need for more starting pitching has ramped right back up again. The Athletic reported that the front office has kicked the tires on Michael Lorenzen, while Joel Sherman of The New York Post linked the team to top-tier free agent Jordan Montgomery. The latter would certainly raise the ceiling considerably for the starting rotation, a group that currently features more hope than sure things.

If the Mets want to compete for a playoff spot this year, then they will need more reliable pitching, and giving a three-year deal to Montgomery would be a smart move. If the team instead stands pat, and Senga’s return is delayed, then it could be a really tough start for a rotation that has a plethora of question marks surrounding it.

Lack Of Excitement 

This is more of a general observation, but a noteworthy one nonetheless. Between Senga’s injury and the constant speculation over Alonso’s future, there seems to be a real lack of excitement for the season ahead. Now, there are sections of the fanbase that have high hopes this roster will overachieve and provide a memorable season. That is certainly possible. But, personally, I think the front office has already punted on 2024, and we’re going to be in for some tough sledding from here on out.

New president of baseball operations David Stearns can preach all he wants that reaching the postseason is the aim, but actions speak louder than words. And, if you go on the actions of the front office in not pursuing more pitching depth or a potent bat to insert into the middle of the lineup, then that probably tells you the real objective for this season. Once the fun of watching prospects and obscure veterans compete for roster spots fades, then we could be in for a long year with more downs than ups.

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There are so many firsts when it comes to the start of the baseball season. There’s the first day players arrive at camp, the official first day of pitchers and catchers, the first address from the manager, the first whole team workout, the first live batting practice, etc. Today we finally reach the first spring training game of the year!

The Mets kept their mini-tradition alive of having a frontline starter announce an injury at the start of camp. Earlier this week we heard Kodai Senga was dealing with arm fatigue and then a few days later we learned that it was a bit more serious than that. This opens up a spot in the rotation that will probably come down to Tylor Megill, José Butto, and Joey Lucchesi.

Today is also the first time we’ll see Carlos Mendoza managing a game. It’s always interesting to watch what a manager does during a spring training game. Who is he talking to throughout the game? Which players come up to him? What’s his overall presence like?

Mets Lineup

1. DJ Stewart RF
2. Francisco Lindor SS
3. Pete Alonso 1B
4. Brett Baty 3B
5. Mark Vientos DH
6. José Iglesias 2B
7. Trayce Thompson CF
8. Tomás Nido C
9. Taylor Kohlwey LF

Opposing Lineup

1. Brendan Donovan 2B
2. Lars Nootbaar LF
3. Jordan Walker RF
4. Iván Herrera C
5. Luken Baker DH
6. Alfonso Rivas 1B
7. Buddy Kennedy 3B
8. Victor Scott II CF
9. Arquímedes Gamboa SS

Game Notes

MENDOZA LINES: Carlos Mendoza will begin his first season as the 25th manager in franchise history… The 44-year-old spent the previous 15 seasons with the Yankees organization, including the last four as the club’s bench coach…From 2018-2019, Mendoza served as the Yankees’ quality control coach…Prior to joining the big league coaching staff, Mendoza served as a manager and coach in the Yankees farm system…A native of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Mendoza is the second full-time Venezuelan-born manager in big league history, joining Ozzie Guillén.

THREE’S COMPANY: The 2023 Mets tied a franchise record with three players recording at least 25 homers (Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, and Francisco Álvarez)…Carlos Beltrán, Carlos Delgado, and David Wright accomplished the feat in 2006 and 2008… The Mets also did it in 1999 (Edgardo Alfonzo, Mike Piazza, Robin Ventura) and 1987 (Howard Johnson, Kevin McReynolds, Darryl Strawberry).

STEAL THIS ALBUM: The Mets led the major leagues in 2023 with an 88.7% success rate in stolen bases…The team stole 118 bases in 133 attempts…It’s the highest success rate in Mets history…The previous high was 82.3% which was accomplished in 2004… From May 11 to June 29, the Mets stole a franchise-record 35 consecutive bases.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Tylor Megill and the American Spork: Tylor was scheduled to start this game before the news about Kodai Senga broke. Tylor is coming off of a year where he made 25 starts totaling 126 1/3 innings, the first time in his career he pitched over 100 innings at the major league level. He had a 4.70 ERA, 4.96 FIP, 1.575 WHIP, and a 90 ERA+. Throughout the offseason, he worked with Senga to develop a new pitch, holding the ball the same way that Senga’s ghost forkball. Tylor refers to this pitch as the “American spork” and he tossed it six times in his last start of the season. Do we see the “American spork” today?
2. DJ Stewart Leading Off? Stewart was one positive surprise for the Mets last season, bursting on the scene hitting .244/.333/.506 with a 128 OPS+ over 58 games and 185 plate appearances. He has some serious pop, hitting 11 homers. Stewart leading off is a bit of a surprise, but why not? He worked 11 walks last year and leading off means a higher chance that he’ll get more PAs in today’s game.
3. Brett at Third, Mark DH’ing: The most likely scenario for the Mets this season is to roll with Brett Baty at third base and Mark Vientos at DH. Mark Vientos could push into Brett Baty’s playing time. DJ Stewart and others could push into Mark Vientos DH playing time. After the Ronny Mauricio injury the Mets did not go out to sign a 3B/DH type player, so these jobs really are Brett’s and Mark’s to lose. One of the larger complaints about the Mets last season was they did not give consistent playing time to their young players. We’re excited to see what Brett and Mark can do with consistent playing time this year, starting today!

Let’s go Mets!

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The trio will all be battling for roster spots. Megill made 25 starts for the Mets last season, striking out 105 in 126 1/3 innings with a 4.70 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 4.96 FIP. He may try to fool the Cardinals with the split-fingered fastball he started working on at the end of last season, dubbed the “American spork,” not to be confused with ace Kodai Senga‘s “ghost fork.”

Butto, a 25-year-old from Venezuela, struck out 38 in 42 innings last year while posting a 3.64 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 4.02 FIP in nine appearances and seven starts for the Mets. He will face Houston in Port St. Lucie on Sunday.

Kranick, 26, of Scranton, Pa., last pitched in the majors in 2022 when he tossed five innings for the Pirates. In 2021, he made nine starts for Pittsburgh. He went 2-3 with a 6.28 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 4.64 FIP while striking out 32 in 38 2/3 innings. The Mets picked him up off waivers from the Pirates last month. The Mets play Washington in West Palm Beach on Monday.

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Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, March 25, 2023 • 6:10 PM
Clover Park • Port St. Lucie, Florida
RHP Andre Pallante (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Tylor Megill (1-1, 3.00)
WPIX

The Mets were firing on all cylinders on Friday. On Saturday, they look to keep that going and bring that momentum into the regular season which is less than a week away!

Max Scherzer tossed 100 pitches on Friday, allowing two runs on four hits and striking out 11 batters, including striking out the side to end his outing. The bullpen behind him all tossed scoreless outings, allowing only two hits while striking out three batters.

The bats also came out with Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso each collecting two hits and racking up a combined five RBIs. Omar Narváez also joined in the fun, collecting two hits and hitting his first homer of the spring. The Mets bats and arms will take on the Cardinals on Saturday in what is their penultimate spring training game.

Mets Lineup

Last Spring Saturday. 🌴 #LGM pic.twitter.com/GmANm8YcUR

— New York Mets (@Mets) March 25, 2023

Opposing Lineup

More baseball! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/5cjPvX1Uoo

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 25, 2023

Game Notes

Today’s Scheduled Pitchers: RHP Tylor Megill, LHP David Peterson.

Happy 68th Birthday to former Met Lee Mazzilli!

The Mets have signed RHP Dylan Bundy to a minor-league contract. Bundy was with the Baltimore Orioles with Mets manager Buck Showalter. Bundy has appeared in 190 career games and owns a 54-65 record with a 4.74 career ERA. He went 8-8 with a 4.89 ERA with the Minnesota Twins in 2022.

Former Mets pitchers Al Leiter and John Franco will be in camp from March 27.

RHP Tommy Hunter will be on the Opening Day roster for the Mets, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Hunter has had a strong spring, not allowing a run in 8.0 innings while recording nine strikeouts.

With Saturday’s game the penultimate spring training contest for the Mets, the matchup against the Cardinals will be all about fine-tuning and ironing out the final kinks ready for Opening Day next week.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Rotation Battle: It looks like one of David Peterson or Tylor Megill will be the second starter on the team, breaking up Scherzer and Verlander and making sure that Verlander starts the home opener. Today will be the second turn in the rotation where both pitchers are expected to make an extended appearance. Last time, Peterson entered the game with eight scoreless innings in spring, while Megill had one earned run in basically the same stretch. Peterson turned in an additional four scoreless innings while Megill struggled a bit, allowing six runs, only three earned, over 2 2/3 innings. We will see this roster battle live on Saturday!
2. Finding Nimmo: Nimmo returns to the lineup after a scary injury. Only a few days after Edwin Díaz went down, Nimmo slid into second awkwardly. He was down for about a minute or two and concerns were that he had a similar injury. He was diagnosed with low grade sprains in his right knee and right ankle and was considered week to week, putting Opening Day in doubt. A couple of days ago he played in a minor league game and hit a triple. We’ll get the sense on Saturday if he’s good to go, or not, for Opening Day.
3. Opening Day Lineup? Saturday’s lineup is incredibly close to the Opening Day lineup. We finally see the return of Jeff McNeil, playing in his first spring training game since the World Baseball Classic. There are two reasons why this may not actually be the Opening Day lineup. Most likely, Omar Narváez will be the Opening Day catcher. He did catch Scherzer on Friday. Tomás Nido, however, is having an amazing spring training. Then there’s Brett Baty. Does he still have time to win the job from Eduardo Escobar? Can Escobar show on Saturday that he should start the season at third?

Let’s go Mets!

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