Photo by Ed Delany

Good Morning Mets fans!

The Mets penultimate spring matchup will occur today in a rematch against the Cardinals. P.J. Conlon will face off against St. Louis pitcher Mike Mayers.

Despite Michael Conforto’s return to the lineup, the Mets still fell to the Cardinals by a score of 5-1 on Friday.

Minor-leaguer Drew Gagnon started the game and he fared pretty well, allowing two runs in four innings. A speculative bullpen candidate, Jacob Rhame, didn’t impress in his final outing, permitting three Cardinals to score and ending his spring with a 5.06 ERA.

Top prospect Andres Gimenez had an impressive showing, driving in Juan Lagares on a double in the fifth inning and singling in the seventh. Phillip Evans had an interesting game, showcasing his versatility by strapping on the catching gear and catching Matt Blackham in the ninth inning.

Latest Mets News 

Even though he hasn’t made an appearance at the position so far this spring, Sandy Alderson claimed he is very comfortable with Jay Bruce playing first base “on a reasonably every day basis.”

Jason Vargas was in the hospital yesterday with a stomach bug, but the Mets do not consider it a serious issue.

Rotographs believes that Noah Syndergaard‘s inability to control the inner half of the plate is holding him back from becoming the best pitcher in baseball.

After “feeeling his UCL pop” in Tuesday’s outing, Rafael Montero will elect to undergo Tommy John surgery.

Hansel Robles and Tomas Nido were both optioned to minor league camp. With Robles’s struggles this spring, all signs pointed to him beginning the season in Vegas.(Pun intended)

Latest MLB News 

The tough week for Giants pitchers continued as Madison Bumgarner joined Jeff Samardzija as the second San Francisco hurler to get injured. “MadBum” fractured his hand on a comebacker and will begin the season on the DL.

The Yankees released veteran swingman Wade LeBlanc.

Despite a decent spring that should have earned him a bench role, Peter Bourjos was cut by the Cubs.

Major League Baseball released its investigations into domestic violence allegations against Steven Wright and Miguel Sano. Wright was suspended for 15 games while Sano suffered no disciplinary action due to conflicting evidence.

Jon Heyman reported on a scout that believes Shohei Ohtani should begin the season in the minors.

Matt Kelly of MLB.com examined how hitters during the 2017 season favored swinging earlier in the count.

A quartet of minor leaguers, Red Sox reliever Matt Pearce, Cubs reliever David Garner, Red Sox catcher Oscar Hernandez and Pirates shortstop Andrew Walker, were suspended for PED-related offenses.

A scary moment occurred in the Mariners game when Ichiro was struck in the head by a Brandon Mann fastball. Fortunately, Mariners GM Jerry Dipto says he is “doing well.”

Latest NL East News 

The Nationals cut business ties with chef Mike Isabella, who was one of four cooks that was named in a sexual harassment lawsuit.

Former Marlin owner Wayne Huizenga passed away yesterday at the age of 80.

Latest on MMO

Joe D projects the Mets’s Opening Day roster one last time for the spring.

Josh Finkelstein discussed Rafael Montero‘s injury and more on the third episode of the “Mets Matters” podcast.

Mike Simon talks about expectations for the Mets this season.

On this Date In Mets History 

The Mets acquired the first of the many baseball-playing Alomars, Sandy Alomar, on this date in 1967.

Jason Bay became a Met on this date! But before he was a 3x All-Star, he was just a small minor leaguer that the Mets acquired from the Expos in exchange for Lou Collier.

Birthdays: Jesus Alou (76)

Let’s Go Mets!