St. Louis Cardinals (0-0) vs. New York Mets (0-0)
Thursday, March 29, 2018 • 1:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, New York
RHP Carlos Martinez vs. RHP Noah Syndergaard
WOR 710 AM • SNY • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050
Opening Day is finally here! The Mets look to return to the post-season this year after a disappointing, injury filled 2017 campaign. Last season, the team had a lot of promise entering Spring Training, but then lost player after player, proving the age-old adage: “You can never have too much pitching”. With a new manager and not many expectations that exist outside of the New York bubble, the Mets will kick off 2018 against the St. Louis Cardinals with a renewed sense of hope.
Mets Lineup
- Brandon Nimmo – CF
- Yoenis Cespedes –
- Jay Bruce – RF
- Asdrubal Cabrera – 2B
- Todd Frazier – 3B
- Adrian Gonzalez – 1B
- Kevin Plawecki – C
- Noah Syndergaard – RHP
- Amed Rosario – SS
Cardinals Lineup
- Dexter Fowler – RF
- Tommy Pham – CF
- Matt Carpenter – 3B
- Marcell Ozuna – LF
- Jose Martinez – 1B
- Yadier Molina – C
- Paul DeJong – SS
- Kolten Wong – 2B
- Carlos Martinez – RHP
The Mets will send out Noah Syndergaard for Opening Day. Last year he was 1-2 over 7 starts and 30.1 innings with a 2.97 ERA although that doesn’t tell the whole story. He was full speed throughout April until the 30th. He allowed 5 runs over 1.1 innings, tore his lat and was out until the end of September where he came back for two games pitching 3 innings allowing only one hit. Spring doesn’t mean anything but he was on cruise control in March pitching in 5 games and 20.0 innings allowed only 4 runs, 3 earned (1.35 ERA) with 23 K’s vs 6 walks. The last time he faced the Cardinals was July 2016 where he allowed 3 runs, 2 earned over 7 hits and 6.0 innings with 8 K’s. The Cardinals have the following numbers against Thor:
- Ozuna 3-14, HR, 4 K
- Fowler 1-5, BB
- Gyorko 1-6, HR, 3K
- Molina 2-6, 2B, K
- Pham 2-4
- Carpenter 0-3, K
- Martinez 0-2
The Mets draw two-time All-Star Carlos Martinez who was 12-11 over 32 games last year logging 205.0 innings posting a 3.64 ERA, 3.91 FIP and 1.220 WHIP. Overall it was a slight step back statistically for Martinez as in the two previous seasons he posted a 3.01/3.04 ERA and a 3.21/3.61 FIP. He pitched against the Mets in early July last year allowing 5 runs on 7 hits in 5.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Martinez:
- Gonzalez 3-17, HR
- Bruce 4-19, 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB
- Frazier 3-15, 6 K
- Cespedes 4-12, 2B, HR, 3 K
- Reyes 4-13, 2B, HR
- Cabrera 2-6, 2B
- d’Arnaud 1-5, 2K
Who’s Hotter than a Underground Subway Station in August Right Now?
I know it’s spring training but in 38 PA’s, Cespedes batted .324/.368/.882 with 6 homers.
Who’s Colder than an April night baseball game in Queens?
In 58 PA’s this spring, Gonzalez batted .207/.270/.293.
Game Notes
Early Thursday morning the baseball community lost a great one when former Met Rusty Staub passed away. Here you can watch Keith Hernandez talk about Staub. The Mets released a statement on Staub as did commissioner Rob Manfred.
After losing their first eight Opening Day contests, the Mets have won 36 of their last 48 Opening Day games. Their .643 winning percentage on Opening Day is the best in MLB.
The Mets are 21-3 in their last 24 Opening Days at home and 21-8 overall when starting the season at home.
Five Mets are playing in their first career MLB Opening Day: Brandon Nimmo, Amed Rosario, Seth Lugo, Phillip Evans and Jacob Rhame. Mets officially place David Wright, Jason Vargas, Michael Conforto and Dominic Smith on the 10-day DL and purchased the contract of Phillip Evans. All DL moves are retroactive to March 26.
Let’s Go Mets!
Check 213 Miles From Shea for 2018 Player Projections!
