Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Thursday, April 7, 2022 • 7:10 P.M.
Nationals Park • Washington, D.C.
RHP Tylor Megill vs. LHP Patrick Corbin
SNY • WCBS 880 AM

The Mets start off their 2022 campaign tonight in Washington D.C.!

The universe had one more delay planned for the 2022 season: weather. The Nationals made the smart move Wednesday and moved the start of the game back three hours to 7:05 p.m. to allow the rain to clear out of the area.

The Mets come into Thursday’s game with sky-high expectations and after a tumultuous week. The Mets greatly improved their roster this winter and had one of the top rotations in baseball until a week ago when Jacob deGrom went down with a stress reaction in his scapula.

Tylor Megill, who at the start of spring training seemed slated for Syracuse, will make his first Opening Day start after a strong start and a wise tactical move by Showalter to not rush any other pitchers in the Mets rotation to pitch Opening Day.

In two games and 6 2/3 innings during spring training, Tylor Megill allowed two unearned runs from five hits and five walks while striking out seven. Over 18 games last season he pitched 89 2/3 innings with a 4.52 ERA (4.69 FIP), 1.283 WHIP and an 89 ERA+. Homers were his big weakness; he allowed them at a 1.9 HR/9 IP clip last season.

Mets Lineup

Tonight, though, the Mets draw the veteran in the Nationals rotation, Patrick Corbin. Corbin had his worst season in his career last year posting a 5.82 ERA, 5.41 FIP, 1.468 WHIP and a 70 ERA+ over 31 starts and 171 2/3 innings. This includes a league-leading 111 earned runs and 37 homers. Spring training was much nicer to Corbin where he allowed for runs, none earned, over nine innings of work on six hits (including a homer).

Corbin made three starts against the Mets last season and allowed nine runs on 22 (!) hits and five walks over 17 innings of work.

Mets batters have the following numbers against Corbin:

Nationals Lineup

In two starts against the Nationals last season, Megill allowed six earned runs from eight hits and four walks over 11 innings of work. The Nationals have the following stats against him:

The Nationals tore down their roster at the trade deadline last year and are committed to the rebuilding process for this season.

Game Notes

Not a note for this game, but Max Scherzer he will start the second game of the year for the Mets on Friday against the Nationals.

Brandon Nimmo, on the other hand, won’t play today due to a stiff neck that has forced him out of gameplay since Monday. He may be able to play over the next couple days, but if not, he’ll be placed on the injured list.

Some Opening Day notes for the Mets include:

  • The Mets are 39-21 on Opening Day. It’s the best record of any active franchise in MLB.
  • The franchise is 16-12 on Opening Day on the road in its history.
  • Tylor Megill has the fewest major-league innings (89 2/3) of any Mets Opening Day starter ever.

A couple other notes before the game:

  • Reliever Jake Reed was placed on the 10-day injured list before the game due to an oblique injury that caused him to miss all of spring training.
  • The Mets went 11-8 against the Nationals in 2021. They’ll have to perform much better against weaker teams like this if they’re going to win the division.
  • JD Davis has a career 1.268 OPS against Corbin, and Alonso is close behind with a 1.212 OPS.

Let’s go Mets!