With only six days remaining until the new 2016 season begins next Sunday night in Kansas City, we are beginning to get some clarity as to what our Opening Day roster will look like. Here’s how it breaks down:
Starting Lineup
- Curtis Granderson, RF
- David Wright, 3B
- Yoenis Cespedes, CF
- Lucas Duda, 1B
- Neil Walker, 2B
- Michael Conforto, LF
- Travis d’Arnaud, C
- Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
It looks like Asdrubal Cabrera will be ready to start the season on time, and in fact as of this writing the Mets are heading into the final week of Grapefruit League play with no significant injuries. Knock on wood.
Bench
- Kevin Plawecki, C
- Wilmer Flores, IF
- Eric Campbell, IF
- Juan Lagares, OF
- Alejandro De Aza, OF
With apologies to Johnny Monell, barring any injury Kevin Plawecki should be the backup catcher for d’Arnaud to open the season. That doesn’t mean the Mets won’t still try and find a veteran backup with more experience. But until they do Plawecki will be in Flushing and not Las Vegas when the season starts.
The battle for the last bench spot between Eric Campbell and Matt Reynolds isn’t really a battle at all. Campbell is already on the 40-man roster, can field more positions, and the team believes he’s a better hitter than the numbers showed last season. Plus he’s a career .293 pinch hitter with a .426 on-base percentage. That’s a heck of a nice commodity to have on your bench. Reynolds is also on the 40, but he’s struggled this Spring and the only stats that matter in spring training is when your in a battle for a bench spot.
Juan Lagares is having a solid Spring and is bent on making the most of his opportunity as the team’s 4th outfielder. He’ll be in the lineup against all left-handed starters, but the role for Alejandro De Aza is a little less clear – especially for a $5.75 million dollar reserve. He could get time during the first two games against the Royals when the Mets will use a DH. There’s still a chance he gets moved and if that happens, say hello to Roger Bernadina for that 5th outfielder spot.
Starting Rotation
- Matt Harvey, RHP
- Noah Syndergaard, RHP
- Jacob deGrom, RHP
- Steven Matz, LHP
- Bartolo Colon, RHP
Terry Collins says Noah Syndergaard will pitch the second game of the season so the rotation looks like Jacob deGrom will pitch the home opener, followed by Steven Matz and Bartolo Colon. It could change depending on the birth of deGrom’s first child. Zack Wheeler will likely push Colon to the bullpen when he returns from Tommy John surgery around July 1.
Bullpen
- Jeurys Familia, RHP
- Addison Reed, RHP
- Antonio Bastardo, LHP
- Jerry Blevins, LHP
- Hansel Robles, RHP
- Sean Gilmartin, LHP
- Erik Goeddel, RHP
The first five spots are a lock, it’s the last two that have yet to be decided. I think in the end they will go with Gilmartin and Goeddel, especially if the latter is feeling 100 percent.
The Mets have a ton of depth in the bullpen so if anybody falters or gets hurt, look for Jim Henderson and Josh Smoker to be among the first ones to be called on. Both relievers impressed in camp and Terry Collins was taking notes. Henderson signed a minor league deal so he’s not on the 40. Don’t forget about lefty reliever Josh Edgin, who is projected to return around May 1.
