(Photo by David Conde, Metsmerized Online)
The Mets play another pair of split-squad games today beginning at 1:10 PM when lefthander Jonathon Niese makes his second Grapefruit League start against Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals. This game will be broadcast only on WOR 710 AM.
Niese missed ten days this Spring with what the team called shoulder fatigue and has 15 days to show he’s ready to make the Opening Day start against the Washington Nationals on March 31 at Citi Field. His average fastball velocity of 88-89 in a start five days ago is a concern.
The Mets wrap up their two game series in Las Vegas this afternoon at 4:10 PM when Jenrry Mejia gets the start against the Chicago Cubs who will counter with lefthander Chris Rusin. This game will NOT be broadcast on TV or Radio.
Mejia’s odds of making the rotation are very long and he could very well end up beginning the season in Triple-A Las Vegas as Terry Collins opts for Daisuke Matsuzaka as his fifth starter.
Mejia has tossed just two scoreless innings in one Grapefruit League appearance this Spring and also pitched in a “B” game. He has looked dominant each time he’s taken the mound.
Here are the lineups for the 1:05 PM game against the Cubs:
Mets
- Ruben Tejada, ss
- Daniel Murphy, 2b
- Chris Young, cf
- Josh Satin, 3b
- Matt Clark, 1b
- Anthony Recker, c
- Taylor Teagarden, dh
- Matt den Dekker, rf
- Cory Vaughn, lf
Cardinals
- Matt Carpenter, 3b
- Jhonny Peralta, ss
- Matt Holliday, dh
- Allen Craig, 1b
- Yadier Molina, c
- Stephen Piscotty, rf
- Kolten Wong, 2b
- Jon Jay, cf
- Randal Grichuk, lf
Here are the lineups for the 4:10 PM game against the Cubs:
Mets
- Eric Young Jr., dh
- Juan Lagares, cf
- David Wright, 3b
- Curtis Granderson, rf
- Travis d’Arnaud, c
- Kirk Nieuwenhuis, lf
- Zach Lutz, 1b
- Wilmer Flores, ss
- Anthony Seratelli, 2b
Enjoy the games and Lets Go Mets!
