Thursday, April 8, 2021 • 1:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Nick Neidert (0-0, 5.40) vs. RHP Taijuan Walker
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM
The Mets are finally playing at home with fans in the stadium today! It’s been a rocky road the last week or so, going from winding down spring training, to the “will he sign?” extension with Lindor (that had a happy ending) to the Mets finding out over the course of several days that not only was their season opening game cancelled, but the whole opening series was cancelled. Then the season got started and the Mets looked like a team that has a lot of talent – that also hasn’t played in a week.
And we will probably keep seeing that over the next couple of days. David Peterson’s line from yesterday does not really reflect well on what happened. He struggled in the first inning, and gave up 4 runs (I’m biased and the first home he gave up that inning went only 362 feet and would have been an out in most ballparks). He then settled down for the next several innings. He got into trouble again at the end of his outing and Jacob Barmes came in, hasn’t pitched in a while, and immediately gave up a 3 run shot. Mets hitters left 13 batters on base yesterday as they continue to find rhythm. I believe that this is still due to not playing for a week and eventually the Mets will put it all together. Plus, it’s a long season.
Mets Lineup
- Brandon Nimmo – CF
- Francisco Lindor – SS
- Michael Conforto – RF
- Pete Alonso – 1B
- Dominic Smith – LF
- Jonathan Villar – 3B
- Jeff McNeil – 2B
- James McCann – C
- Taijuan Walker – RHP
Marlins Lineup
- Corey Dickerson – LF
- Miguel Rojas – SS
- Starling Marte – CF
- Jesus Aguilar – 1B
- Brian Anderson – 3B
- Adam Duvall – RF
- Jazz Chisholm – 2B
- Chad Wallach – C
- Nick Neidert – RHP
Taijuan Walker will make his Mets debut today. A late signing in the off-season made to round out the rotation, the addition of Walker has become even more important now that Carlos Carrasco is injured to start off the year. Walker had a tale of two seasons last year. In 27.0 innings and 5 starts for the Mariners, he posted a 4.00 ERA, 4.97 FIP, 1.074 WHIP and 107 ERA+. He was then traded to the Blue Jays where he pitched 26.1 innings over 6 starts and posted a 1.37 ERA, 4.14 FIP, 1.253 WHIP and absurd 321 ERA+. Only a few Marlins have faced Walker in a major league game:
- Corey Dickerson 3-5, 3B, 2 HR, K
- Miguel Rojas 1-2, 2B
- Adam Duvall 0-3
- Brian Anderson 1-2, K
Nick Neidert was a game-time call as the starter for the Marlins. Nick was one of many Marlins pitchers who made their major league debut in 2020. In 4 games last year, he pitched 8.1 innings with a 5.40 ERA, 4.51 FIP, 1.440 WHIP and 87 ERA+. He pitched in 5 games this spring, totaling 12.2 innings with a 2.84 ERA and a 1.105 WHIP. This will be his first time facing the Mets in an official game.
Let’s Go Mets!
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