Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Friday, April 7, 2023 • 1:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, New York
RHP Edward Cabrera (0-0, 4.50) vs. RHP Tylor Megill (1-0, 3.60)
SNY • MLBN

The Mets finally play at home today for the first time in 2023. The Mets have gone through a long spring training and the first week of the season that has seen numerous injuries, a disappearing offense, struggling pitching and a rainout. But at the end of the day, the Mets are only one game below .500 and have only played seven games this year. It’s not time to move into Panic City just yet.

Mets Lineup

Tylor Megill will look to get the Mets back on the winning track as he faces off against the Marlins for the second time this season. Last time out he held the Marlins to two runs from six hits and two walks while striking out seven over five innings. In his career now he has now faced the Marlins three times, allowing seven runs, six earned over 11 innings while striking out 13 batters. The Marlins have the following numbers against him:

Opposing Lineup

The Mets bats will get another look at Edward Cabrera, who made his 2023 debut against the Mets last week. Edward lasted four innings, allowing only two runs from two hits and six walks. The Mets figured out the being patient part last time, working counts against him and getting on base. They didn’t quite figure out the scoring part. Hopefully, the Mets can put all the pieces together this afternoon. Anyway, the Mets have the following career numbers against Cabrera:

Game Notes

Justin Verlander told reporters before the game that he expects to return before the end of April.

Top prospect Francisco Álvarez was officially added to the Mets roster and he will wear No. 4. We wrote about the catching prospect needing regular playing time, but Buck Showalter said the younger will play “some” and then compared him to being a backup QB in the NFL.

Ronny Mauricio and Mark Vientos both homered on Thursday night for the Syracuse Mets.

Make sure to check out our Marlins vs. Mets series preview.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Luis Arraez can hit: Arraez is already leading the league with 11 hits in 26 trips to the plate this season hitting a smooth .458/.500/.500 (174 OPS+). Almost all of this happened against the Mets where he went 9-for-16 including a perfect 3-for-3 against Megill. Arraez has cooled off the last two games, going hitless in three at-bats (but still getting a walk). If the Megill and the Mets can keep him off the base paths today, the Mets will probably have a good day.
  2. Pete Hot Streak? Pete Alonso entered Wednesday’s game going 0-for-11 over his last three games. The positive news was he only had two strikeouts. Anyway, Pete had a huge game on Wednesday collecting two homers and carrying the Mets offense. Can he do it again today?
  3. What about Álvarez? Omar Narváez was pulled from Wednesday’s game early. Whispers then started that Francisco Álvarez was on his way to New York, which signaled that whatever was ailing Narváez, it had to be serious. He will be activated before today’s game and is not starting (or hitting as a DH) as the Mets are sticking to their original Opening Day script. Today will be our first chance at seeing how the Mets plan on using him when he is not starting.

Let’s go Mets!