Tylor Megill. Photo by: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, April 1, 2023 • 4:10 PM
loanDepot Park • Miami, Florida
RHP Tylor Megill (0-0, -.–) vs. RHP Edward Cabrera (0-0, -.–)
SNY

The Mets look to bounce back from Friday’s loss as they take on the Marlins for the third game of this opening four game series. On Friday, the Marlins took an early 1-0 lead and the Mets weren’t able to muster a run until the ninth inning when Pete Alonso hit the Mets’ first homer of the season. A 2-1 loss is definitely frustrating. The starting pitching behind David Peterson and relief pitching, led by two scoreless innings from Tommy Hunter, kept the Mets in the game the whole night.

Now the Mets will pivot as they look to guarantee at least a series split with the Marlins with a win on Saturday. This was originally supposed to be Justin Verlander day, but with Verlander landing on the IL at the start of the season, the Mets turn to Tylor Megill.

Mets Lineup

In 15 games and 47 1/3 innings last season, Tylor Megill had a 5.13 ERA, 3.77 FIP, 1.246 WHIP and a 76 ERA+. When I think about last season, I remember Megill more as the 3.77 FIP pitcher, rather than the 5.13 ERA pitcher. Megill barely saw the Marlins last season, only catching them in relief in September where he pitched a scoreless inning when he walked two batters and struck out two. The Marlins have the following numbers against him:

Opposing Lineup

The Mets’ bats will look to get back on the right track on Saturday against Edward Cabrera. Cabrera is coming off a successful second season in the Majors where he made 14 starts and pitched 71 2/3 innings with a 3.01 ERA, 4.59 FIP, 1.074 WHIP and a 135 ERA+. He made one start against the Mets last season where he allowed three runs from five hits and two walks while striking out four. That start was the first of four starts in a row where he allowed 11 runs over 19 2/3 innings, raising his season ERA from 2.39 to 3.15. Which Edward Cabrera will the Mets see? The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

Game Notes

The Mets are now 1-1 to open the 2023 season and they have two games left against the Marlins in which they will hope to secure at least a series split. They will then head to Milwaukee for a three-game series against the Brewers to close out this season-opening seven-game road trip.

New York is 52-47 at loanDepot Park and Saturday’s game marks the Mets’ 100th game at the ballpark. The team has won three of their last four there and eight of their last 11 games at the ballpark.

Even without Edwin Díaz, the Mets’ bullpen has been dealing early on in 2023. Through the first two games of the season, the bullpen has allowed just one run and have struck out six in 6.0 innings, good for a stellar 1.50 ERA. They are also yet to allow a walk.

Kodai Senga will make his official Major League debut on Sunday when he takes the mound in the series finale. Trevor Rogers will get the start for the Marlins.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. A thorn in the Mets side: Garrett Cooper has four hits in eight trips to the plate this year against the Mets, including a triple and a homer. He’s also made several terrific plays at first base. The Mets need to figure out how to keep Cooper off the base paths for the rest of the weekend.
  2. Stealing Second: In the first two games of the season Starling Marte has stolen second base twice and has been caught stealing second once. He’s the only Met this year to steal a base. Marte’s career high in stolen bases is 47, which he has done twice. Last season he stole only 18 bags. He can’t keep this pace up the whole season but right now it feels like he’s going to get close, if not pass, that career mark.
  3. Happy Sidd Finch Day! The Mets and Sports Illustrated collaborated on one of the best April Fools stories in history in 1985. “The Curious Case of Sidd Finch” introduced the world to a fictious, barefoot starting pitching who threw some serious heat at 168 mph. How many times is this mentioned in the broadcast today?

Let’s go Mets!