Photo by Ed Delaney, MMO

Thursday, March 16, 2023 • 6:05 PM
The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches • West Palm Beach, Florida
Kodai Senga (1-0, 4.50) vs. RHP Wily Peralta (0-0, 6.75)
WJFK 106.7 (Nationals Radio)

The New York Mets are preparing to play their first baseball game on Thursday since the Edwin Díaz injury.

It was announced earlier on Thursday that Díaz will undergo surgery on a torn patellar tendon injury in his right knee. It is expected that the star closer will miss the entire 2023 season.

Díaz brought the excitement to Citi Field and we wish him a speedy and easy recovery. His injury has sent shockwaves through the Mets clubhouse and really throughout all of baseball. Here’s hoping that the Mets players are taking care of each other in what is probably a somber and subdued clubhouse right now.

From a baseball side, the Mets could use a normal start on Thursday from Kodai Senga. In addition to Díaz, Sam Coonrod and Bryce Montes de Oca joined the Mets injured list this week. José Quintana and Brooks Raley were already on that list. Out of the group of pitchers, Raley is the only one who is likely ready for Opening Day. Senga is returning to the mound after his last start was scratched due to a finger injury.

Mets Lineup

Opposing Lineup

Game Notes

Kodai Senga will get the start for the Mets on Thursday. Other scheduled pitchers for the Mets are: RHP Elieser Hernández, LHP Zach Muckenhirn, RHP David Robertson, RHP Jimmy Yacabonis.

Thursday’s game will give present the likes of Brett Baty and Mark Vientos with another opportunity to try and win a spot on the Opening Day roster. Baty is second in the majors among qualifiers in OBP (.500), fourth in average (.400), and seventh in OPS (1.033). Meanwhile, Vientos is tied for 13th in the majors with nine RBI.

Tim Locastro is also in the lineup – he’s leading off for the Mets – and he has enjoyed a stellar spring so far. Locastro is tied for second in the majors with five doubles, he’s tied for fourth in stolen bases with five, tied for fourth in runs with nine, he’s seventh in the majors with a .444 OBP, eighth in average with a .355 mark and ninth in OPS with a 1.025 clip.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Senga’s Second Start: In Senga’s first start he allowed one run from a hit and two walks over two innings while striking out two. Looking at his game performance – he was probably a mixture of anxious/amped/nervous to start as he walked the first two batters of the game. With that first start out of the way, we are looking forward to seeing a more stretched out, relaxed Senga on Thursday – hopefully dicing through the Nationals lineup with his ghost forkball.
  2. Tim Locastro: Tim was brought into camp as an NRI and has just shined. In 14 games and 37 plate appearances he has a .355/.444/.581 batting line with five doubles and five stolen bases. He’s also been hit by four pitches so far. Every Mets team needs a bench player who steps up. Locastro and Mendick could be a useful 1-2 punch off the bench.
  3. Another Start For Brett Baty: Venezuela is moving on in the World Baseball Classic so Brett Baty will get even more time to show the world his skill set. In 15 games and 36 plate appearances he has a .400/.500/.533 batting line with a homer and two stolen bases. If this continues for another two weeks he’s going to force conversations about breaking camp with the team.

Let’s go Mets!