Max Scherzer. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Friday, March 24, 2023 • 1:05 PM
Tropicana Field • St. Petersburg, Florida
RHP Max Scherzer (1-1, 0.77) vs. RHP Luis Patino (1-1, 6.43)
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The Mets only have three spring training games left in the schedule and today they make the cross-state to take on the Rays at Tropicana Field. The west coast of Florida is still dealing with devastating impacts from Hurricane Ian. The damage from the storm has prevented the Rays from using their normal spring training home, Charlotte Sports Park. So the Rays have pivoted to hosting their spring training games in their home ballpark, Tropicana Field.

The most notable news for the Mets happened in the back fields on Thursday. Jeff McNeil bounced around to multiple games, getting nine plate appearances. To put that in perspective, he had 13 plate appearances during the World Baseball Classic. Brandon Nimmo got five at-bats and hit a triple. The Mets tied in the actual spring training game 2-2. Will the Mets actually get a decision today?

Mets Lineup

Rays Lineup

Game Notes

Max Scherzer will be the Mets’ Opening Day starter on March 30 as the team travels to Miami to face off against Sandy Alcantara.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. How Deep Does Scherzer Go? Scherzer makes his final start today as he prepares for Opening Day. His last time up in the rotation he pitched seven scoreless innings, bringing his official spring total to 11 2/3 allowing one earned run while striking out 14 batters.
  2. I Don’t Know is on third: Who’s the Mets third baseman in a few days? The Mets are quickly coming to the end of Spring Training and Baty has done everything to show that he should be starting at third when the camp is over. Eduardo Escobar hasn’t had the greatest results at the plate so far this spring and he gets the start today. In eight games and 25 PA’s he is hitting .136/.240/.182.
  3. Please Heat Up: Tommy Pham has had ample opportunities this spring to show the Mets what he’s got. With camp winding down he has hit .154/.267/.179 over 15 games and 45 PA’s. In total he has six hits this spring. Four of those six hits happened in back to back to back to back games from March 5th to March 12th. Since then he has only two hits and is 0-6 over the last two calendar days.

Let’s go Mets!