Morning Briefing: Mets Have Third-Highest Odds To Win World Series

Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, Mets fans!

The Mets hold the third-best odds to win the 2022 World Series at +1200 odds, according to OddsChecker. New York comes only behind the Dodgers (+700) and the Astros (+1000).

The team has the highest odds to have a Cy Young Award winner with Jacob deGrom coming in first with +400 odds and Max Scherzer close behind at +800. The Mets also have the best odds to win the NL East at +150, just above the Braves at +160.

Let’s get into this morning’s briefing.

Latest Mets News

Manager Buck Showalter mentioned that the Mets will start ace Jacob deGrom in the team’s opening day game against the Nationals on Apr. 7. Showalter also said pitcher Taijuan Walker has a chance to enter the regular season rotation after Walker’s right knee procedure in January.

MLB Network ranked Pete Alonso as baseball’s sixth-best first baseman.

Pete Alonso ranked 6th on MLB Network’s Top 10 1B right now, here’s the full list:

1. Freddie Freeman
2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr
3. Matt Olson
4. Max Muncy
5. Paul Goldschmidt
6. Pete Alonso
7. Brandon Belt
8. Jose Abreu
9. Joey Votto
10. Anthony Rizzo

— John Flanigan (@JohnFlanigan_) March 15, 2022

Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News captured deGrom’s first bullpen throws of spring training.

Jacob deGrom throwing his first bullpen of spring training. Sound up. 🔊 pic.twitter.com/STFFHfBzdp

— Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) March 14, 2022

Latest MLB News

Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. suffered a fractured wrist over the offseason, which could keep him out for three months after surgery, per Dennis Lin of The Athletic.

Outfielder Andrew McCutchen has reached an agreement with the Milwaukee Brewers, per Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El Extrabase.

Pitcher Sean Doolittle is back with the Nationals, pending a physical, per Jon Heyman of the MLB Network. The southpaw last played for Washington in 2020 before playing in Cincinnati and Seattle last season.

Former Mets pitcher Brad Hand agreed to a one-year, $6 million contact with the Phillies, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The left-handed pitcher played 16 games for New York last season, pitching for a 2.70 ERA in those games.

Astros manager Dusty Baker says pitcher Lance McCullers won’t start back on time, per Jake Kaplan of The Athletic. The righty is experiencing a setback in recovering from his strained forearm suffered in Game 4 of the ALDS last season.

Pitcher Ian Kennedy is back with the Diamondbacks in 2022 after signing a one-year, $4.75 million contract along with $2.35 million worth in performance bonuses, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

Per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, JD Martinez expressed to the Red Sox that he wants to finish his career in Boston.

Pitcher Dan Winkler is close a non-roster agreement with the Rangers, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.

Low-A Southeast will experiment with Ball-Strike challenges among other experimental rules in the minor leagues this season, according to JJ Cooper of Baseball America.