Morning Briefing: Peanut Butter Cups!

Good Morning, Mets fans! Another week in the books, as spring baseball rolls right along.

The Mets fell to 1-5-1 with a loss to the 6-0 Marlins on Thursday night, 3-1. Rick Porcello tossed two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in his second spring start. Right-handers Brad Brach and Robert Gsellman each tossed a scoreless inning. Prospect Edgardo Fermin knocked in the only Mets run with a single.

Here’s what you need to know:

Latest Mets News

The key to the Mets’ second-half improvement in 2019? Late-night cookies, reports Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. The result of the delivery cookies was everyone yelling, “Peanut butter cups!” when something good happened on the field.

After being scratched from Wednesday’s game in order to undergo additional cardiac testing, outfielder Brandon Nimmo completed all necessary evaluations on Thursday. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Nimmo underwent tests for an irregular heartbeat, a condition that he has dealt with for several years. During this testing, he was required to wear a monitor for 24 hours and complete a stress test.

Nimmo’s wife, Chelsea, tweeted on Thursday night that her husband is “fine,” that he “feels great,” and that he simply wants to “just do his thing and play.”

Adding to Chelsea’s good news was Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, who reported that all of Nimmo’s tests came back “in good fashion.” He will resume baseball activities today.

Ryan Cordell got the chance to start on Wednesday after Brandon Nimmo‘s last-minute scratch, and the outfielder certainly made the most of his golden opportunity, smacking a home run and making a diving catch to get his team out of a bases loaded jam.

Per James Wagner of The New York Times: In a fitting display of passion, several Mets fans sent money via Venmo to GM Brodie Van Wagenen in hopes that the front office might have been swayed to sign big names such as Anthony Rendon and Joe Girardi.

Latest MLB News

Hardball Talk reports that umpire Kerwin Danley will be named the first African American crew chief in MLB history.

Dan Connolly of The Athletic remembers Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Steve Bechler – who tragically passed away at the age of 23 after suffering organ failure due to heat stroke – as well as Bechler’s family, who continue to grieve seventeen years later.

Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke says that Chris Sale – still recovering from elbow issues and a bout of pneumonia – will be on the injured list to start the season, reports Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. Roenicke also noted that Sale is about two weeks behind compared to his fellow starters, and that the Opening Day gig is still up in the air.

According to Baseball America, a new minor league rule involving pickoff attempts will be implemented for the 2020 season. The new rule will require pitchers to step off the rubber before throwing to a base in an attempt to pickoff a runner.

Major League Baseball has announced that long-time umpires Gary Cederstrom, Dana DeMuth, Mike Everitt, and Jeff Kellogg have officially retired. Crew chief vacancies will be filled by Kerwin Danley, Dan Iassogna, Alfonso Marquez, and Jim Reynolds. Five new names will join the Major League umpiring staff in 2020: Nic Lentz, Ryan Blakney, Ramon De Jesus, Chris Segal, and Jansen Visconti.

Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports that Angels pitcher Griffin Canning is scheduled for an MRI on his right elbow after experiencing pain during his start on Wednesday.

Per Howard Fendrich of AP Sports: For Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle, it wasn’t late-night cookies that helped him manage the stress of October – it was lavender oil.

Latest NL East News

Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic chronicles the efforts of Nationals pitcher Joe Ross as he seeks out the fifth spot in Washington’s rotation. Ross, who is out of minor league options, must either make the team or face being designated for assignment – which would ultimately lead to a trade or waivers.