Photo by Ed Delany/MMO

Marcus Stroman and Rick Porcello made their Grapefruit League season debuts on Saturday against the St.Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins, respectively.

Stroman, 28, started off his spring season with a Dexter Fowler pop-up to shortstop, Luis Guillorme. After allowing a single to Matt Carpenter, he proceeded to strike out Paul Goldschmidt and Yadier Molina.

However, he gave up a homer to Tyler O’Neill on a 3-1 pitch that sat over the plate to lead off the second inning. Stroman retired the next two batters via a groundout to the mound and a pop-up to shortstop. After walking Rangel Ravelo, the right-hander was taken out of the game and replaced with Steve Villines.

All in all, he tossed 1 2/3 innings in which he allowed one run, two hits, and a walk while he struck out two batters.

The former Blue Jay started a spring training game in a Mets uniform for the first time in his career, having only come over to New York before the deadline last season, which he thinks could make a difference this season.

“It’s good to get here with the team, get with my catchers, and get on the same plan which I wasn’t able to do last year,” Stroman said. “I think we’re gonna have great success this year.”

“As a team, I think we’re gonna be special,” Stroman added. “I truly can’t wait to go out there and compete with every single guy every day.”

Porcello, 31, made his first start with the Mets in general, having just signed a one-year, $10 million contract this past offseason.

In his one inning of work, the former Red Sox gave up a one-out single to Monte Harrison, who later stole second base. After Porcello struck out his first batter in Isan Diaz, he gave up an RBI single to Garrett Cooper. A flyout by Lewis Brinson would finish off his day.

“I felt good as far as pitch execution and completing my delivery my first time out,” Porcello said. “I gotta do a better job with the running game… but as far as delivering the baseball and hitting the glove, it felt really good for the first time out.”

Wilson Ramos was pretty happy on the receiving end after Porcello’s outing saying, “It’s just one outing, but he threw the ball really well.”

Steven Matz will be making his first start of spring training on Sunday against the Cardinals again.