Series Preview: Mets Open 2022 Season in D.C.

After over six months of an offseason, a lockout that seemed as if it would never end, and numerous big name free agent signings, the Mets will play a meaningful game today.

Game 1 of 162 begins in Washington D.C. on Thursday evening, where the Mets, and surprise Opening Day starter  Tylor Megill, meet the rebuilding Nationals for a four-game set.

Entering 2022 with perhaps their most hyped up team since 2006, the Mets made waves this winter by inking former National and three-time Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer to a three-year deal worth $130 million. Joining the lineup are a trio of bats who should instantly boost the Mets offense. Mark Canha, Eduardo Escobar, and Starling Marte come to New York to provide a spark to a lineup that ranked 13th out of 15th NL teams in runs scored last season.

In Washington, the Nationals are looking ahead at another long rebuilding year. This comes after 2021’s fire sale that gutted the team of most of its core that brought D.C. a championship just three seasons ago. Of course, the team still has Juan Soto, arguably the best player in all of baseball for years to come. With the permanent addition of the designated hitter, the Nats also added slugger Nelson Cruz, who has not played in the National League since his rookie year with the Brewers in 2005.

With Scherzer now in New York, the Nats turn to Patrick Corbin as their Opening Day starter. Now four years removed from his lone All-Star nod with the Diamondbacks, Corbin’s ERA in 2021 of 5.82 was a career worst. He also gave up 37 home runs last season, also – by far – the worst mark of his major league career.

Thursday, April 7, 2022: RHP Tylor Megill (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. LHP Patrick Corbin (0-0, 0.00 ERA) 

Tylor Megill tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings in spring training, and earns his first career Opening Day start by virtue of Jacob deGrom being sidelines and Scherzer not ready to go quite yet. While it’s certainly strange to see Megill penciled in as the starter on Thursday, he’s no pushover. In his rookie season of 2021, Megill posted a 2.04 ERA through his first seven starts. By season’s end, he had thrown five games with at least seven strikeouts, including a season-high 10 K’s versus the Yankees on September 10.

Patrick Corbin threw nine innings this spring and ended the exhibition season with a 0.00 ERA, although he did allow four unearned runs – included one home run. By ERA+, Corbin had the worst season of his career in 2021 (70 ERA+), although he had a couple of great starts against the Mets. This included allowing two runs in six innings on June 20 and allowing three runs in seven innings on September 6.

Friday, April 8, 2022: RHP Max Scherzer (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Josiah Gray (0-0, 0.00 ERA) 

It’s fitting that Max Scherzer (likely, will find out for sure on Thursday) will get to face the Nationals in first start in the blue and orange after spending six and a half stellar seasons in D.C. Between 2015 and 2021 (all with the Nats, except for part of 2021 with the Dodgers), Scherzer started 200 games, posted a 99-47 record with a 2.75 ERA, struck out over 1,600 batters, and threw multiple no-hitters. Oh, and he also won a World Series ring with the Nats. Entering his age-37 season, Scherzer still remains the ultra-dominant ace he has been for the past decade and will look to carry the load for this Mets staff, especially with Jacob deGrom sidelined indefinitely.

Josiah Gray is entering his second season with the Nationals, although his first on their Opening Day roster, as he was acquired mid-season last year from the Dodgers. With a 5.48 ERA last season, he didn’t get off to a great start in the majors, and this spring he actually fared worse. In 9 2/3 exhibition innings, Gray posted a 9.31 ERA, allowing a concerning five home runs as well. While he did have 13 strikeouts in the spring, he could be in for a long day against a stacked Mets lineup.

Saturday, April 9, 2022: RHP Chris Bassitt (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. TBD 

Chris Bassitt comes to the Mets fresh off his first All-Star appearance as a member of the Oakland Athletics in 2021. With two consecutive seasons of an ERA+ of 130 or higher, Bassitt gives the Mets one of the best middle-of-the-rotation arms in the league. He struck out 159 batters last season, including sitting down eight or more batters in an impressive eight different contests. His best performance of 2021 was a complete game shutout versus the Angels, allowing just two hits and one walk. Bassitt has spent six of his seven major league seasons in Oakland (with his rookie year coming with the White Sox), so this will be his first taste of playing against a consistent National League schedule.

Sunday, April 10, 2022: RHP Carlos Carrasco (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. TBD 

After a decade as one of Cleveland’s better pitchers, Carlos Carrasco struggled in his first season in Queens. The righty allowed 12 home runs in 53 2/3 frames, while posting a 6.04 ERA on the year. Because he did not make his season debut until July 30, “Cookie” only made one start against the Nats. However, he lasted just an inning plus, allowing four runs and a homer. Home runs were a problem for Carrasco last season, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see at least one of Soto, Bell, and Cruz hit their first long ball of the season off the second-year Met.

Prediction 

The Mets .650 all-time winning percentage in Opening Day games is one of the crazier stats in baseball, especially considering the horrendous start the franchise got off to in its handful of seasons as an expansion club. With their track record of success in the season opener, there’s no reason to think they buck that trend this year. Megill throws a quality start as the Mets end game one with a W. From there, the Mets end up taking two more games in the series, with the Nationals squeezing in a victory at some point over the weekend. But these two teams are polar opposites nowadays, and the Mets have the clear upperhand in almost all facets of the roster.