It is another split-squad Sunday for the New York Mets. Half the team will be home against the Washington National this afternoon while the other half are going to be in Jupiter, Florida against the Marlins.

Sunday, March 24, 2024 • 1:10 PM
Clover Field • Port St Lucie, FL
LHP Patrick Corbin (2-1, 5.11) vs. RHP Luis Severino (1-0, 1.00)
SNY

Today’s game against the Nationals is the last game in St. Lucie before the Mets head up north. Tomorrow, they will make the trip across the state to Tampa Bay and then will go to Queens from there.

The lineup in St. Lucie today is so close to the Mets probable starting lineup. The only change is Tyrone Taylor starting in center instead of Harrison Bader. This lineup also includes DJ Stewart who may be the Mets starting designated hitter for the first week or so of the season until J.D. Martinez is ready.

Luis Severino. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Mets Lineup

  1. Brandon Nimmo LF
  2. Francisco Lindor SS
  3. Pete Alonso 1B
  4. Jeff McNeil 2B
  5. Starling Marte RF
  6. Francisco Álvarez C
  7. DJ Stewart DH
  8. Brett Baty 3B
  9. Tyrone Taylor CF

Opposing Lineup

  1. CJ Abrams SS
  2. Lane Thomas RF
  3. Jesse Winker LF
  4. Eddie Rosario DH
  5. Joey Gallo 1B
  6. Nick Senzel 3B
  7. Luis García Jr. 2B
  8. Riley Adams C
  9. Victor Robles CF

Game Notes

Prior to the split-squad games, the Mets announced they’ve acquired cash for relief pitcher Austin Adams.

Prior to the split-squad games, president of baseball operations David Stearns announced that Mark Vientos did not make the team. Same with Jiman Choi.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Luis Severino’s last tune up. Luis Severino is currently scheduled to start the Mets’ second game of the season next Saturday at Citi Field. He has had a tremendous spring, pitching nine innings and allowing only one run via five hits while striking out eight and walking no one. A healthy, effective Severino will be huge for the Mets this season as they try to find a way into the playoffs.
  2. DJ Stewart’s last audition. Stewart did not exactly get a vote of confidence in the press conference this morning. He’s clearly on the roster until the Mets can bring up J.D. Martinez, but president of baseball operations David Stearns also said the Mets are still open to making a roster change based on players available out of the organization. Stewart has had a lackluster spring, going 6-for-35 at the plate with a home run. However, he has worked enough walks that despite a .171 batting average, he does a .326 on-base percentage.
  3. Still looking for a spring hit. Jeff McNeil had a late start to spring training this season coming back from a bicep injury. Over three games, McNeil is 0-for-7 with three walks. McNeil has a maximum two games left to record a hit before the start of the season.

Tylor Megill. Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday, March 24, 2024 • 1:10 PM
Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium • Jupiter, FL
RHP Tylor Megill (1-2, 3.45) vs. RHP Darren McCaughan (0-0, 8.44)

The Mets look to complete their all-National League East Sunday with a trip to Jupiter to take on the Miami Marlins. This is a good time to just quickly reminisce about 2023. The Mets and Marlins matched up a lot throughout spring training, that’s normal. They also played the Marlins in two of their first three series of the 2023 season. So, on the last day of spring training, when they faced the Marlins, it started a stretch of eight games against the Marlins over the next 11 games the Mets would play.

Now, back to 2024. After a spring of playing the Marlins sometimes multiple times per week, after today the Mets won’t see the Marlins again until late May. The Marlins have had a lot of injury concerns to their rotation, this could be a different looking squad when the Mets and Marlins see each other again when it counts.

Mets Lineup

  1. Drew Gilbert CF
  2. Zack Short 2B
  3. Omar Narváez C
  4. Luke Voit SH
  5. José Iglesias SS
  6. Ryan Clifford LF
  7. Alex Ramírez RF
  8. Luke Ritter 3B
  9. Yohairo Cuevas 1B

Opposing Lineup

  1. Luis Arráez SS
  2. Josh Bell DH
  3. Jazz Chisholm Jr. CF
  4. Jake Burger 1B
  5. Tim Anderson SS
  6. Avisaíl García RF
  7. Nick Gordon LF
  8. Jon Berti 3B
  9. Nick Fortes C

Game Notes

Zack Short is one of the bigger surprises to make the Opening Day roster. He has performed well this spring.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Tylor Megill, in the starting rotation again. In 2022, Tylor Megill was the Opening Day starter for the Mets with Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer both sidelined due to injury. Last season, he made the Opening Day rotation with the Verlander injury. This year, he’s on the rotation due to Kodai Senga’s injury. Megill has looked great this spring, especially due to his new pitch. Over five games and 15 2/3 innings, he has allowed 12 hits and four walks to become six runs (3.45 ERA) while striking out 16 batters. Is this the season where Megill finally puts it all together?
  2. Zack Short, newest roster addition. Zack Short found out this morning that he is going north with the team at the end of the week. He earned this spot thanks to his strong spring and versatility playing at second, third, and shortstop this spring. He went 10-for-36 at the plate, scoring seven runs, and also worked seven walks (.395 OBP).
  3. It’s apparently a big prospect day. The Mets have Drew Gilbert, Ryan Clifford, and Alex Ramírez all getting starts today. Out of the three named players, Gilbert is the closest to the major leagues with a serious chance of making the team at some point this season. Clifford came over in the same trade and he’s looking for his first official Mets spring training hit today. The hype around Ramírez melted away last season due to lackluster play in the minors. Can he turn it around this season?