Spring Training Game Thread: Mets vs. Marlins, 1:10 PM

Good thing the win/loss record doesn’t matter in Spring Training because the Mets lost both games yesterday. On the road they fell 4-3 against the Braves and at home they were crushed 14-4 as three key players for the season (Wheeler, Familia Gsellman) all gave up two runs in their inning of work.

Today we will finally see some pitchers make their second appearance while others are still making their spring debuts.

Mets Lineup

Amed Rosario SS
Robinson Cano 2B
J.D. Davis DH
Keon Broxton CF
Rymer Liriano RF
Rajai Davis LF
Tomas Nido C
Gavin Cecchini 3B
Jeremy Vasquez 1B

Marlins Lineup

JT Riddle SS
Brian Anderson 3B
Isan Diaz 2B
Peter O’Brien RF
Lewis Brinson DH
Monte Harrison CF
Pedro Alvarez 1B
Austin Dean LF
Bryan Holaday C

Steven Matz starts his first spring game of 2019 today. Last year was the first season he pitched a full season in the majors making 30 starts and going 5-11 over 154.0 innings with a 3.97 ERA, 4.62 FIP, 1.247 WHIP, and 93 ERA+. Last year we saw Wheeler turn a corner in his development. A couple of years ago Wally Backman was singing Matz’s praises as the best in the young minor league arm crop at the QBC. Could this be the year that Matz turns that corner as well?

Things To Watch In No Particular Order:

Walker Lockett is scheduled to pitch again today. In the first spring training game of the year, he had a brilliant first inning and then couldn’t pitch around defense miscues behind him leading to 2 runs coming across in 2/3 of an inning.
Anthony Kay allowed a hit and struck out a batter in his spring debut. He was ranked as the #6 prospect in the Mets system this year at MMO. You can read about the ranking here.
When Arquimedes Caminero (preview here) pitched over the weekend, the SNY booth decided to teach us all Arquimedes’ principal (despite the Mets booth calling rho, “p” the entire time). The rest of the debut went south for the veteran who allowed 5 runs over 1.0 inning. He’ll look to make a better impression today.
With the injuries to Frazier and Lowrie, JD Davis is definitely getting a look right now. Can his bat hit major league pitching? If he keeps starter spring games, he’ll see major league arms.
The injuries to Lowrie and Frazier have provided a pathway for Gavin Cecchini to get back on the roster (not a likely possibility but a better chance than previous). Let’s see what he does with this opportunity!