The Mets play their first of seven games against the Astros this afternoon at Clover Park! There are only a few teams left on the east coast of Florida, so the Mets play the same few teams a lot over spring training. At least the American League Astros are a club the Mets do not play often during the regular season.
Yesterday’s game for the Mets was a bit of a mess, but so are the Mets sometimes. The Cardinals won 10-5. On the positive side the Mets were able to get 11 hits throughout the game. The Mets also recorded two errors and recorded a balk. Alas, this is the purpose of spring training.
There were several standout performances for the Mets that are worth remembering as we head into game two. Nate Lavender, who is a non-roster invitee prospect, had a tremendous inning of relief where he struck out the side. Hayden Senger, a defense-first catcher who is probably 5th on the Mets depth chart, went 2-2 at the plate with two runs and a homer (the first of Mets spring training). Alex Ramírez, the forgotten Mets prospect, went 2-3 at the plate. First impressions are important!
Three Things To Watch For:
- José Buttó: With Kodai Senga’s injury, a spot has opened up in the Mets starting rotation. Buttó is competing with Megill, Lucchesi, and Kranick for that spot (barring any surprise performances by prospects or non-roster invitees). Buttó started seven games and pitched 42 total innings for the Mets last season with a 3.64 ERA, 4.02 FIP, 1.332 WHIP and a 117 ERA+. This was way better than his Syracuse numbers last year where he had a 5.93 ERA over 91 innings. Buttó became part of the Mets rotation in September last year where he had 3.29 ERA over 27 ⅓ innings, and this includes one bad start where he allowed four runs over four innings. While Megill and Lucchesi have more major league experience, Buttó can make it an open competition with a strong spring.
- Non-Roster Pitchers: If you like watching non-roster invitee pitching, today is your day! After Butto pitches Cole Sulser, Danny Young and Austin Adams are all scheduled to pitch. Adams was signed to a split contract at the end of November and was outrighted to make room for Jake Diekman. Before fracturing his ankle last year he had a 5.71 ERA and 3.72 FIP over 17 ⅓ innings. Danny Young is a former member of the Braves trying to break it through with the Mets this year. In eight games (8 ⅓ innings) he allowed one run from seven hits while striking out 11. Cole Sulser is an ivy league pitcher who had a great 2021 where he had a 2.70 ERA, 2.98 FIP over 63 ⅓ innings. All three pitchers are competing to get on the 40-man roster and one of the last bullpen spots the Mets have.
- Ji-Man Choi: Choi is one of the more interesting players in Mets came on a non-roster deal. He signed with the Mets only nine days ago to compete for the back-up first basemen / DH spot on the Mets roster. Last season was his first season since 2017 with an OPS+ below 100 (68). He’s always been a player with some pop and more recently a player with patience to work out a walk. Even though went 2-31 at the plate with the Padres last year he still walked eight times!
Let’s Go Mets!
