For the first time this spring the Mets welcome a team not named the Astros, Nationals, Marlins or Cardinals to Clover Park as they take on the Yankees for a spring training subway series game! The Mets will only play seven different teams this spring, playing the Yankees and Tigers a handful of times and the other east coast Florida teams approximately 85 times each.
After winning four games in a row the Mets have now lost four games in a row, losing to the Astros in a rain shortened game on Sunday afternoon. The big story Sunday was Brandon Nimmo making his first spring training starter as the Mets former centerfielder gets used to playing in left. The Mets new centerfielder, Harrison Bader, will make his spring debut in today’s game against his old club.
Three Things To Watch For:
- Harrison Bader’s spring debut: Bader played most of his 2023 season with the Yankees last year where he had a +0.9 WAR despite hitting with a 69 OPS+. For Bader it all came down to his defense which was stellar last season. Baseball Savant had him in the 93rd percentile for fielding run value and the 95th for range (outs above average). His hitting was in 20th percentile as he farther removed from his 2021 season where he was a defensive and offensive stud.
- Tylor Megill’s third start: It’s getting serious in spring training now as pitchers start to get into their third outings of the month. Over his first two trips to the mound, Megill has pitched five innings allowing only one run on four hits while striking out seven batters. Last season Megill allowed only one run on six hits in his first three spring starts of the year, totaling 8 1/3 innings (four innings in his third start). He then allowed nine runs over his last two spring starts.
- Austin Adams: The Mets outrighted Austin Adams near the start of spring training to make room for Jake Diekman on the roster. Before injuries derailed his 2023 season, Adams was having a a bizarre statistical year. He had a 5.71 ERA and 3.72 FIP. He had a good 11.4 K/9 rate, but that was below his career average of 13.4. So far this spring he has allowed a hit and nothing else while striking out three batters over two innings. He’s worth keep an eye on as the Mets figure out the final bullpen spot.
Let’s Go Mets!
