The Mets are undefeated in spring training games at home this year, winning one game and tying another. The Mets have lost all four games on the road this spring.
After several days on the road the Mets come back home to Clover Park this afternoon and hopefully that’s enough to push the Mets into the win column. The big story in this afternoon’s game is the return of Clay Holmes to the mound for the Mets. In his spring debut Holmes pitched three perfect innings with three strikeouts. Since his debut the Mets found out that Sean Manaea will start the list on the injured list, moving Holmes up the depth chart for the Mets, possibly competing for an Opening Day Start.
Three Things To Watch For:
- How deep into the game does Holmes go? In his first game Holmes went the entire three innings that he was scheduled for and looked great, how deep do the Mets have him go the second time through? He is the only pitcher on the Mets to have pitched three innings so far. The Mets also will have to start worrying about exposure to the Astros soon. If Holmes lines up for the first season of the year, he will face the Astros, a team that he could still face again this spring before the start of the season.
- Duck Power. The Mets traded for Tyler Zuber at the trade deadline last year. Zuber found his way back to baseball after a stint with the Long Island Ducks last year where he had an ERA of 1.59 over six games. This led to the Rays signing him before being traded to the Mets. Tim Healey wrote a nice profile about Zuber this week it was revealed that Zuber also adopted a duck! In his first spring training game he allowed no runs from one hit and three walks while striking out one batter.
- Brett Baty. Baty has seized opportunities so far this spring. Over three games he is 5-for-8 at the plate with a double and a homer. With Nick Madrigal’s injury, there is an opening for significant major league playing time for Baty. Is this his spring?
Let’s Go Mets!
