The Mets head south tonight for another night spring training game as they take on the Nationals in West Palm Beach. Despite the 6 PM time slot, there will be no television coverage of tonight’s game. Unfortunately, this is not terribly surprising as MASN, the regional sports network of the Nationals, are only broadcasting seven games this spring. For context, SNY & PIX11 are televising 14 games during spring training in 2025.
Anyway we have a back-of-the-rotation Mets matchup as Paul Blackburn, trying to break camp as the Mets fifth starter takes on Trevor Williams, who had the role for the Mets in 2022.
Three Things To Watch For:
- Trevor Williams. Trevor Williams was a crucial pitcher for the 2022 Mets, posting a 3.21 ERA, 120 ERA+ over 89 2/3 innings spread over nine starts and 30 games. He then signed with the Nationals and had a rough 2023 with a 5.55 ERA, 77 ERA+ over 144 1/3 innings spread over 30 starts. Last season though Williams was terrific when healthy. He had a 2.03 ERA, 199 ERA+ over 13 starts, 11 of those starts happening before his missed multiple months with a flexor injury. Which Williams do the Nationals have in their rotation this year?
- Paul Blackburn. Blackburn’s Mets results in 2024 were either good or terrible, with not much in between. That trend has continued over a small sample size this spring. In his first outing he pitched one inning where he struck out a batter and didn’t give up a hit, walk or run. IN his second outing he allowed four runs, three earned off three hits and two walks over 1 1/3 innings.
- Max Kranick. The biggest surprise for the Mets this spring has been Max Kranick. He hasn’t allowed a run over 5 1/3 innings and hasn’t allowed a hit in his last two starts. Beyond the on-field response his stuff has just looked great. His proStuff+ was a 139 with a 71.4% whiff% in his last outing on the third.
Let’s Go Mets!
