For the first time since March 11th, it’s gameday for the Mets! The Mets beat the Cardinals 7-3 a couple of months ago and then the world stopped. Despite rising Covid19 cases across the country, the MLB is still pushing forward with a 60 game season and now we have summer camp, which still just feels odd to say.
For the record, I’m still figuring out how I feel about baseball returning. But, selfishly (and I really have to stress that – selfishly), I’m excited to forget about 2020 for a few hours tonight while the Mets take on the Yankees in Citi Field.
Mets Lineup:
- Brandon Nimmo CF
- Pete Alonso 1B
- Robinson Cano 2B
- Yoenis Cespedes DH
- Michael Conforto RF
- J.D. Davis LF
- Amed Rosario SS
- Max Moroff 3B
- Tomas Nido C
A good chunk of the starting lineup is playing tonight (just missing Jeff McNeil and Wilson Ramos). The highlight will be Cespedes, playing at Citi Field in a baseball game again! So far in summer camp / summer training (pick your preferred name) Cespedes has been hitting some absolute bombs.
Rick Porcello gets the start for the Mets today. When we left off in March, Porcello, Matz and Wacha were competing for the final two rotation spots. Then Noah Syndergaard got injured. Porcello was having a pretty good spring training. He had a 2.53 ERA over 4 starts and 10.2 innings, allowing 3 runs from 15 hits and only 1 walk while striking out 8. For Porcello, a former Red Sox pitcher, the Yankees are a familiar foe. The Yankees really had Rick’s number last year, he allowed 20 runs from 27 hits in 15.0 innings over 4 games. That includes 5 homers.
There are a bunch of pitchers coming in behind Porcello. Justin Wilson, Daniel Zamora, Hunter Strickland, Chasen Shreve, Jeurys Famila, Tyer Bashlor, Dellin Betances and Edwin Diaz are all available tonight. For the Mets this year, the combination of Familia – Betances – Diaz (not necessarily in that order) will be critical. All three of them pitching like we know they can + Seth Lugo can set up a dangerous combination for opponents.
The Mets will get a look at Mike King today, who pitched in one game last year, making his major league debut on 9/27/19. The 24 year old, drafted in 2016, pitched 2.0 innings allowed 2 hits and an unearned run while striking out 1. In 11 games and 8 starts in the minors last year he had a 5.48 ERA over 46.0 innings. In the previous year, he had a 1.79 ERA over 161.1 innings in 25 games (24 starts) across high A, AA and AAA ball). As you have probably guessed by looking at his 2019 and 2018 numbers, he was injured in 2019. He was dealing with elbow issues early in spring training that sidelined him for most of last season. He is trying to work his way into the rotation this season.
After Mike King, Zack Britton, Chad Green, Tommy Kahnle, Adam Ottavino, Ben Heller and Tony Zych are all traveling witht he team today. There are enough regular Yankee relievers getting some work in today that the Mets should get a good luck at a team they are playing a disproportionate number of times in a 60 game season.
Let’s Go Mets!
