After dropping a disappointing home-opening series, the New York Mets stay in Flushing, as they try to get back on track .
By Jeremy Fialkow
Following a congestion of bad lucky and sloppy play, the Mets find themselves with a 2-3 record through five games. This past weekend, New York won their home-opener against Philly, 7-to-2, then dropped the next two, as their bats rapidly went cold.
Miami isn’t in much better shape. They’re 1-3 on the season, thus far.
So, at this point, after one week of baseball, the Metropolitans sit 1.5 games behind the Washington Nationals for first place in the National League East.
The horror.
Don’t worry. Fun times are ahead.
This series against the Fish will include the season debut of rookie southpaw Steven Matz, the final element to the Mets’ current Core-4 of aces.
After game three, the two teams share an off-day, before flipping over to the sunshine in Miami for another set of three.
Pitching Matchups
Game 1: Steven Matz, LHP v. Jarred Cosart, RHP
24-year-old New York native, Matz, will make his much anticipated season debut on Monday. It will be his own version of a first home-opener. Not only is Matz ranked as the No. 1 prospect within the Mets organization, but he’s also a leading candidate for National League Rookie of the Year.
The lefty went through a rough start to Grapefruit League play this preseason, but finished off with a major bang, tossing 5.0 no-hit innings against the Chicago Cubs ‘A-team.’
In last year’s matchup with the Marlins, Matz threw 5.2 innings, allowing 2 runs.
Game 2: Noah Syndergaard, RHP v. Jose Fernandez, RHP
Alas, a matchup for the ages. A game between two of the nastiest pitchers in the game.
But, really, all eyes will be on the man they call Thor. The 23-year-old Syndergaard began his season with a bang, slinging 6 scoreless against in a victory against the Kansas City Royals. The 6-6, 245 pound righty struck out 9 batters in the process.
Much will be heard about Thor’s newest toy, the Warthen Slider, which, at one point last week, was clocked at 95 mph.
His opposition, Fernandez, has some good ‘stuff’ of his own. He owns 1.64 ERA when pitching at Citi Field.
Game 3: Logan Verrett v. Adam Conley
This, of course, is the ‘ugly duckling’ of the pitching duels, so to speak.
Logan Verrett, who is a relief pitcher by trade, is making the spot-start in place of ace Jacob deGrom, who’s absence is being deemed “precautionary,” due to lat-tightness.
The 25-year-old Verrett went 1-1 with a 3.63 ERA as a spot-starter in New York last season.
Keys to a Series Win
Offensive Improvement
The Met bats are more frigid than this unexpected spring weather.
The team’s total batting average ranks third-worst in the league, right now, sitting at .192 average. In 2015, that average was right around .242.
It’s early, and there’s no reason to panic, but the Mets will not win this series without some production from the heart of their lineup, the 1-2-3 hitters: Curtis Granderson, Yoenis Cespedes, and David Wright.
Cespedes and Wright, to their credit, may have ended the early slump, after each had 2-for-4 days on Sunday, including a monster Cespedes home run.
Granderson, though, is struggling…a lot. After a season in which he produced 70 RBI from the leadoff spot in the order, the Grandy Man is off to a terrible 1-for-20 start to the year, good for a .050 average.
Maintain Giancarlo Stanton
He’s gargantuan, he’s talented and he plays baseball for the Marlins, but, he’s not invincible.
Surely, Matz and Syndergaard have the ability to keep Stanton in check, but, who knows what Verrett will bring against the Marlins slugger.
Stanton is built like Syndergaard, at 6-6, 240 pounds, yet, one was born to throw, the other, born to mash.
Miami’s right fielder enters the series with one 400+ foot bomb to his name, already.
Players to Watch
Dee Gordon
If we were to describe Gordon in one word, it would be: Electric.
He combines lightning speeds, with immense talent and a solid, aware eye at the plate. And, oh yeah, he’s a Met killer.
Thus far, in this young season, he’s already hitting to a .450 average. He’ll look to be a major catalyst in this three-game tilt under the bright lights of New York City.
Noah Syndergaard
If this guy is pitching in the series, he’ll always be on a watch-list.
It’s just always a show to see Syndergaard on the mound. It’s an event to see the surprise Cy Young Award candidate dominate at such a young age, 23.
Mentioned above, he struck out the Royals – who never K – nine times over six powerful innings last week.
This time around, he gets the Miami Marlins team that is teetering on the borderline of bad and mediocre.
Michael Conforto
The Mets No. 3 hitter of the future is going have a helluva year.
He easily has the best approach at the plate for any of New York’s bats, one through nine, and, like Syndergaard, he’s performing at such a young age as well. Currently, his on-base percentage is at .421, a number that will only go up from here.
Lest we forget, this kid loves to go fishing for Marlins. The left fielder hit the first (of many) career home runs down in Miami.
Game Times, Predictions
- Game 1: Monday, 7:10 PM ET, ESPN/FSFL/SNY
- Game 2: Tuesday, 7:10 PM ET, FSFL/SNY
- Game 3: Wednesday, 1:10 PM ETf, MLBN/FSFL/SNY
In reality, the Mets are due.
Due for two big games from their young stud pitchers.
Due for an offensive outburst, that could occur at any second.
Plain and simple, they’re due for a series win.
Bold Prediction:
Michael Conforto will hit his first and second homers of the season, as his Mets sweep the Fish back into the ocean.