The New York Mets must win Game 1 in Miami Tuesday night if they’re going to continue their winning ways.

The above statement might make you want to unleash your snarkiest “thanks, captain obvious” remark, but hold off on that for a second.

We don’t mean what you think we mean.

Of the 22 series that the Mets have played in 2017, they’ve won the series opener 14 times. Taking Game 1 of a regular season series might not seem important but, for the Mets, it’s been everything.

Of those 14 series-opening victories, the Mets went on to win the series 12 times, going 25-11 in the process. That’s not a typo. The Mets have a .694 winning percentage when they get off to a good start in any particular series.

Only twice have the Mets taken the first game and gone on to lose a series — against Miami in early April and against San Diego in late May.

That’s it.

So while Tuesday’s series-opener against the Marlins may not seem like a big deal, it is.

The Mets will send Robert Gsellman (5-5, 6.04 ERA) to the mound, while Miami will counter with veteran journeyman Dan Straily (5-4, 3.43 ERA).

If the Mets can take care of business in Game 1, recent history says that the rest of the series will take care of itself.

Other Mets Stories, News:

  • Elite Sports NY’s Nicholas Durst takes a look at whether the Mets can turn things around in his latest “The MetsCast” podcast.
  • ESNY’s Zachary Weisleder wonders whether a deserving Jay Bruce will participate in the MLB All-Star festivities.
  • Newsday’s Marc Carig looks at what impact trade rumors are having on the veterans in the Mets clubhouse.

 NEXT: Mets Establish New Club Home Run Record