Category: Spring Training
Cardinals vs. Mets Lineups 1:10 pm et
Cardinals:
1. Kolten Wong (L) 2B
2. Stephen Piscotty (R) RF
3. Randal Grichuk (R) CF
4. Brandon Moss (L) 1B
5. Jedd Gyorko (R) SS
6. Brayan Pena (S) C
7. Anthony Garcia (R) LF
8. Jacob Wilson (R) 3B
9. Carson Kelly (R) DH
SP: Tyler Lyons LHP
Mets:
- Curtis Granderson (L) RF
- Neil Walker (S) 2B
- Yoenis Cespedes (R) CF
- Lucas Duda (L) 1B
- Wilmer Flores (R) SS
- Travis d’Arnaud (R) DH
- Michael Conforto (L) LF
- Eric Campbell (R) 3B
- Kevin Plawecki (R) C
SP: Bartolo Colon, RHP
- Today’s ballgame can be seen on SNY or MLB.tv.
Game Notes:
Avaliable Pitchers for the Mets: LHP Josh Smoker, RHP Jeurys Familia, and RHP Gabriel Ynoa.
VS. ST. LOUIS: Today’s game is the third of five games this Spring with the Cardinals…Each team has won a game thus far this Spring with St. Louis winning, 9-4, in Jupiter on March 7 and the Mets taking the game on March 10 in St. Lucie, 7-2.
RHP BARTOLO COLÓN: Is making his second start in Grapefruit League action today…Earned the win in his Spring debut on Monday vs. Detroit… Tossed 3.0 innings and allowed one run on four hits with two strikeouts…
WILMER FLORES: Walked twice in two plate appearances on Friday and is batting .500 (7-14) with one double and one RBI in seven games played this Spring…Each of Flores’ six starts this Spring have come at third base.
Mets players in WBC Qualifiers…
On Monday five Mets players, most notably Dilson Herrera, will be leaving camp to represent their country in the 2017 WBC qualifiers next week taking place March 17th-20th. The qualifiers will be taking place in Panama City, Panama and Mexicali, Mexico. Xorge Carillio will be the only Mets participant not in Panama City, with his team participating in Mexico.
Another notable participant is Luis Guillorme, who has been ranked by MLB.com as the organization’s 23rd best prospect this season. Guillorme had a breakout season in the Minors as he was the South Atlantic League MVP for the Savannah Sand Gnats, and was the Mets Sterling Award winner for the Sand Gnats. He will be an intriguing player to watch including Herrera, during qualifiers.
I provided a list below of which players will be participating, and what country they will be representing…
Colombia:
- 2B Dilson Herrera
- RHP Nabil Crismatt
Mexico:
- C Xorge Carrillo
Panama:
- LHP Alberto Baldonado
Spain:
- SS Luis Guillorme
Final Nationals 9 – Mets 5
The Mets fell to the Washington Nationals this afternoon by the final score of 9-5 in Viera. For a full box score recap follow the link below…
Game Notes:
- Steven Matz pitching on short rest had a line of 2 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, and 1 K. He also committed a throwing error in the bottom of the 2nd, trying to start a double play.
- Juan Lagares was 1-3 with an RBI.
- Alejandro De Aza was 1-3, bumping his average up to .438 this spring.
- Travis Taijeron was 0-1 but added his 8th RBI of the spring on a sacrifice fly in the top of the 9th.
- Logan Verrett (pictured) pitched 2 shutout innings, allowing 2 hits and throwing 2 strikeouts.
- Antonio Bastardo had another rough outing, allowing all three of Steven Matz inherited runners to score in the bottom of the third.
Steven Matz had a solid two innings pitched to start the game against the Nationals. Matz got into trouble in the bottom of the third by allowing two straight walks, and a misplayed ball by Alejandro De Aza, loaded the bases. Antonio Bastardo proceeded to cough up the 3 runners Matz had stranded by allowing two base hits. Bastardo is not having the best start to the spring thus far. Matz on the other hand looked solid today despite pitching on short rest, and he was pulled in the bottom of the third as his pitch count was rising with 41 pitches. 27 of those pitches however were thrown for strikes.
- The Mets play host to the St. Louis Cardinals tomorrow afternoon at Tradition Field with a 1:10 pm et start time. The game can be seen on WPIX or MLB.tv.
- Bartolo Colon is expected to start against Cardinals lefty Tyler Lyons.
- Also expected to pitch for the Mets include, LHP Josh Smoker, RHP Jeurys Familia, RHP Gabriel Ynoa.
BREAKING NEWS: Cabrera out 2 weeks…
The Mets have announced that Asdrubal Cabrera has been diagnosed with a strained patella tendon in his left knee and will be out for 2 weeks. Cabrera will be given a platelet-rich plasma injection in New York today. It had been reported that Asdrubal Cabrera was on his way back to New York for more testing on his left knee, by Mike Puma of the NY Daily News this morning. Many people around the organization had maintained a tone that Cabrera had dodged a serious injury, including Assistant GM JP Riccardi. Riccardi told John Harper of the NY Daily News, “I don’t think it’s anything serious.”
Ruben Tejada will be the Mets starting shortstop for the time being, with Wilmer Flores retaining his utility role. This should put to rest all of the talk of Tejada being released or traded before Opening Night. It is now fair to wonder if Cabrera will be ready for Opening Night in Kansas City? In my opinion, I’m going to assume that Cabrera will begin the season on the disabled list, and Tejada will be the Mets Opening Night shortstop.
Rafael Montero among players optioned…
LHP Dario Alvarez, RHP Rafael Montero and RHP Akeel Morris have all been optioned to minor league camp…RHP Chase Bradford, RHP Paul Sewald and C Raywilly Gomez have been reassigned to minor league camp…There are now a total of 52 players in camp for the Mets.
It is a bit of a disappointing turn of events for Montero as he was vying for a bullpen spot. Montero’s spring has not gone the way he or the Mets envisioned so far, and his stock has taken a tumble over the past year. I hope Montero is able to get it all together soon, because he has proven in the past he has the make-up of a Major League pitcher. I expect Montero, granted he’s healthy, will start the year in AAA.
Mets vs. Nationals Lineups 1:05 pm et
Mets:
- Alejandro De Aza (R) LF
- Juan Lagares (L) CF
- Wilmer Flores (R) 3B
- Dominic Smith (L) DH
- Travis d’Arnaud (R) C
- Marc Krauss (L) 1B
- Dilson Herrera (R) 2B
- Roger Bernadina (L) RF
- Ruben Tejada (R) SS
SP: Steven Matz LHP
Nationals:
- Ben Revere (L) CF
- Anthony Rendon (R) 3B
- Bryce Harper (L) RF
- Daniel Murphy (L) 2B
- Jayson Werth (R) LF
- Clint Robinson (L) DH
- Tyler Moore (R) 1B
- Wilson Ramos (R) C
- Danny Espinosa (S) SS
SP: Stephen Strasburg RHP
Today’s game will not be televised but can be heard through the Washington Nationals Radio Network if you have MLB.tv Premium.
Game Notes:
Today’s available pitchers for both squads:
METS: LHP Steven Matz, LHP Sean Gilmartin, RHP Logan Verrett, RHP Zack Thornton.
NATIONALS: RHP Stephen Strasburg, RHP A.J. Cole, LHP Oliver Perez, LHP Nick Lee, LHP Felipe Rivero
VS. NATIONALS: Today’s game is the second of six matchups with the Nationals and second of three in Viera…The Mets fell in their Grapefruit League opener in Viera on March 3, 9-4…Washington visits Port St. Lucie on March 18, 27 and 30.
LHP STEVEN MATZ: Will make his second start of the Spring today and his first against the Nationals… Made his Grapefruit League debut on March 7 at St. Louis…He allowed one run on one hit in three innings… In that outing, Matz struck out the side in the second inning before allowing his only run of the game in the third…
ALEJANDRO DE AZA: Is in today’s starting lineup…Was 2-3 with a double and two runs scored on Thursday vs. St. Louis…Is batting .462 (6-13) with two doubles and five runs scored in six games this Spring…
WILMER FLORES: Is in today’s starting lineup…Was 2-3 on Thursday and is batting .500 (7-14) with one double and one RBI in six games played this Spring…Each of Flores’ five starts this Spring have come at third base.
Jenrry Mejia Announcement
It has been reported this afternoon, that Jenrry Mejia is expected to make a big announcement tomorrow afternoon from his attorney’s office in New York. One can only assume that Mejia and his representatives will be pursuing some sort of legal action against Major League Baseball, and possibly the Player’s Association. Mejia had been banned from baseball last month after testing positive for PED’s for a third time. Mejia has been adamant that there has been a conspiracy against him from Major League Baseball, regarding his last two failed drug tests. Mejia also cited a lack of support from the MLBPA in regards to his last two failed drug tests. According to the NY Daily News, a press release from Mejia’s camp includes a witness willing to come forward and testify against Major League Baseball, “claiming that the league offered to pay him in return for steroid related testimony against a player.” Mejia is the first player ever to receive a lifetime ban for PED’s from Major League Baseball, and he apparently won’t go down without a fight.
Final: Mets 7 – Cardinals 2
The New York Mets defeated the St. Louis Cardinals by the final score of 7-2 this afternoon at Tradition Field.
For a full box score recap follow the link below…
Game Notes:
- Noah Syndergaard pitched 3 innings allowing 1 hit, no runs, and 2 strikeouts.
- Jeurys Familia pitched a scoreless inning of relief this afternoon.
- Asdrubal Cabrera left today’s contest early with a sore knee.
- Ruben Tejada was 1-2 with a 2-run home run and a run scored.
- Travis Taijeron hit a 3-run home run in the bottom of the 7th.
- Wilmer Flores had a 2-3 afternoon, and is now batting .500 this Spring.
Ruben Tejada’s home run to left-center field this afternoon was one of the highlights of the game. With much speculation surrounding Tejada’s roster spot, including being a trade candidate to the St. Louis Cardinals, he came on for an injured Asdrubal Cabrera and provided a bang in his first at bat. Tejada also received a nice ovation by the Tradition Field crowd when he replaced an injured Cabrera on the bases in the bottom of the first. You can’t help but feel good for Tejada in his return from that gruesome leg injury, and with the speculation that is surrounding him. Asdrubal Cabrera is scheduled to undergo an MRI tonight to see if there is any ligament damage to the left knee. As of right now, he has been diagnosed with a sore knee, and the MRI results will determine if it is more than that. Noah Syndergaard looked to be in midseason form already in his Grapefruit League debut this afternoon. Syndergaard’s fastball was hitting 98 mph, and he was mowing through the Cardinals lineup before allowing a hard hit ball to Matt Hazelbaker, with 2 outs in the bottom of the third, that was just out of reach of the glove of Wilmer Flores. Michael Conforto went 0-2 against Cardinals lefty Jaime Garcia this afternoon including a strikeout. Terry Collins will be judged on how often he allows Conforto to face lefties, and Conforto will be relied upon to show growth against southpaws when he is in the lineup this season. Expect Collins to have Conforto in the lineup this spring whenever the Mets face a left-handed pitcher. The legend of Travis Taijeron continues this spring, as he had a 3-run home run in the bottom of the 7th to put the game out of reach for the St. Louis Cardinals. Taijeron is hitting an astounding .389 so far this spring, but needs to cut down on the strikeouts as he has 6 in 18 at bats thus far. He will be traveling to Viera with the team tomorrow.
- The Mets travel to Viera, to take on the Washington Nationals for a 1:05 pm start. The game will not be televised, but can be streamed through Washington Nationals radio network if you subscribe to MLB.tv Premium.
- Steven Matz will make his second start of the spring against Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg. Also expected to take the mound for the Mets include, LHP Sean Gilmartin, LHP Duane Below, RHP Logan Verrett, RHP Zach Thornton, RHP Akeel Morris, RHP Paul Sewald, and RHP Seth Lugo.
Asdrubal Cabrera leaves game with injury
Mets starting shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera left Thursday afternoon’s tilt against the Cardinals with a lower left leg injury. Cabrera was tagging up from first base to second base when the injury occured. Cabrera was wincing and grabbing the leg, prompting Manager Terry Collins to pull Cabrera out of the game. Cabrera slightly limped off the field and was replaced by Ruben Tejada.
SNY reported during the third inning that Cabrera is dealing with a sore left knee.
You have to imagine the Mets will take it easy with Cabrera the next few days, and with Matt Reynolds reportedly dealing with a nagging hamstring, Tejada should be getting the bulk of the starts the next few days at short…
Cardinals vs. Mets Lineups 1:10 pm et
Cardinals:
1. Kolten Wong (L) 2B
2. Stephen Piscotty (R) RF
3. Brandon Moss (L) LF
4. Matt Adams (L) 1B
5. Brayan Pena (S) C
6. Tommy Pham (R) CF
7. Greg Garcia (L) 3B
8. Aledmys Diaz (R) SS
9. Jeremy Hazelbaker (L) DH
SP: Jaime Garcia LHP
Mets:
1. Curtis Granderson (L) RF
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) CF
4. Lucas Duda (L) 1B
5. Neil Walker (S) 2B
6. Michael Conforto (L) LF
7. Wilmer Flores (R) 3B
8. Kevin Plawecki (R) C
9. Dilson Herrera (R) DH
SP: Noah Syndergaard RHP
Today’s first pitch is at 1:10 pm et and can be seen on SNY or MLB.tv.
Game Notes:
Today’s available Pitchers for both squads:
Cardinals: RHP Mitch Harris, RHP Jeremy Hefner, RHP Miguel Socolovich, RHP Jordan Walden
Mets: RHP Buddy Carlyle, RHP Jeurys Familia, RHP, RHP Rafael Montero, RHP Hansel Robles, RHP Robert Gsellman
Above The Mendoza 