Category: Spring Training
Final: Cardinals 3 – Mets 1
The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Mets at Roger Dean Stadium this afternoon by the final score of 3-1. For a full box score recap follow the link below…
Game Notes:
- Neil Walker (pictured) was 1-3 this afternoon with a double and scored the only Mets run.
- Alejandro De Aza was 0-2, while driving in the Mets only run with an RBI ground out in the top of the 2nd.
- Yoenis Cespedes was 1-3 this afternoon.
- Bartolo Colon was solid in his final spring start, pitching 6 innings, while allowing 3 runs, on 7 hits, with no walks, and 5 strikeouts.
- Erik Goeddel pitched a clean inning while allowing no hits or walks with a strikeout.
- Asdrubal Cabrera returned to the Mets lineup and was 0-3 while playing 5 innings at shortstop.
- The Mets have not won a Grapefruit League game in their last 11 contests.
- The Mets return to Tradition Field tomorrow afternoon to face the Miami Marlins with a 1:10 pm et start time. The game can be seen on SNY.
- Matt Harvey was scheduled to start tomorrow afternoon for the Mets but has been scratched by manager Terry Collins. Harvey was the only player who missed today’s trip to Jupiter as he was visiting a doctor. The doctor he was visiting was not an orthopedic doctor which is good news. I will update you as soon as I know more information. The Marlins have not provided a starting pitcher for tomorrow’s afternoon contest.
Jacob deGrom expected to start home opener on April 8…
ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin is reporting this morning that the New York Mets plan to start Jacob deGrom on their home opener April 8th against the Philadelphia Phillies. This move would be made in order to accommodate deGrom and his wife, who are expecting a child during the first series of the season against Kansas City. It is also expected the organization wants deGrom to pitch the big home opener at Citi Field, since he would not be pitching on Opening Night.
This development means Noah Syndergaard will get the start in the second game of the season against the Kansas City Royals. Lefty Steven Matz is expected to follow Syndergaard in relief in that game against the Royals as well. Matt Harvey will face Royals right-hander Edinson Volquez on Opening Night this Sunday.
Mets Projected Rotation:
RHP Matt Harvey vs. Kansas City April 3rd 8:37 pm et
RHP Noah Syndergaard & LHP Steven Matz vs. Kansas City April 5th 4:15 pm et
RHP Jacob deGrom vs. Philadephia Phillies April 8th 1:10 pm et
LHP Steven Matz vs. Philadephia Phillies April 9th 7:10 pm et
RHP Bartolo Colon vs. Philadelphia Phillies April 10th 1:10 pm et
Mets vs. Cardinals Lineups 1:05 pm et
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. Alejandro De Aza (L) LF
7. Travis d’Arnaud (R) C
8. Wilmer Flores (R) 3B
9. Bartolo Colon (R) P
SP: Bartolo Colon RHP
Cardinals:
1. Matt Carpenter (L) 3B
2. Stephen Piscotty (R) RF
3. Matt Holliday (R) LF
4. Matt Adams (L) 1B
5. Randal Grichuk (R) CF
6. Eric Fryer (R) C
7. Kolten Wong (L) 2B
8. Ruben Tejada (R) SS
9. Carlos Martinez (R) P
SP: Carlos Martinez
- Today’s game can be seen on MLB.tv or heard on WOR 710 AM this afternoon.
Game Notes:
RHP BARTOLO COLON: Is making his fifth start this spring…He tossed 6.0 shutout innings vs. the Blue Jays’ starting lineup on March 23 with six strikeouts…
WRIGHT ON: David Wright hit his first home run of the spring yesterday vs. Washington (Yusmeiro Petit)…He finished 2-4 with two RBI…Wright is hitting .294 (5-17) with three RBI in six spring games.
NL LEADERS: Alejandro De Aza is fourth among all NL players with a .400 (16-40 ) batting average and is fourth in on-base percentage (.479)…Jacob deGrom is first among all qualifying pitchers with a 1.62 ERA…
MATT REYNOLDS: Is 5-for-his-last-8 (.625) over his last three spring games…Overall, Reynolds is hitting .265 (9-34) with two doubles and four RBI in 15 games.
ASDRUBAL CABRERA: Went 3-4 with in a minor league game yesterday…He played 4.0 innings in the field…Cabrera is 7-13 (.538) in three minor league games…He suffered a strained patella tendon of his left knee on March 10.
ON THE ROAD: For the second straight year, the Mets will take every player in camp to their final Grapefruit League road game.
Final: Mets 4 – Nationals 4
The New York Mets played to a third straight tie this afternoon against the Washington Nationals by the final score of 4-4. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…
Game Notes:
- David Wright was 2-4 this afternoon with a HR and 2 RBI’s.
- Michael Conforto returned to the Mets lineup and was 2-4 with a 2-run HR.
- Neil Walker was 2-3 with a run scored and a triple.
- Steven Matz pitched 5.2 innings allowing only 1 run and 1 hit which came off of the bat of Nationals first baseman Clint Robinson. Matz issued 4 walks along with 5 strikeouts.
- The Mets bullpen struggled this afternoon as Logan Verrett, and Jim Henderson combined allowed 4 hits, and 3 runs in 1.1 innings pitched. Jerry Blevins was also charged with the blown save by allowing Henderson’s inherited runners to score.
- SS Asdrubal Cabrera did not play as expected today. He went 3-4 in a minor league game today instead and will be in tomorrow’s lineup.
- Interesting fact, Nationals RHP Yusmeiro Petit was included with 1B Mike Jacobs in the Carlos Delgado trade to the Marlins back in 2005.
- The Mets go to Jupiter to face the St. Louis Cardinals tomorrow afternoon, with a 1:05 pm et start time. The game can be seen if you have an MLB.tv subscription or heard on WOR 710 AM.
- Bartolo Colon will make his final Grapefruit League start against Cardinals young right-hander Carlos Martinez.
Happy Easter Y’all!
Final: Mets 3 – Braves 3 (10 innings)
The Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Braves played to a 3-3 tie this afternoon at Disney. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…
Game Notes:
- Jacob deGrom pitched 6.2 innings and allowed 2 runs on 3 hits. He also struck out 5 batters and only issued 1 walk.
- Erik Goeddel (pictured) made his second appearance of the spring and pitched a scoreless inning allowing 1 hit and 1 walk. He also struck out a batter.
- Juan Lagares was 1-4 with an RBI.
- Matt Reynolds was 2-2 with a double.
- Wilmer Flores was 1-4 with 3 strikeouts.
- Former Mets reliever Carlos Torres was charged with the blown save this afternoon for the Braves in the 9th.
- The Mets are now 0-7-2 in their last 9 games.
Jacob deGrom looked great this afternoon on the mound, as he made fairly easy work of the Braves hitters for much of the afternoon. His velocity was still hovering between the 91-93 mph range, but he stated after the game he’s still building his arm strength back up, after taking it easy in the offseason. Either way it isn’t much of an issue at this point as he is still getting hitters out, and he has shown no concern about the velocity dip. The Mets sent many of their reserves on this trip and the Braves rolled out many of their starters this afternoon. I’m still not buying the win-loss spring training record despite many people pointing out the Nationals are 16-4-2 this spring. The game’s begin to count next Sunday night for the Mets, and I believe this upcoming week the team will have a different level of focus as Spring Training wraps up.
- The Mets return to Tradition Field for an Easter Sunday afternoon game against the Washington Nationals. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 pm et and the game can be seen on WPIX or heard on WOR 710 AM.
- The Mets will send Steven Matz to the mound to face Nationals righty Yusmeiro Petit. Asdrubal Cabrera is expected to make his return to the Mets lineup tommrrow afternoon as well.
Mets Tidbits
- Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera went 2-4 with two singles in a minor league game yesterday. It was his first action since suffering a strained patella tendon of his left knee on March 10. Cabrera is expected to be in the starting lineup tomorrow afternoon against the Washington Nationals.
- ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin is unsure if the Mets are still in the market for a back-up catcher, but he states Detroit Tigers back-up catcher Bryan Holaday is available on the market, and he is also out of Minor League options as well. The 28-year old catcher hit .281/.292/.453 in 64 at bats last season, and is a name to watch over the next week.
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A neat fact about the Mets this spring is the Mets have had three tie games (including yesterday), the most such games in franchise history for a single Spring Training.
Mets vs. Braves Lineups 1:05 pm et
Mets:
1. Juan Lagares (R) CF
2. Patrick Biondi (L) LF
3. Travis d’Arnaud (R) C
4. Wilmer Flores (R) 2B
5. Eric Campbell (R) 3B
6. Marc Krauss (L) 1B
7. Travis Taijeron (R) RF
8. Matt Reynolds (R) SS
9. Jacob deGrom (L) P
SP: Jacob deGrom RHP
Braves:
1. Ender Inciarte (L) CF
2. Erick Aybar (S) SS
3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
4. Adonis Garcia (R) 3B
5. Nick Markakis (L) RF
6. Hector Olivera (R) LF
7. A.J. Pierzynski (L) C
8. Jace Peterson (L) 2B
9. Bud Norris (R) P
SP: Bud Norris RHP
- Today’s game can be seen on MLB.tv or heard on WOR 710 AM.
Game Notes:
RHP JACOB deGROM: Will make his fourth start of the Spring today… Has only allowed one earned run over 10.0 spring innings (0.90 ERA)… Hurled 4.0 shutout innings in his last start on March 31 vs. Miami…
VS. ATLANTA: The Mets and Braves meet for the final time this spring today…New York is 1-1 vs. Atlanta this spring.
JUAN LAGARES: Has six RBI in 15 spring games and is hitting .324 (11-34) with a .410 on-base percentage…He has one triple and one home run.
NL LEADERS: Wilmer Flores ranks ninth among all NL players with a .431 on- base percentage and tied for ninth with eight walks…Eric Campbell is also tied for second among all NL players with a .489 on-base percentage…Campbell is first among all NL players with 11 walks this spring…
Final: Mets 5 – Cardinals 5
The New York Mets and the St. Louis Cardinals finished in a 4-all tie at Tradition Field this afternoon by the final score of 5-5. For a full box score recap follow the link below…
Game Notes:
- Noah Syndergaard pitched 6 innings allowing 2 runs, on 5 hits. He gave up no walks and struck out 9.
- Matt Reynolds was 2-3 with 3 RBI’s.
- Wilmer Flores received his first start of the spring at 1B and went 2-4 including a double, with 2 runs scored.
- Kevin Plawecki was 1-2 with a double, a walk, and 2 runs scored.
- Jerry Blevins, Jim Henderson, and Addison Reed combined to pitch 2 scoreless innings in relief.
- Jeurys Familia who was pitching on back-to-back days, struggled mightily as he blew the save in the 9th inning. He pitched 0.1 inning and allowed 4 hits, 3 runs, and allowed 2 walks.
- David Wright was 0-2 with a walk.
- Former Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada received the start at short for the Cardinals, and went 2-3 this afternoon.
First and foremost it was definitely odd seeing Ruben Tejada in another uniform. It’s not as much of an eye sore as seeing Daniel Murphy in a Nationals jersey, but it was still nonetheless weird. On another note, Noah Syndergaard was simply on point again today, as he has been all spring. He was making the Cardinals hitters look silly this afternoon and the ESPN broadcast announcers could not stop gushing at the gas he was throwing from the mound today. Wilmer Flores start at first base went well as he looked to be settled at the position as the game wore on. Keith Hernandez was seen sitting in the dugout with Wilmer before today’s game, which shows Wilmer’s willingness to learn from one of the best. Flores versatility around the diamond provides a great piece for the Mets to keep his bat in the lineup during the season.
Jeurys Familia was completely off this afternoon and charged with the blown save. He entered the game with a 2-run lead and he displayed no command, which in result, kept many of his pitches up in the strike zone. Many of those pitches up in the zone led to hard hit balls, including a home run from Cardinals outfielder Randal Grichuk. Familia departed after only getting one out, and leaving the bases loaded. Reliever Zack Thornton came into the game, and was able to get an inning-ending double play to put out Familia’s fire. It was a disappointing development watching Familia struggle, as it has been such a rare occurrence and it just leaves another bad taste in your mouth after watching Matt Harvey struggle yesterday. It’s still Spring Training however so I will not lose much sleep over his outing. The Mets rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth to snap their seven game losing streak.
- The Mets head to Disney to face the Atlanta Braves tomorrow afternoon for a 1:05 pm et start time. The game can be seen if you have an MLB.tv subscription or heard on WOR 710 AM.
- Jacob deGrom will take the mound for the Mets against Braves right-hander Bud Norris.
Mets release Carlyle, re-assign 4 others…
The New York Mets have announced this morning the release of RHP Buddy Carlyle. Carylyle’s 2015 campaign was cut short in July due to hip surgery last season, and he has struggled this spring with an 8.10 ERA in seven games. The 38-year old Carlyle is unsure if he will retire or continue pitching this season.
The Mets have also re-assigned INF Danny Muno, INF T.J. Rivera, INF Ty Kelly, and OF Roger Bernadina to minor league camp. The Mets have 32 players left in big league camp, which includes rehabbing pitchers Zack Wheeler and Josh Edgin.
Cardinals vs. Mets Lineups 1:10 pm et
Cardinals:
1. Matt Carpenter (L) 3B
2. Stephen Piscotty (R) RF
3. Matt Holliday (R) LF
4. Randal Grichuk (R) CF
5. Matt Adams (L) 1B
6. Yadier Molina (R) C
7. Jedd Gyorko (R) 2B
8. Ruben Tejada (R) SS
9. Michael Wacha (R) P
SP: Michael Wacha RHP
Mets:
1. Alejandro De Aza (L) LF
2. David Wright (R) 3B
3. Curtis Granderson (L) RF
4. Neil Walker (S) 2B
5. Wilmer Flores (R) 1B
6. Kevin Plawecki (R) C
7. Juan Lagares (R) CF
8. Matt Reynolds (R) SS
9. Noah Syndergaard (L) P
SP: Noah Syndergaard RHP
- Today’s game can be seen on SNY or ESPN. First pitch is at 1:10 pm et.
Game Notes:
Available pitchers for both squads:
CARDINALS: RHP Michael Wacha, RHP Matt Bowman
METS: RHP Noah Syndergaard, RHP Addison Reed, RHP Jeurys Familia, LHP Jerry Blevins
RHP NOAH SYNDERGAARD: Will make his fourth start of Grapefruit League play today…Pitched 5.0 innings and struck out five while allowing one earned run on March 20 vs. Boston..
CURTIS GRANDERSON: Is 5-for-his- last-7 (.714) with two doubles in his last two spring games…Granderson is hitting .323 (10-31) this spring with two doubles, one triple and three RBI.
JEURYS FAMILIA: Tossed 1.0 scoreless inning yesterday vs. Houston…Familia has not allowed a run over 7.0 innings this spring.
JUAN LAGARES: Has six RBI in 14 spring games and is hitting .333 (10- 30) with a .429 on-base percentage… He has one triple and one home run.
Above The Mendoza 