Scherzer will start Opening Day against the Marlins on Thursday.
Scherzer will draw the Opening Day nod in his second season with the Mets, earning the spot over newly-acquired Justin Verlander. Scherzer was especially sharp in 2022 with New York, posting a career-low 2.29 ERA while striking out 173 batters over 145.1 innings in 23 starts with the club.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Brandon Nimmo: Plays minor-league game Thursday
Rotowire
Nimmo (ankle/knee) got five plate appearances Thursday in a minor-league game, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
He hit a triple and ran it out with no issues, per Healey. Nimmo has been slowed over the last week or so by low-grade sprains in both his right ankle and right knee, but he is slated to return to Grapefruit League action this weekend and seems like a good bet to be ready for Opening Day.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Brooks Raley: Nearing return to Grapefruit mound
Rotowire
Raley (hamstring) pitched in a minor-league game Wednesday and is on track to return to Grapefruit League action this weekend, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Raley suffered a low-grade strain of his left hamstring earlier this month as he was gearing up to represent Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, but he has checked most of the necessary boxes in the weeks since and should be good to go for Opening Day. The left-hander could factor into the saves mix for the Mets in 2023 with Edwin Diaz (knee) already done for the year.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Carlos Carrasco: Skipping minor-league outing
Rotowire
Mets manager Buck Showalter said that Carrasco won't make his scheduled minor-league start Thursday due to "elbow maintenance," Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
The Mets don't seem to be even considering this an injury, as Carrasco is slated to make a minor-league start next Tuesday instead. The situation is an odd one, but Carrasco's elbow typically gives him a little trouble every spring. Barring any setbacks, fantasy managers should continue drafting him as they normally would. Carrasco holds a 4.15 ERA and 14:2 K:BB over 13 innings this spring.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Bubby Rossman: Inks minor-league deal with NYM
Rotowire
Rossman signed a minor-league contract Wednesday with the Mets.
Rossman made his MLB debut with the Phillies last year at age 30 and surrendered two earned runs over one inning before heading back down to Triple-A. The right-hander will function as minor-league bullpen depth for New York in 2023.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Eduardo Escobar: Little impact at plate
Rotowire
Escobar has gone just 2-for-20 at the plate this spring with zero extra-base hits.
The veteran is still penciled in as the Mets' starting third baseman to begin the season, but Escobar hasn't done much in camp to suggest he's going to rebound significantly from the tepid .240/.295/.430 slash line he posted in 2022. If he has another sluggish start at the plate, the door could open for Brett Baty to take the job at the hot corner early in the season.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Kevin Parada: Draws raves for defense
Rotowire
Parada has made significant improvement with his throwing and pitch framing since making his pro debut last year, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.
"From what we saw last summer, his receiving and throwing needed a lot of improvement, and I've never seen a guy improve at both so much this quickly," New York farm director Kevin Howard said this week. "He looks almost big league ready in both." Parada's bat has never been in question, so if he is able to turn himself into a viable catcher defensively, his timeline to the majors could be accelerated. Francisco Alvarez remains ahead of him in the system, but Parada could still end up being the Mets' long-term answer behind the plate.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Headed for Triple-A
Rotowire
The Mets optioned Alvarez to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.
Though Alvarez remains the Mets' long-term plan at catcher, he had been splitting time behind the plate and at designated hitter this spring while easing his way back from the ankle surgery he underwent last October. Alvarez is expected to see the bulk of his starts at catcher early in the season at Triple-A, and if he's able to acquit himself well defensively while continuing to draw walks and hit for power, he may not have to wait long for a call-up to the big leagues. The Mets brought in Omar Narvaez in free agency on a two-year deal over the winter, but he took a major step back with the bat in 2022 and is viewed as a placeholder until Alvarez is deemed ready for the full-time catching job.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Brandon Nimmo: Eyeing return to lineup Saturday
Rotowire
Nimmo (ankle/knee) put in a full workout Tuesday and hopes to rejoin the Mets' Grapefruit League lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Nimmo has been nursing low-grade right ankle and knee sprains since last Friday, but his ability to take part in hitting, fielding and running work at Mets camp Tuesday bodes well for his availability for Opening Day. He'll likely continue to take part in baseball activities for the next three days with the aim of gaining clearance for the Mets' final two Grapefruit League games Saturday and Sunday. If Nimmo checks out fine coming out of those games, he should be ready to handle an everyday role in center field while serving as the Mets' leadoff man.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Darin Ruf: In Wednesday's lineup
Rotowire
Ruf (wrist) is starting at first base and batting sixth in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.
Ruf has battled through wrist issues during spring training and is 3-for-23 in seven contests. A move to the injured list to begin the season has been mentioned for the 36-year-old, who also struggled after being acquired by the Mets at last year's trade deadline with a .413 OPS. Even if he sticks on the Opening Day roster, Ruf's opportunities are likely to be limited as a right-handed platoon and bench option.
Nimmo (ankle/knee) ran through drills without issue Tuesday in Mets camp, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Puma writes that "team officials liked what they saw and deem Nimmo as progressing," but it remains uncertain whether the 29-year-old outfielder is going to be fully ready for Opening Day. He was diagnosed Saturday with low-grade sprains in both his right ankle and right knee, the result of a collision at second base in a Grapefruit League game last Friday.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Omar Narvaez: Quiet at plate this spring
Rotowire
Narvaez went 1-for-3 in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.
The hit was just his second of the spring for the Mets in 15 at-bats, with both of them being singles. Narvaez also went 1-for-4 in his only start for Venezuela during the WBC. The 31-year-old catcher signed a one-year deal this offseason to be the Mets' No. 1 catcher to begin the year largely on the strength of his defense and pitch-framing, and he could work in a platoon with Tomas Nido. The team will be hoping Francisco Alvarez plays well enough at Triple-A Syracuse to push Narvaez aside at some point in 2023, however.
... See More... See Less
Mets' Justin Verlander: Can't find plate Monday
Rotowire
Verlander gave up two runs on two hits and six walks over 4.2 innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals. He struck out three.
The 2022 AL Cy Young Award winner came into the game with zero walks in 11.1 spring innings, not to mention 16 strikeouts, so Verlander can probably get a mulligan on this one. The Mets aren't expecting him to repeat last season's incredible 1.75 ERA and 0.83 WHIP, but after handing him a two-year, $87 million contract in the offseason, the team is counting on him to pitch like an ace and hopefully win at least 15 games for the 13th time in his Hall of Fame career.
Raley (hamstring) threw a bullpen session Sunday and believes he's on track for Opening Day, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Raley is hoping to get in at least one Grapefruit League game by the end of the week. The left-hander has been out with a left hamstring strain and was forced off the World Baseball Classic roster. Raley could be an option for saves if he is healthy, but he'll need to get in at least a game or two in Florida if he's going to be a part of the Opening Day roster.
Megill gave up six runs (three earned) on six hits and five walks over 3.2 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. He struck out two.
David Peterson got the start Sunday while Megill came on in relief, and while neither pitcher was at their best, Peterson ended up with the much cleaner line in the box score. Megill did get stretched out to 78 pitches (42 strikes), but his late stumble in camp did him no favors as he tries to win the fifth starter role for the Mets. Barring a late development, Peterson should be viewed as the favorite to begin the regular season as part of the rotation.
