Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and and Marlins open a three-game set in Miami on Monday at 6:40 p.m. on SNY.
Preview
Can the offense heat up in Miami?
Juan Soto was as advertised during the season-opening series — launching his first homer as a Met and reaching base two or more times in all three games.
Everyone else offensively? Not so much.
The Mets put up a combined five runs during the first three games of the season, and it wasn’t for a lack of opportunity, as they went a combined 2-for-20 with runners in scoring position and left a total of 18 men on-base.
Francisco Lindor reached just one time on a hit by pitch, otherwise going hitless across 11 plate appearances. Brett Baty struck out in three of his first five at-bats. Pete Alonso drew three walks but had only one hit, while Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo combined for just three hits behind him.
It’s only a matter of time before things start clicking for this group — and we’ll see if that comes in Miami.
Strong start from the bullpen
Aside from Soto, the biggest bright spot for the Mets in Houston was the bullpen.
Edwin Diaz was a bit shaky during spring training, but he locked down his first save during Friday night’s win — striking out one as he cruised his way through the middle of Houston’s lineup in a perfect bottom of the ninth.
Prior to that, we saw the newly formed bridge ahead of him featuring A.J. Minter and Ryne Stanek.
Max Kranick was thrown right into the fire making his first big league appearance since 2022 on Saturday night, but he showed no fear as he retired Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker to escape a bases loaded jam in a one-run ballgame.
As a group, the bullpen combined to allow just three hits and six walks across 9.2 shutout innings.
The walks will need to be limited moving forward — but the first three games are the type of showing Carlos Mendoza and the Mets are looking for from the bullpen as they try to navigate the first few weeks without Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas in the starting rotation.
Kodai Senga’s first start
The last time we saw Senga during the regular season he was tremendous, striking out nine batters in 5.1 innings of work against the Braves back in July.
That effort quickly came to a screeching halt as he suffered a calf strain fielding his position — and then we didn’t see him back on the mound until the playoffs, where he showed significant signs of rust in three appearances (two starts).
Which leads to the question, what can the Mets expect from Senga this season?
If he can return to the form he showed when he received both Rookie of the Year and Cy Young votes two seasons ago, it would be a massive boost to this starting rotation.
Senga and the team played it safe early in camp to ensure that he’d be 100 percent healthy and ready to be a regular contributor by the time the regular season rolled around.
He was able to make his way into three Grapefruit League games down the stretch and looked pretty sharp, allowing just two runs (three earned) while showcasing his full arsenal and striking out nine batters.
The 32-year-old is expected to face a bit of a pitch count in the early going, but most importantly, he is back fully healthy and looks like a “man on a mission” heading into his first outing of the year on Tuesday night.
The Sandman is back
Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara is officially back.
The two-time All-Star and former Cy Young award winner missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery — but he’s finally back after building up late in the year and throughout the winter.
He allowed just two unearned runs and nine hits during his five spring training starts, and then struck out seven batters while uncharacteristically issuing four walks in 4.2 innings of work during an Opening Day win over the Pirates.
Alcantara has a 3.07 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 15 career starts against the Mets.
With another year of control on hi current deal, the 29-year-old makes for a perfect trade target for New York later in the season, but for now they’ll face-off with him again in the second game of this set.
Can Clay Holmes rebound after a shaky first start?
Holmes was terrific for the Mets this spring, but he was a bit shaky during his Opening Day outing in Houston.
Making his first start since 2018, the big right-hander limited the Astros to just three runs (two earned) but he struggled with his command as he walked four batters and hit another while allowing five hits in just 4.2 innings of work.
He leaned on his slider 49 percent of the time against the righty-heavy Houston lineup and turned to the newly-added kick-change just four times — despite the pitch developing into a legitimate weapon for him throughout spring training.
Certainly not the birthday present Holmes and the Mets were hoping for, but as he said afterwards, it’s a “learning process.”
Now that he’s had some real-game data to look over during his five-day break in between starts, we’ll see if the 32-year-old is able to put together a better effort during the series finale in Miami.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Pete Alonso
Alonso has 12 homers and a .904 OPS in his career at loanDepot Park.
Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?
David Peterson
Peterson was tremendous this spring coming off a breakout 2024 campaign.
Which Astros player will be a thorn in the Mets’ side?
Otto Lopez
Lopez has gotten off to a hot start this season, driving in runs in three of Miami’s four games.
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