A month into spring training, the Mets are answering some questions.
The Mets beat the Houston Astros 6-5 on Wednesday night at Clover Park. The final score didn’t matter but the individual results did. Mark Vientos hit a home run, Tyrone Taylor continued his solid spring and Luis Severino had another strong start on the mound. The Mets also got scoreless outings from four relievers.
With less than two weeks left, the roster is starting to take shape.
Brett Baty and Vientos continue to battle for roster spots, with the two of them engaged in a battle for third base. Baty was scratched from the lineup late with back tightness and he’s considered day-to-day, but manager Carlos Mendoza said he expects him to be back in the lineup Thursday.
Former Mets third baseman J.D. Davis remains on the market after the debacle with the San Francisco Giants, but the Mets’ resistance to bringing in outside help shows that they’re still planning on prioritizing at-bats for Baty and Vientos during the regular season.
Vientos played third base Wednesday, going 1-for-3 with two runs, a walk and a home run. He’s hitting .206 in Grapefruit League play and is likely in line for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Zack Short has played well defensively this spring, but Joey Wendle is still the projected utility infielder. Wendle went 2-for-2 with a run scored Wednesday against the Astros, starting at second base.
Severino went four innings, limiting the Astros to one run on two hits and striking out three. He walked none, which was a positive indicator for a pitcher who struggled with command last season. Jake Meyers hit a solo home run off the former Yankees ace in the top of the second.
It was the first run given up by Severino this spring. Through nine innings, he’s allowed five hits (1.00 ERA), has not allowed a walk and has struck out eight hitters.
Severino said his rhythm with catcher Omar Narvaez was strong and that he felt good for four innings. The Mets are counting on a bounce-back season from the right-hander and he looks poised to reclaim his spot as one of New York’s top pitchers.
Left-hander Jake Diekman followed Severino. Right-handers Jorge Lopez, Drew Smith and Shintaro Fujinami each pitched as well. Diekman pitched around a leadoff triple by Joey Loperfido in the fifth. He struck out David Hensley, Grae Kessinger and Shay Whitcomb to get out of the inning unscathed. In the seventh, Smith allowed a one-out line drive to Meyers. Jacob Melton pinch-ran for him and was caught stealing for the second out. Loperfido then looked at one of Smith’s revamped sliders for a called third strike.
However, right fielder Starling Marte hasn’t exactly inspired much confidence at the plate this spring. He went 0-for-2 with both at-bats coming against right-hander Christian Javier to drop his average to .090. With the ability to play all three outfield spots, Taylor is the insurance policy for Marte. He’s hitting .333 in Grapefruit League play with two walks and two RBIs. DJ Stewart (.182 with two walks this spring) should edge DH candidates like Luke Voit and Ji-Man Choi because of his ability to play both corner outfield spots.
Of course, there is still time for things to change and there are plenty of at-bats to go around the rest of the way. But as the Mets settle into the dog days of spring training, the roster picture begins to settle as well.
DIAZ TO RETURN HOME
Edwin Diaz will throw live batting practice Thursday morning before departing for New York to be with his wife, Nashaly, for the birth of their third child. Diaz made his first Grapefruit League appearance Monday after missing all of last season to rehab from knee surgery. He’s expected to be back in Port St. Lucie in time to finish his spring progression.
