- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 410,920
- Reaction score
- 43
The last time that the Mets were on the diamond at Citi Field, they were taking the Dodgers to the brink in the National League Championship Series.
Despite the Mets being eliminated in Game 6 in Los Angeles, last season's final home game represented a shift in belief for the fan base. The team was on the precipice of its first World Series trip since 2015 after coalescing a new sense of belief.
The Mets' home opener on Friday afternoon against the Blue Jays is a continuation of that sense of hope. Now, the team brings superstar outfielder Juan Soto back to Flushing, alongside the return of Pete Alonso following an unsettled free agency.
"Can't wait to get home Friday," manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters on Wednesday. "First time there, home opener, I'm expecting a packed house, electric, loud, and yeah, we're ready to go."
It is the first chance for New York's fans to show off their enthusiasm for the club's forward momentum. And it comes on the heels of a dramatic 6-5 extra-inning win over the Marlins on Wednesday afternoon.
Here is everything you need to know heading into the Mets' home opener on Friday:
Date: Friday, April 4
Time: 3:10 p.m.
The game will be broadcast on SNY.
Tylor Megill (1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Kevin Gausman (1-0, 3.00)
Outlook: Megill came out strong in his first start of the season against the Astros one week ago, allowing one earned run on three hits and one walk in five innings to score the Mets' first win of the season.
He narrowed his repertoire, leading with his four-seam fastball, slider and sinker, and focused on trusting his stuff, pitching to contact and filling the strike zone. That shift will be important against a Blue Jays unit, led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.
In his first action, Gausman allowed two earned runs across six innings while picking up four strikeouts in a win over the Orioles. The veteran right-hander matched his career high with 14 wins a season ago, but his 3.83 ERA was his highest since 2019. He finished third in AL Cy Young voting in 2023 when he struck out 237 batters in 185 innings.
Outlook: Francisco Lindor, who missed Monday's game after his wife gave birth to their son, broke out of his 0-for-12 start with his first hit of the season on Tuesday and stole second base. He added another hit in the series finale to provide some positive momentum heading into his homecoming.
The hottest hitter has been Pete Alonso, who collected five hits, including two home runs, and eight RBI in the team's series against the Marlins.
Brandon Nimmo belted a pair of home runs, drove in three runs and scored three times himself during the series.
Juan Soto and Luis Torrens each entered Wednesday's series finale with the Marlins with four hits apiece, including a home run for each.
According to Accuweather, any precipitation will be contained to the morning, with a chance of showers. It is likely to be cloudy and blustery at game time with a high forecasted temperature of 65 degrees.
When Mets leadership arrived in the Piazza Club at Citi Field on Amazin' Day on Jan. 25, the chance that Alonso would be returning to the team seemed slim. Owner Steve Cohen addressed the tense state of negotiation as "exhausting," as fans rained down chants of "We Want Pete."
Well, eventually, nearly three weeks later, the Mets and Alonso were in agreement on terms of a deal to bring the four-time All-Star first baseman back to Flushing.
After flirting with a reality without Alonso, expect Mets fans to give the 31-year-old a passionate reception when his name is announced before the start of the game.
"I'm really excited," Alonso told reporters Wednesday. "That moment is going to be so awesome, but it's going to be two seconds long because it's like, OK, you enjoy it, but it's a flash, a couple of seconds to take it in and really enjoy it. Then it's like, OK, game time. We've got a game to play and got a job to do."
Alonso belted his first home run of the season — a grand slam — in Monday's 10-4 victory over the Marlins and belted a key game-tying three-run home run in Wednesday's 6-5 extra-inning win. He is now 25 home runs away from becoming the Mets' all-time home run leader, surpassing Darryl Strawberry's mark of 252.
Fans in the Speakeasy in right field at Citi Field and in the Coca-Cola corner will have the best seats to witness the most expensive athlete in sports history.
Soto will be occupying that spot in the outfield for the next decade and then some, with the opportunity to make some history for those fans.
As he plays his first home game at Citi Field on Friday, expect a similar response to Alonso after the 26-year-old abandoned the Yankees to head across the East River to Flushing.
Soto has been plenty comfortable playing at Citi Field in his career. In 35 lifetime games at the ballpark, Soto has batted .333 with 12 home runs, 26 RBI and 29 runs. Those type of numbers over an extended period would make the Mets faithful awfully happy over the next decade and a half.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets 2025 home opener: Date, time, pitching matchup, lineup
Continue reading...
Despite the Mets being eliminated in Game 6 in Los Angeles, last season's final home game represented a shift in belief for the fan base. The team was on the precipice of its first World Series trip since 2015 after coalescing a new sense of belief.
The Mets' home opener on Friday afternoon against the Blue Jays is a continuation of that sense of hope. Now, the team brings superstar outfielder Juan Soto back to Flushing, alongside the return of Pete Alonso following an unsettled free agency.
"Can't wait to get home Friday," manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters on Wednesday. "First time there, home opener, I'm expecting a packed house, electric, loud, and yeah, we're ready to go."
It is the first chance for New York's fans to show off their enthusiasm for the club's forward momentum. And it comes on the heels of a dramatic 6-5 extra-inning win over the Marlins on Wednesday afternoon.
Here is everything you need to know heading into the Mets' home opener on Friday:
When is the Mets' home opener?
You must be registered for see images
Date: Friday, April 4
Time: 3:10 p.m.
What channel is Mets vs Blue Jays game on Friday?
The game will be broadcast on SNY.
Mets vs Blue Jays pitching probables
Tylor Megill (1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Kevin Gausman (1-0, 3.00)
Outlook: Megill came out strong in his first start of the season against the Astros one week ago, allowing one earned run on three hits and one walk in five innings to score the Mets' first win of the season.
He narrowed his repertoire, leading with his four-seam fastball, slider and sinker, and focused on trusting his stuff, pitching to contact and filling the strike zone. That shift will be important against a Blue Jays unit, led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.
In his first action, Gausman allowed two earned runs across six innings while picking up four strikeouts in a win over the Orioles. The veteran right-hander matched his career high with 14 wins a season ago, but his 3.83 ERA was his highest since 2019. He finished third in AL Cy Young voting in 2023 when he struck out 237 batters in 185 innings.
Mets' projected lineup for home opener vs Blue Jays
You must be registered for see images attach
- Francisco Lindor SS
- Juan Soto RF
- Pete Alonso 1B
- Brandon Nimmo LF
- Mark Vientos 3B
- Jesse Winker DH
- Luis Torrens C
- Brett Baty 2B
- Tyrone Taylor CF
Outlook: Francisco Lindor, who missed Monday's game after his wife gave birth to their son, broke out of his 0-for-12 start with his first hit of the season on Tuesday and stole second base. He added another hit in the series finale to provide some positive momentum heading into his homecoming.
The hottest hitter has been Pete Alonso, who collected five hits, including two home runs, and eight RBI in the team's series against the Marlins.
Brandon Nimmo belted a pair of home runs, drove in three runs and scored three times himself during the series.
Juan Soto and Luis Torrens each entered Wednesday's series finale with the Marlins with four hits apiece, including a home run for each.
What's the weather forecast for Mets game on Friday?
According to Accuweather, any precipitation will be contained to the morning, with a chance of showers. It is likely to be cloudy and blustery at game time with a high forecasted temperature of 65 degrees.
METS' HOME OPENER STORYLINES:
Pete Alonso set for electric return
You must be registered for see images attach
When Mets leadership arrived in the Piazza Club at Citi Field on Amazin' Day on Jan. 25, the chance that Alonso would be returning to the team seemed slim. Owner Steve Cohen addressed the tense state of negotiation as "exhausting," as fans rained down chants of "We Want Pete."
Well, eventually, nearly three weeks later, the Mets and Alonso were in agreement on terms of a deal to bring the four-time All-Star first baseman back to Flushing.
After flirting with a reality without Alonso, expect Mets fans to give the 31-year-old a passionate reception when his name is announced before the start of the game.
"I'm really excited," Alonso told reporters Wednesday. "That moment is going to be so awesome, but it's going to be two seconds long because it's like, OK, you enjoy it, but it's a flash, a couple of seconds to take it in and really enjoy it. Then it's like, OK, game time. We've got a game to play and got a job to do."
Alonso belted his first home run of the season — a grand slam — in Monday's 10-4 victory over the Marlins and belted a key game-tying three-run home run in Wednesday's 6-5 extra-inning win. He is now 25 home runs away from becoming the Mets' all-time home run leader, surpassing Darryl Strawberry's mark of 252.
Juan Soto debuts at home in Flushing
You must be registered for see images
Fans in the Speakeasy in right field at Citi Field and in the Coca-Cola corner will have the best seats to witness the most expensive athlete in sports history.
Soto will be occupying that spot in the outfield for the next decade and then some, with the opportunity to make some history for those fans.
As he plays his first home game at Citi Field on Friday, expect a similar response to Alonso after the 26-year-old abandoned the Yankees to head across the East River to Flushing.
Soto has been plenty comfortable playing at Citi Field in his career. In 35 lifetime games at the ballpark, Soto has batted .333 with 12 home runs, 26 RBI and 29 runs. Those type of numbers over an extended period would make the Mets faithful awfully happy over the next decade and a half.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets 2025 home opener: Date, time, pitching matchup, lineup
Continue reading...
