Spring Training Game Chat: Mets vs Cardinals

Monday, February 24, 2025 • 1:05 PM
Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium • Jupiter, FL
RHP Blade Tidwell (0-0, -.–) vs. LHP Steven Matz (0-0, -.–)
WHSQ 880 AM (Mets Radio)

The Mets have a record of 1-1-1 going into the third day of spring training games, which is honestly just fun to say. What wasn’t as fun was the games on Sunday. The Mets struggled on the road against the Nationals, allowing five runs in the first inning. Meanwhile, in Port St. Lucie, the Mets tied with Miami 1-1, cementing the Mets’ 1-1-1 record. As always with spring training, there were good performances, poor performances and miscues.

The Mets will try to put the defensive and base running miscues behind them this afternoon against the Cardinals. The bats will face a familiar face in Steven Matz, who is about to start his fourth season in St. Louis. Matz is coming off an injury-shortened 2024, where he dealt with back issues.

The slate of pitchers the Mets have on the mound this afternoon is fascinating. Blade Tidwell, who could make his major league debut for the Mets this season, starts things off. José Buttó stepped up in a major way for the 2024 Mets and will make his spring debut this afternoon.

According to yesterday’s game notes, Huascar Brazobán and Brandon Waddell round out the scheduled pitchers list. Brazobán is currently on the 40-man roster and is trying to nab one of the last available bullpen spots. Waddell is currently in camp on an NRI deal. Should be a fun day in Jupiter!

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor, SS
2. Juan Soto, RF
3. Pete Alonso, 1B
4. Mark Vientos, 3B
5. Jeff McNeil, 2B
6. José Azocar, CF
7. Luis De Los Santos, DH
8. Rafael Ortega, LF
9. Hayden Senger, C

Opposing Lineup

1. Masyn Winn, SS
2. Brendan Donovan, 2B
3. Willson Contreras, 1B
4. Nolan Arenado, 3B
5. Iván Herrera, C
6. Jordan Walker, RF
7. Luken Baker, DH
8. Matt Koperniak, LF
9. Michael Siani, CF

Game Notes

• Sean Manaea will begin the season on the IL after suffering an oblique strain.
• INF Nick Madrigal suffered a fractured left shoulder and will be out for quite a while.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Is this Blade Tidwell’s year? Blade Tidwell had a strong stint in Binghamton last season with a 2.41 ERA over 37 1/3 innings. That didn’t exactly carry over to Syracuse, where he had a 5.93 ERA over 85 innings. Tidwell lost his control. He had a 2.7 BB/9 in Binghamton but ballooned to 5.6 in Syracuse. Today, we will see how Tidwell’s control looks early in Spring.
2. José Buttó Repeat? Buttó had a breakout year for the Mets in 2024. As a reliever, he had a 2.00 ERA over 36 innings spread over 23 games. This, plus his success as a starter, led to a 2.2 bWAR, which was fourth-best on the team!
3. Brandon Waddell. Brandon Waddell had a cup of coffee in the majors a few seasons ago. When he got released in 2022, he signed a deal with the Doosan Bears and played parts of three seasons in the KBO and CPBL. Last season, he had a 3.12 ERA over 14 starts (75 innings) with a 9.00 K/9 and 1.3 BB/9. He doesn’t overpower hitters and was able to finesse his way to success.

Let’s go Mets!

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