Spring Training Game Chat: Nationals vs. Mets, 1:10 P.M.

Sunday, March 9, 2025 • 1:10 PM
Clover Park • Port St. Lucie, FL
RHP Jake Irvin (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Clay Holmes (1-0, 0.00)
WPIX

The New York Mets look to build off Saturday’s win, their first win in a week, this afternoon against the Washington Nationals. The last time the Mets won consecutive spring training games was Friday the 28 of February and Saturday, March 1.

While the wins themselves are not important, the individual performances behind the wins are. Juan Soto went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double. The team as a whole went 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Lastly, David Peterson tossed four scoreless innings in his second start of the year.

The Mets’ rotation has been hampered by injuries so far this spring. They are going to need their back of the rotation arms like Peterson, and today’s starter, Clay Holmes, to step up and fill in the gaps until everyone gets healthy. Peterson showed us he was up to the challenged yesterday. Clay Holmes has already shown us this spring he can handle it, lets hope he continues to do that today.

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Mark Vientos – 3B
3. Pete Alonso – 1B
4. Jeff McNeil – 2B
5. Tyrone Taylor – CF
6. Alexander Canario – LF
7. Luis De Los Santos – DH
8. Jakson Reetz – C
9. Eli Serrano III – RF

Nationals Lineup

1. Jacob Young – CF
2. Robert Hassell III – RF
3. Amed Rosario – 2B
4. Keibert Ruiz – DH
5. Juan Yepez – LF
6. Andres Chaparro – 1B
7. Jose Tena – 3B
8. Drew Millas – C
9. Trey Lipscomb – SS

Game Notes

Manager Carlos Mendoza announced that catcher Francisco Alvarez will miss 6-to-8 due to surgery on his fractured hamate bone.

Kodai Senga will throw a “b-game,” today and Tylor Megill will throw a, “b-game,” tomorrow.

Prior to Sunday’s game the Mets announced some more roster cuts:

• RHP Justin Hagenman, RHP Kevin Herget, RHP Austin Warren and INF Jared Young have been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
• RHP Rico Garcia, RHP Grant Hartwig, RHP Yacksel Ríos and LHP Brandon Waddell have been reassigned to minor league camp.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Clay Holmes. Holmes is off to a terrific start this spring allowing one hit and one walk with no runs over six innings of work. He’s faced only 20 batters over six innings and struck out five. Sunday, we are watching to see if the Mets stretch him out a bit beyond three innings. One of the major questions around Holmes is how deep he can go into games coming off of a standout season in the bullpen where he rarely tossed more than 30 pitches.
2. Alexander Canario. The Mets acquired Canario early during spring training and need to figure out both if they want to keep him and if they can. He does not have any options left, so if the Mets want him they need to put him on the active roster at the end of camp or find a way to sneak him through waivers. Over five games this spring, he has gone 2-for-13 at the plate with a double and two walks. In only 15 games with the Cubs last season he slashed .280/.357/.440 with a 125 OPS+.
3. Eli Serrano III. Serrano gets the rare start this afternoon for the Mets. He has had only one at bat this spring so far (0-for-1). Serrano is the #19 prospect on the Mets here at Metsmerized. Drafted last year, Serrano hits the ball hard. MLB Pipeline has him making the majors in 2027. Seeing players get an extended look in a spring training game, despite being a couple of years away is one of the best parts of March baseball.

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