Spring Training Game Chat: Mets vs Astros

Thursday, February 25, 2026 • 1:05 PM
CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches • West Palm Beach, FL
RHP Nolan McLean (0-0, -.–) vs. RHP Tatsuya Imai (0-0, -.–)
WHSQ 880AM

It’s Nolan McLean Day! And if you’re an Astros fan, it’s Tatsuya Imai Day! But it’s not on TV.

Nolan McLean was a sensation when he got called up to the Mets last season. Over eight starts he pitched 48 innings with a 2.06 ERA, 2.97 FIP, 1.042 WHIP and a 196 ERA+. He had 10.7 K/9 and somehow received enough Rookie of the Year votes to finish 11, despite only playing for less than two months.

This will probably the only Nolan McLean start before he reports to Team USA workouts for the WBC, so let’s enjoy today!

Mets Lineup

1. Marcus Semien – 2B
2. Mike Tauchman – RF
3. Bo Bichette – 3B
4. Mark Vientos – 1B
5. Ronny Mauricio – SS
6. Luis Torrens – C
7. Jared Young – DH
8. Tyrone Taylor – CF
9. MJ Melendez LF

Starting Pitcher: Nolan McLean

Opposing Lineup

1. Jeremy Peña – SS
2. Zach Cole – CF
3. Carlos Correa – 3B
4. Christian Walker – 1B
5. Joey Loperfido – LF
6. Cam Smith – RF
7. Nick Allen – 2B
8. César Salazar  – C
9. John Garcia – DH

Starting Pitcher: Tatsuya Imai

Game Notes

Right-hander Robert Stock and lefty Anderson Severino is scheduled to pitch after McLean.

Freddy Peralta makes his Mets debut on Friday. Read an in-depth look at his pitch sequencing.

Ryan Lambert throws hard and likes raw eggs.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Nolan McLean. Nolan is the story of the day. Heading into spring training 2025 he was the #99 prospect in baseball by Baseball America and #74 by Baseball Prospectus. This season he is the #8 prospect by Baseball America, #4 by Baseball Prospectus and #6 by MLB Pipeline. He is one of the most exciting players on the Mets right now and the Mets success this season is tied to his development.
2. Tatsuya Imai. Imai makes his grapefruit league debut today, facing an opposing major league baseball team for the first time. Imai signed a three year contract with the Astros with opt-outs after the first two seasons. Last season Imai had a 1.92 ERA over 163 2/3 innings for Seibu. He has a high-90’s fastball and an intriguing slider.
3. Battle For Right Field. MJ Melendez and Mike Tauchman are both starting today and are both battling to be the Mets Opening Day right fielder (along with Brett Baty and Carson Benge). MJ Melendez has gone 1-for-5 at the plate so far with a double. Mike Tauchman has gone 1-for-2 at the plate with a towering three-run home run. This is going to be a position battle that will go throughout the entire spring.

Let’s go Mets!

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