Split Squad Game Chat: Mets @ Nationals (1:05 PM), Astros vs Mets (1:10 PM)

Saturday, March 21, 2026 • 1:05 PM
CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches • West Palm Beach, FL
RHP Joander Suarez (0-0, -.–) vs. RHP Cade Cavalli (0-1, 0.00)

There are two days and three games left of spring training! Over the last few days, a few things have become clearer for the Mets. The Mets will start the season with a five-man rotation consisting of Freddy Peralta, David Peterson, Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, and Kodai Senga. Jonah Tong and Christian Scott have both been assigned to Syracuse. Also announced was news surrounding Sean Manaea. The lefty will spend the first two turns in the rotation piggybacking other starters. Austin Warren was optioned yesterday, meaning there are only three players left in camp with a legitimate shot at the last bullpen spot. MJ Melendez was assigned to the Syracuse Mets, meaning that Mike Tauchman, Carson Benge, or both will make the Opening Day roster. We are so close to the regular season!

Mets Lineup

1. Carson Benge – RF
2. Mark Vientos – 1B
3. Jared Young – DH
4. Luis Torrens – C
5. Tyrone Taylor – LF
6. Vidal Bruján – 2B
7. Jacob Reimer – 3B
8. Cristian Pache – CF
9. Yonny Hernández – SS

Starting Pitcher: Joander Suarez

Nationals Lineup

1. Nasim Nuñez – 2B
2. José Tena – 3B
3. Keibert Ruiz – C
4. Luis García Jr. – 1B
5. Andrés Chaparro – DH
6. Joey Wiemer – CF
7. Christian Franklin – RF
8. Seaver King – SS
9. Sam Peterson – LF

Starting Pitcher: Cade Cavalli

Saturday, March 21, 2026 • 1:10 PM
Clover Park • Port St. Lucie, FL
RHP Mike Burrows (1-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Jonah Tong (0-1, 10.13)
WPIX

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Juan Soto – LF
3. Bo Bichette – DH
4. Jorge Polanco – 1B
5. Luis Robert Jr. – CF
6. Brett Baty – 3B
7. Marcus Semien – 2B
8. Mike Tauchman – RF
9. Francisco Alvarez – C

Starting Pitcher: Jonah Tong

Astros Lineup

1. Joey Loperfido – LF
2. Isaac Paredes – 2B
3. Cam Smith – RF
4. Zach Cole – CF
5. Kyle Walker – 1B
6. Yainer Diaz – C
7. Cavan Biggio – DH
8. Riley Unroe – 3B
9. Nick Allen – SS

Starting Pitcher: Mike Burrows

Game Notes

• Francisco Alvarez is back in the lineup today for the Mets. He was pulled in Thursday night’s game with lower back tightness but avoided major injury.
• The Mets announced Sean Manaea will begin the season piggybacking other starters. The lefty dealt with multiple injuries in 2025, and has averaged 88 miles per hour on his fastball this spring.
• According to Carlos Mendoza, the final roster spot has not been filled ahead of Opening Day Thursday. Both Carson Benge and Mike Tauchman are battling for the spot, and both are starting today in separate games.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Looming Right Field Decision. A few days ago, the Mets assigned MJ Melendez to the Syracuse Mets. But who is the right fielder on the Mets? As of right now, it looks like there is a possibility that both Carson Benge and Mike Tauchman will be added to the 40-man roster to fill the spot. One possibility of making sure Brett Baty gets more at-bats, is to use him in the infield, getting DH time for the Mets’ plethora of infielders. Both Tauchman and Benge have earned spots on the roster with their performance this month. Tauchman has gone 7-for-28 with three doubles and a home run. Benge has gone 13-for-32 with a double and a triple. The odd man out is Cristian Pache, who also had a tremendous spring (13-for-28, 3 2B, 2 HR, SB, .545 OBP).
2. Last Bullpen Spot. A few days ago, Anthony DiComo reported that there is essentially one spot in the bullpen right now. There are several pitchers who haven’t been assigned to minor league camp yet, competing for that last spot, including Craig Kimbrel, Bryan Hudson, and Richard Lovelady. Hudson just allowed three runs in one inning of relief and has allowed six runs over 3 1/3 innings this spring from five hits and three walks. Lovelady, who started spring with the Nationals, has allowed one run over five innings from five hits and three walks. Both Lovelady and Hudson are on the 40-man roster. Kimbrel is not on the 40-man and has allowed three runs over six innings from four hits and five walks this spring. There is also the possibility the Mets go with no one on this list and sign a pitcher cut from another team.
3. Francisco Alvarez. Alvarez was slated to play the full nine innings Thursday night, but left the game in the fourth inning with back tightness. The game was not carried by SNY or Mets Radio, and with the Spring Breakout game happening at the same time, we had to wait until after the game to find out that it was precautionary and Alvarez would have played through the injury if it were a normal game. The Mets have a great one-two punch with Alvarez and Torrens on the roster, but as soon as one of them goes down, things get a lot murkier, and the depth is tested real fast.

Let’s go Mets!

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