NL East rivals will renew acquaintances on Opening Day, with the Miami Marlins hosting the New York Mets. This game is poised to be the best pitching matchup of the day. Last season's Mets won 101 games but squandered a large division lead to finish second in the NL East before failing to advance past the NL Wild Card Series. Miami would've killed for that outcome, as they finished 69-93, 32.0 games out of first place and not even close to .500, let alone the postseason. The Mets won the 2022 season series 13-6, but both teams had a busy offseason that will define this season. At 4:10 p.m. in Miami's loanDepot park, these clubs will embark on their 2023 campaign.
you got the popcorn ready, @mets???#MakeItMiami // https://t.co/5rOTQv6054 pic.twitter.com/D7NEVX2Kzn
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) March 28, 2023
Talent and spending have created an environment in the Mets organization that means winning it all is the bar they must clear for a successful season. Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Francisco Lindor, and Pete Alonso are among the many All-Star talents that are coming off of a stellar 2022 season. Last season's Mets scored the fifth-most runs and allowed the fourth-fewest. The 2023 Mets could be even better.
That's if the Flushing injury bug would ever go away. Already, the club has lost MLB's best closer (sorry Cleveland fans), Edwin Diaz, for the entire season. Starter Jose Quintana who they signed in free agency is also sidelined until the midway point at least. Two other bullpen arms will also begin the season on the IL. Pitching depth has taken a massive blow, and staying healthy could prove to be the Mets' greatest obstacle.
Opening Day has been the Mets' best friend, a t least since the '60s ended. Their first eight seasons, 1962-1969, saw the squad lose on Opening Day. Since then, they are 40-13 on Opening Day and own the highest Opening Day winning percentage in the MLB. They enter this one having won five of six.
It helps to have a bonafide ace, and Max Scherzer certainly qualifies for that moniker. It will be the seventh time in his career that “Mad Max” opens the season for his team and his first time as a Met. Although he's approaching 40, you wouldn't be able to tell based on last season. Scherzer missed time due to injuries but posed the lowest ERA of his career, 2.29, and second-lowest walk rate, 4.2%, of his career. He didn't face the Marlins at all in 2022.
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