Mets faithful, we are midway through the longest spring blackout period! Monday the Mets had the day off. Tuesday the Mets took on Nicaragua in a WBC tune up game with no TV or radio coverage. Today the Mets take on Israel with no coverage. Tomorrow the Mets head to the Nationals who will carry game on their television and radio station. The Mets won’t televise a game until Sunday, a full week after their last broadcast. This is quite the stretch without the Mets.
What we’re missing is live-ish coverage today of Nolan McLean on the backfields. Nolan McLean is still in Mets camp after developing vertigo-like symptoms and is set to have another tune up start before heading off to Team USA to take on Italy on March 10th. He was originally slated to start USA’s exhibition game today. While Nolan McLean is starting on the backfields, David Peterson will make his spring (but not Grapefruit League) debut this afternoon!.
Three Things To Watch For:
- David Peterson. Peterson was crucial member of the 2024 Mets rotation putting up a 2.9 bWAR in just 121 innings with a 136 ERA+. Last season he was an All-Star with a 1.4 bWAR, 4.22 ERA, 3.48 FIP, 1.370 WHIP and a 95 ERA+ over 168 2/3 innings. It was a tale of two seasons for Peterson in 2025. In the first half of the season he tossed 109 innings over 18 starts with a 3.06 ERA. In the second half he tossed just 59 2/3 innings over 12 starts with a 6.34 ERA. His ERA jumped from 1.239 to 1.609. If the Mets get the first half 2025 Peterson again this season, they can be a really dangerous team.
- Adbert Alzolay. In 2023 Azolay pitched 64 innings with the Cubs over 58 games with a 2.67 ERA, 3.02 FIP, 1.016 WHIP and a 160 ERA+. His next season was cut short due to injury and then the Mets signed him before the start of the 2025 season to a two-year minor league deal, with an eye on this season. So far this spring he has allowed one run from three hits while striking out one batter over two innings. He could be an x-factor signing for the Mets out of the bullpen this year.
- Backup Catcher Competition. The Mets catcher situation is fairly set with Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens taking on most of the catching duty. The Mets have had some moments over the last few years that required them to go deeper on their depth chart (who can forget the heroics of Patrick Mazeika and Hayden Senger). So they have a few more faces in camp. Ben Rorvedt is on the 40-man roster now with Senger. Senger this spring is 2-for-11 with a home run and two runs scored. Not on the roster are prospects Kevin Parada, Chris Suero and today’s DH – Austin Barnes. The long time Dodger is having a strong spring so far going 4-for-8 at the plate with three doubles and a walk (.500/.556/.875). Something to keep an eye on as camp continues.
Let’s Go Mets!
