Cardinals at Mets
The New York Mets are bidding that a return to health, wise offseason investments and a different managerial voice will translate into better fortune this season. With new manager Mickey Callaway calling the shots, right-hander Noah Syndergaard hopes to have turned the corner on an injury-riddled 2017 as the Mets begin the season on Thursday afternoon with the opener of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field.
While New York failed to live up to expectations and limped to a 70-92 mark in 2017, the offseason brought about a loosening of the purse strings as outfielder Jay Bruce (three years, $39 million), third baseman Todd Frazier (two years, $17 million), left-hander Jason Vargas (two years, $16 million) and right-hander Anthony Swarzak (two years, $14 million) signed contracts. The 30-year-old Bruce belted team-best totals in homers (29) and RBIs (75) despite splitting the season with Cleveland while former Indian Asdrubal Cabrera batted .280 in 2017 for the Mets, who finished tied for 18th in runs (735), 19th in batting average (.250) and 21st in hits (1,379). New York was taken to task last season by Marcell Ozuna, who went 30-for-68 (.441) with five homers and 19 RBIs against the Mets before Miami's offseason fire sale landed the promising 27-year-old in the Gateway City. Ozuna joins an outfield that rivals the best in the majors, with Tommy Pham (.306, 23 homers, 73 RBIs, 95 runs scored, 25 stolen bases) and Dexter Fowler (.264, 18 homers, 64 RBIs) looking to help the Cardinals improve upon their 83-79 campaign in 2017.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Carlos Martinez (2017: 12-11, 3.64 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (2017: 1-2, 2.97)
Martinez receives his second consecutive Opening Day nod after leading the team in quality starts (20), innings (205.0) and strikeouts (217) last season. The 26-year-old hard-throwing right-hander was victimized by the home-run ball, however, as he tied now former teammate Lance Lynn after being taken deep a club-high 27 times in 2017. Martinez has limited the Mets to a .220 batting average, although Bruce has two homers among his four hits off the two-time All-Star.
Syndergaard missed approximately five months of last season with a partial tear in his right lat but showed no ill effects this spring, posting a 1.35 ERA while striking out 23 against just six walks in five Grapefruit League starts. The 25-year-old is anxious to make his second consecutive Opening Day start and first outing in general at Citi Field since April 20. "I think I forgot what it feels like to pitch at Citi Field and feel the electricity that the Mets faithful bring every game. I'm looking forward to it," Syndergaard told Newsday.
WALK-OFFS
1. St. Louis IF Matt Carpenter batted a career-worst .241 last season, a full 30 points worse than his previous low and 77 points shy of his personal-best campaign in 2013.
2. New York OF Michael Conforto, who enjoyed a breakout season with 27 homers and 68 RBIs in 109 games, will begin the 2018 campaign on the disabled list as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery.
3. Cardinals IF Paul DeJong batted 11-for-30 with nine extra-base hits -- including four homers -- against the Mets last season.