LAS VEGAS -- Things are about to get real.
The New York Mets complete their exhibition schedule with a 4:05 p.m. ET game against the Chicago Cubs at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Friday. Then it’s off to Kansas City, where the Mets will open the season on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball with a Matt Harvey-versus-Edinson Volquez reprisal of Games 1 and 5 of the World Series.
Steven Matz opposes Cubs right-hander Jason Hammel in the final spring training game as the Mets (7-17-5) try to snap a 14-game winless streak.
FRIDAY’S NEWS REPORTS:
Subbing for Jacob deGrom, Las Vegas native Paul Sewald tossed three scoreless innings in his hometown. But the Mets lost to the Cubs 5-1 on Thursday. DeGrom instead threw 71 pitches in a minor league intrasquad game in Port St. Lucie. He will join the Mets on Saturday for a workout at Kauffman Stadium. Chasen Bradford allowed three runs and Erik Goeddel and Hansel Robles each surrendered one run in the loss. Lucas Duda finished 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. The Mets have scored a combined three runs in their past four games. On the dormant bats, manager Terry Collins said: “We’ve got to get it going a little offensively. We’re going to go in and face a very, very good pitching staff in Kansas City, so we’ve got to start swinging the bats better. It’s nice to see Lucas have a big day. Ces [Yoenis Cespedes] is swinging good. We’ve just got to get a couple of other guys going.” Read more in the Las Vegas Review Journal and at NJ.com and MLB.com.
The Mets plan to announce their Opening Day roster on Friday. They are expected to carry an extra bench player, with both Eric Campbell and Matt Reynolds making the club. When the Mets return home from Kansas City to face the Philadelphia Phillies, Reynolds likely will be shipped to Las Vegas, with former Milwaukee Brewers closer Jim Henderson added. Sean Gilmartin may have an edge over Logan Verrett for the long-relief role, but only because Verrett seems best served pitching in Las Vegas’ rotation to be ready in case an injury occurs at the major league level. And while Kevin Plawecki has held off making housing arrangements in New York, it would appear the Mets prefer having him break camp with the club. There was consideration given to sending him to Las Vegas to ensure regular playing time. That still could occur at some point in the first half, but Mets brass does not care for Johnny Monell and has been unable to acquire a backup to buy time for Plawecki at Triple-A. “One of the things we’ve seen from Travis [d’Arnaud] is we’ve got to keep him on the field,” Collins said. “He’s had injury issues. So I think Kevin’s going to get -- if he’s here -- plenty of at-bats.” Read more on Plawecki’s expected fate from Marc Carig in Newsday.
Columnist David Lennon in Newsday sizes up the Cubs' and Mets’ chances in 2016. Lennon notes that the Vegas bookmakers have installed the Cubs as 9-2 favorites to win the World Series, while the Mets are 10-1.
Mike Puma in the Post previews the Mets’ season, while columnist Kevin Kernan in the Post breaks down the National League.
Lucas Duda discusses his off-the-mark throw in Game 5 of the World Series with Matt Ehalt in the Record.
Columnist Mike Vaccaro in the Post celebrates the Mets’ stellar starting pitching.
The Mets will be forced to watch separate banner-raising and ring ceremonies in Kansas City, the Post notes.
Dan Martin in the Post looks at teams that experienced a hangover after reaching the World Series.
From the bloggers ... Mets Report doesn't believe this season is World Series or bust for the Mets. ... Kings of Queens looks at the Mets' pitching staff.
BIRTHDAYS: Daniel Murphy turns 31. ... Rusty Staub is 72.
TWEET OF THE DAY:
@AdamRubinESPN Working Hard in press box in Vegas!#Mets pic.twitter.com/020COKvsyp
— Las Vegas 51s Inside (@LasVegas51sINS) April 1, 2016
YOU’RE UP: Are you concerned with the Mets’ quiet bats heading into the season?
