The Mets travel to Viera, Fla. this afternoon to play the Washington Nationals at Space Coast Stadium at 1:05 PM.
Daisuke Matsuzaka gets the start for the Mets and will oppose Nationals lefthander Ross Detwiler.
Terry Collins plans to have Dice-K and Noah Syndergaard piggyback and combine to throw all nine innings. For Syndergaard, this will likely be his final Grapefruit League appearance in big league camp.
The game will not be broadcast on local radio or TV.
Matsuzaka (4.50 ERA) entered spring training as the frontrunner for the Mets’ fifth starter role, and despite a lackluster two starts, he remains the favorite.
Lefthander John Lannan (1.13 ERA) is having a better spring, and Jenrry Mejia (0.00 ERA) is ready, willing and able, but Collins seemingly had his mind made up almost from the start which hardly made this the competition it was initially portrayed to be.
Ruben Tejada, who is 1-for-12 with two errors this spring, is expected to play shortstop again today as the Mets continue to monitor the shortstop market.
“We continue to look at how he’s doing, but it won’t be a judgment based on one game or two games or three games,” said Mets GM Sandy Alderson. “We’ve got a lot of spring training left. In the meantime, we’ll continue to look at our other options.”
Reliever Kyle Farnsworth is running out of rope after another rocky appearance on Wednesday. He now carries a 5.40 ERA and I would be shocked if he bounces Mejia out of a bullpen spot.
Meanwhile, Jose Valverde isn’t doing any better as his 6.75 ERA would attest, but his veteran status gives him a free pass this Spring and Collins will have him pass Go and collect $200.
Here is the starting lineup for the Mets:
- Ruben Tejada, ss
- Daniel Murphy, 2b
- David Wright, 3b
- Curtis Granderson, rf
- Josh Satin, 1b
- Travis d’Arnaud, c
- Andrew Brown, lf
- Anthony Recker, dh
- Matt den Dekker, cf
Recker and Dekker back to back?
I think Terry Collins is trolling us… 
(Photo: NY Mets)
