Just Mets

The Mets welcome in the Houston Astros at Tradition Field at 1:10 PM on Tuesday. Here are some of the things I am looking for this afternoon…

Dillon Gee is adjusting back to a starting role.

The Dillon Gee bullpen experience didn’t last all that long, as he has been asked to return to the starting rotation after the season-ending injury to Zack Wheeler.

Gee has had a strong camp thus far, posting a 3.38 ERA in 10.2 innings pitched this Spring, with two starts and three relief appearances. In his last start five days ago, Gee looked solid, going 3.2 shutout innings, allowing two hits and two walks in the win over Houston. Today will mark Gee’s second start since returning to the starting rotation.

The Grandy Man can?

Curtis Granderson is off to a raging start this Spring, hitting .452 three weeks into camp. Some are attributing this to the arrival of his former Yankee hitting coach Kevin Long, and it’s hard to argue that when you see his changed approach at the plate.

Granderson has been hitting the ball to all fields in March, including a myriad of opposite field hits, something that was lacking in Curtis’ game last season. Granderson will bat lead-off today for the Mets, a spot that we very well could see him in later in the year if Juan Lagares struggles or gets hurt.

Matt Reynolds is starting, but is on the outside looking in.

Prospect Matt Reynolds is starting at shortstop today, in for the injured Wilmer Flores, and while many fans have asked me about Reynolds this Spring, it appears unlikely that he’ll make this team out of camp.

Flores isn’t playing yet, but he’s out of his walking boot and isn’t expected to start out the season on the disabled list, and by all accounts, Flores has already won the starting shortstop job.

The situation with Daniel Murphy is much more open ended, as he continues to deal with a hamstring issue and his status for Opening Day may be in jeopardy. That said, the leading candidates to replace Murphy at second do not include Reynolds, but rather Ruben Tejada and 26-year-old minor leaguer Danny Muno.

Today’s game will be televised on SNY, and is also available on MLB.tv.