The Mets are back in Viera taking on the Nationals at Space Coast Stadium at 1:05 PM this afternoon. Here’s what I am looking for from the Mets as the end of camp draws nearer:
Travis d’Arnaud needs to get going.
D’Arnaud’s bat has been quiet this spring, having gone 9-for-43 with five RBI with no walks and four strikeouts in 15 games. It’s the last week of camp, so it’s time for all of the starters to polish their game and take some positive momentum into the regular season. Travis started to heat up a bit last week, but he’s gone 1-for-his-last-9 over his has three games.
Jon Niese gets one final tuneup before the regular season.
Last week, it was revealed by Andy Martino in the Daily News Niese has dealt with some dead arm this spring. Normally, there wouldn’t be cause for concern as most pitchers go through that process in Spring Training. However, given Niese’s recent history of arm trouble, it’s worth watching his arm angle and velocity this afternoon against the Nationals.
He pitched in an intrasquad game last Thursday morning to avoid missing his start later in the day due to bad weather, so this is the first big league game Niese has thrown in ten days.
Lucas Duda gets another test against a left-hander.
Duda has four hits in his last two games against left-handed pitching, having emphasized a shorter stroke and going the opposite way in his approach. He will face Gio Gonzalez today who can be effectively wild, so this will serve as a healthy test for Duda as he continues his effort to improve against lefties this spring.
Today’s game will not be televised or aired on the radio in either market, but you can follow today’s action via MLB Gameday.
Just Mets 