The Mets shutout the Rangers by the score of 5-0 tonight in Arlington, Texas. Here are some of my takeaways from Friday night’s exhibition game…
Jacob deGrom was filthy all spring.
I waxed poetic about Matt Harvey in Thursday’s postgame and I’m about to do the same for Jacob deGrom tonight. The guy is just plain nasty. He dominated the Rangers tonight, going four innings with four strikeouts and no walks. He issued four walks in 26 innings this spring and finished the exhibition season with a 2.08 ERA.
Another thing about watching deGrom pitch is that he makes it look so easy, it’s effortless for him. I’m not sure he even broke a sweat tonight in Arlington. He’s primed and ready for his first start of the season on Wednesday against the Nationals.
David Wright is fun to watch.
We saw some vintage David Wright once again tonight, going 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI double, not to mention a nice diving play to his right to rob Elvis Andrus of a hit. His spring has been highlighted by hard hit balls up the middle and to the opposite field, so hopefully this process translates into the regular season for him next week. They’re going to need it, for sure…
Curtis Granderson.
What a spring. He looks like a totally different hitter with no hitch, a shorter stroke, and slapping balls the other way consistently. His average this spring now sits at .440. He’s a lynchpin for the Mets in 2015 – he’s gotta have a better season from start to finish. So far, it’s hard not to be excited for Granderson as the season draws closer.
Rafael Montero had an uneven night.
Montero made a relief appearance and struggled a little bit with his command in two innings. He issued two walks during his latest tuneup but managed to escape trouble with two scoreless innings. His command has been so good this spring that it was a surprise to see him walk the two batters tonight.
This is the role he’s likely going to be in, at least to start, so it’s important he doesn’t come in and walk batters the way he did tonight. Hopefully it was just a minor blip for him.
Other notes from Friday:
Juan Lagares’ strong spring continued with three more hits and a run scored, raising his average to .371 in the process.
Wilmer Flores walked twice on Friday, but is now 1-for-14 over his last five games.
Travis d’Arnaud’s sluggish spring continued with an 0-for-4 against Texas, lowering his spring average to .212.
Five of the Mets 19 wins this spring have been shutouts.
The Rangers have now lost eight games in a row this spring.
You can watch highlight’s from deGrom’s outing on Friday here:
Just Mets 