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Also earlier this week, Cubs manager Craig Counsell stated that Matt Shaw would be his choice to be in that position.
And the majority of you agreed with Counsell:
Honestly, I don’t think I agree with this choice. Shaw has looked… well, adequate at best in right field. He’s made a couple of misplays and the eye test says he doesn’t really have the arm for right field. Personally? If it were up to me, I’d put Dylan Carlson out there. He’s at least played the position before and he’s a switch-hitter. Carlson has also had a good spring and is almost certainly going to make the team.
When the update on Suzuki’s injury was made on Tuesday and the Cubs got the good news that it was “minor,” Counsell said he’d wait until Saturday to make a decision about whether Suzuki would open the year on the injured list. So, as always, we await developments.
There were three questions asked of all SB Nation Reacts survey members this week, all having to do with the World Baseball Classic and international baseball in general.
All of the first three answers were good things about the WBC. Certainly, high-intensity baseball, the choice of the plurality, was a good thing. But I liked the player energy and celebrations and that was my choice. That’s the sort of thing we don’t often see in MLB, and I really liked seeing players from countries like Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and others really seem to be having fun. Even the Italian-Americans representing Italy made the WBC a happy place with their espresso machine celebration. Speaking of which…
Can’t disagree with that one.
I voted for “it should happen more often.” I really enjoy these events, as well as MLB teams playing overseas. Having gone to both the London Series and Tokyo Series games in which the Cubs were involved, I can tell you that even in the UK, not a baseball hotbed, people seemed into the event. And Japanese folks were just overjoyed to have the Tokyo Series.
I am not sure when the next WBC will be held — I have read both 2029 and 2030. The date will likely be part of the next CBA negotiation. Again, as always, we await developments.
Feb 16, 2026; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore (32) throws a pitch during spring training workouts at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Less than a week away from the start of the 2026 regular season, the St. Louis Cardinals will send Matthew Liberatore to the mound for a Spring Training matchup against the New York Mets at Clover Park with a start time of 12:10pm. MLB.com shows that the Mets will start Tobias Myers.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 27, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As usual, this figures to be the strongest division in baseball — one where you could make an argument for four teams and if you squinted really hard, a fifth one as well. Still, this division has sent the American League representative to the World Series for the past two seasons in a row and there’s every opportunity for this collection of clubs to make it three in a row.
Baltimore Orioles
2025 season: 75-87
When do they play the Braves: Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25 at 7:05 p.m. ET. Sunday, July 26 at 1:35 p.m. ET. All games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards
I feel like the Braves and Orioles are kindred spirits. Both teams had big expectations for 2025. Both teams fell flat on their faces for various reasons. Both teams went into the offseason needing at least one more starting pitcher in order to really seem set for the upcoming season. The Orioles were the ones who went into the free agent market in order to pick up a starter, as they’ll now be heading into the season with Chris Bassitt joining their pitching staff.
Bassitt will be joining the likes of Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, Dean Kremer and Zach Eflin. While none of these guys are particularly dominant in their own right, that’s a rotation that could certainly give any lineup fits on any given day and honestly, you can do a lot better than having five decent arms instead of one great arm and four arms who have plenty of flaws. That’s not to say that this crew doesn’t have their flaws — their ceiling is low and their floor is pretty low as well, so while the O’s could have a perfectly fine rotation, it’s also possible that this crew ends up being a liability like they were last season.
It also doesn’t help that the bullpen doesn’t have a lot to write home about. Ryan Helsley is here now but he’ll have a lot to prove after he somehow finished with a 4.50 ERA and 4.14 FIP in 2025. Even with all of the concerns that Helsley has going into this season, he still appears to be the best hurler in this bullpen — which may or may not be concerning. Andrew Kittredge won’t be here for Opening Day, either, so this relief corps will already be a bit shorthanded heading into the upcoming season.
Speaking of shorthanded, that’s how this lineup will be as well. Jordan Westburg’s elbow injury is going to keep him out through at least April and then they’ll also be missing Jackson Holliday to start the season. They do have Pete Alonso at first base now and Baltimore is hoping that his power-hitting will become contagious with a lineup that has spent a long time scuffling now. If everybody lives up to what’s on the back of their baseball cards then they may be able to slug their way out of any holes that the pitching staff may leave them in if they aren’t clicking as well. If not then this could be a long Summer in Baltimore. Sounds familiar, right?
Boston Red Sox
2025 season: 89-73
When do they play the Braves: Three-game series May 15-17 at Truist Park, Three-game series May 26-28 at Fenway Park
Atlanta’s traditional interleague rivals appear primed to make another push for the Postseason. If that happens then Roman Anthony is going to have a lot to say about it. As his presence on Team USA during the WBC would seem to indicate, he appears to be on a star trajectory and he’ll also have to be the straw that stirs the drink for this lineup. He’ll also have to pride most of the power, since this team’s Achilles heel may be their lack of power-hitting. Maybe we’ll see Willson Contreras smack baseballs all around Fenway but outside of that, this team is definitely lacking a bit when it comes to real slugging and it could come back to bite them when it comes to making noise in October.
Boston’s rotation certainly appears ready to pick up the slack. Garrett Crochet is a superstar, Ranger Suárez is a great addition to this rotation and his presence should help take some pressure off of fellow addition Sonny Gray. Gray should settle into the middle of this rotation alongside Brayan Bello and Johan Oviedo has the potential to return to what he was before he went down due to Tommy John surgery a while back. Meanwhile with the relievers, Aroldis Chapman continues to be Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock is also an impactful arm coming out of the pen. Those two will help shorten games at the end of this bullpen but the Red Sox are likely going to be hoping that their starters can get straight to these two without any issues because there isn’t a lot of quality behind them.
Overall, the Red Sox seem like a Postseason contender — it’s just a matter of how they’ll fare in the always-tough AL East. If all goes well for them (mainly if they can start hitting the ball hard and if the rotation can carry them to glory) then a divisional title is certainly possible. If the power outage continues then they’ll be on the outside looking in or having to scratch and claw for another Wild Card spot.
New York Yankees
2025 season: 94-68
When do they play the Braves: August 7 at 7:05 p.m. ET, August 8 at 3:05 p.m. ET and August 9 at 1:35 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees have essentially decided to run it back, as they certainly didn’t have a flashy offseason by any means. That’s not necessarily a bad thing for a team that basically sauntered into the Postseason last year — even though they came up short in the divisional race. Perhaps that’s why the grumbling amongst Yankees fans that they’re choosing to simply go again with what they’ve got could be understandable.
As such, any preview that you’ve seen about the Yankees from 2025 could largely be applied to 2026. We know what Aaron Judge is going to provide. We know what Max Fried is going to provide. Will Trent Grisham slot into center field as a perfect fit for this team? Will Ryan Weathers serve as a reliable rotation arm for this group of starters? Will the rotation be able to stay afloat before both Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón make their return from injury?
Outside of those questions, there’s a lot to like here(as much as you can like about the New York Yankees) with this squad. There’s a reason why they won 94 games last season and could’ve been primed for a rematch with the Dodgers in the World Series. However, they’ll have to be just as good this season if they want to reclaim their spot on the top of the American League mountain.
Tampa Bay Rays
2025 season: 77-85
When do they play the Braves: September 8 and 9 at 7:15 p.m. ET. September 10 at 12:15 p.m. at Truist Park.
Well, the good news is that the Rays will be back in their home of Tropicana Field as it appears to be ready for big league baseball once again following the disastrous effects of Hurricane Milton. They’re going to need a lot to go their way in order to contend in this division, as they appear to be the fifth-best team in a five-horse race of thoroughbreds.
That’s not to say that all hope is lost here, as the Rays have managed to defy expectations in the past in order to upset the apple cart in this division. The issue is that the Rays are clearly short on talent compared to the rest of the division. Sure, Junior Caminero is looking like a star and he’s got guys like Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Díaz around him but outside of that, you have to look really hard to find some talent that’s ready to make impact production right now. This is a young team that’s going through a retooling and unelss there are some more surprise breakouts, this team seems destined to be fighting just to avoid the AL East cellar.
The pitching staff should be very good, though, which is why you shouldn’t write them off as being an also-ran. If Shane McClanahan can return to form now that he’s finally healthy then he should perfectly compliment a rotation that also has the likes of Drew Rasmussen and Ryan Pepiot as well. The bottom portion of this rotation overperforming would be crucial to seeing this team pull off a magical run. Steven Matz and Nick Martinez would have to be rock solid — or they could just wait for their hot prospects (like Joe Boyle and Ian Seymour) to emerge and maybe they could hit the ground running. The bullpen would also have to be way more effective outside of Griffin Jax and Edwin Uceta (once he’s healthy) in order for Tampa Bay to make it happen.
On paper, this is a last place team in the AL East. In reality? The Rays have shocked us all before and it’ll have to be a major shock again if they can become a contender in 2026.
Toronto Blue Jays
2025 season: 94-68
When do they play the Braves: June 2-4, all at 7:15 p.m. ET at Truist Park
The fact that the Dodgers had to completely empty the tank in order to beat this team should tell you the quality that this team had last season. The good news is that they’re bringing back most of the players from that run. The bad news is that they’ve lost Bo Bichette and also outfield slugger Anthony Santander is going to be out long-term. Toronto did manage to add Jesús Sánchez in order to help cover for that huge loss of production and they also added Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to their rotation as well. The Kazuma Okamoto signing seems like a perfect fit for them as well.
The big question for the Jays is whether or not they’ll have the same level of production from both their stars and some unexpected sources as well. George Springer producing a 5.2 fWAR season at Age-35 out of nowhere was massive for them and it’s tough to envision them reaching those same heights without him at least coming close to that level of production. Still, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is here, Alejandro Kirk is here and the rest of the lineup is rock solid as well. Toronto’s rotation is also filled to. the brim with talent and they’ve got a perfectly reliable closer in Jeff Hoffman as well. Everything came together for the Blue Jays last season and yet they came up painfully short. Will they have the fortitude to make sure it all comes together again so they can return? We’ll see what happens.
LAKELAND, FLORIDA - MARCH 09: Shane McClanahan #18 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers during the Grapefruit League spring training game at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 09, 2026 in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First pitch against the Boston Red Sox is at 1:05 at Charlotte Sports Park and the Rays will be providing tv and radio coverage.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 12, 2026: A view of the stadium prior to a spring training game between the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins at Lee Health Sports Complex on March 12, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Spring Training is winding down.
The Jays sent some regulars to Fort Myers to play the Twins and Max Scherzer gets the start. Straw, Lukes, and Sanchez are playing in the outfield. Schneider is there to DH. And Tyler Heineman and Leo Jimenez are playing too.
I’ve enjoyed watching Arjun Nimmala and Josh Kasevich too and they are playing. You get the feeling that, at some point, both will be part of the team.
Today’s Lineups
BLUE JAYS
TWINS
Myles Straw – CF
Byron Buxton – CF
Nathan Lukes – RF
Trevor Larnach – LF
Jesus Sanchez – LF
Brooks Lee – SS
Davis Schneider – DH
Ryan Jeffers – C
Tyler Heineman – C
Eric Wagaman – 1B
Leo Jimenez – 2B
Orlando Arcia – 2B
Sean Keys – 1B
Ryan Kreidler – RF
Arjun Nimmala – SS
Gio Urshela – 3B
Josh Kasevich – 3B
Alex Jackson – DH
Max Scherzer – RHP
S. Woods Richardson – RHP
We’ve hit the time of the spring that I’m looking for better at bats from the players, more like how they want to look in the regular season.
Simeon Woods Richardson starts for the Twins, so we can get a sense of what could have been.
The Twins have a little news, Liam Hendriks has been ‘given his release’. He had an opt out one week before opening day if the team didn’t add him to the 40-man and the Twin choose not to. He threw 6 spring innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 earned, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts.
Mar 3, 2026; Dunedin, FL, USA; Canada starting pitcher Logan Allen (22) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Allen pitched in parts of five seasons in the majors, the last coming in 2024 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 45 career games, including 15 starts, Allen has a 5.79 ERA in 124 1/3 innings, with 89 strikeouts and 52 walks for the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Baltimore Orioles, and Diamondbacks.
Last season, Allen had a 4.53 ERA in 32 games, including 31 starts for the NC Dinos in the Korea Baseball Organization, with 149 strikeouts and 67 walks in 173 innings.
The left-hander, who allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings in two relief appearances for Canada in the World Baseball Classic, turns 29 in May.
There’s another left-handed pitcher named Logan Allen in the majors, a starter for Cleveland, who pitched for Panama during the WBC. Ahead of the March 8 game in Pool A between Canada and Panama, both Logans Allen had a face-off after the national anthem to see which one would remain on the field the longest, akin to Scott Van Slyke and Joe Kelly during the 2013 National League Championship Series in St. Louis.
Should Allen end up in the majors with the Dodgers, he is out of minor league options, having used them from 2019-21 while with San Diego and Cleveland.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 16: Bryan Abreu #52 of the Houston Astros reacts after the final out of a game against the Texas Rangers at Daikin Park on September 16, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the Houston Astros inch closer to Opening Day, it’s time to confront an increasingly uncomfortable reality: this roster already has some notable “have-nots,” particularly in the bullpen.
The team entered camp knowing it would be without closer Josh Hader to begin the season as he continues to recover from a bicep issue. That alone was a significant hurdle. But now, the situation has become more complicated with the announcement that Bennett Sousa will also start the season on the injured list due to an oblique injury.
For manager Joe Espada, this creates an immediate challenge. The late-inning blueprint has been disrupted before the first pitch of the regular season is even thrown.
A Bullpen Suddenly in Flux
Souza was expected to play a key role in the seventh or eighth inning, helping bridge the gap to Bryan Abreu. Had he been healthy, alongside left-handers Brian King and Steven Okert, the Astros would have boasted a rare strength: a surplus of reliable left-handed options in the bullpen.
Instead, what once looked like a strength now feels uncertain.
The question becomes clear: how do the Astros construct a bullpen capable of holding leads and keeping games within reach while they wait for key arms to return?
Internal Options Begin to Emerge
One name that stands out is Enyel De Los Santos. The Astros saw enough from him last season to trust him in higher-leverage situations. Armed with an above-average fastball, he has proven capable of getting outs when it matters most.
Although slowed this spring by a knee injury, De Los Santos remains a strong candidate to make the roster, especially given his contract situation and lack of minor league options.
Another intriguing piece is A.J. Blubaugh. If the Astros stick with a six-man rotation, he is likely headed to Triple-A Sugar Land to stay stretched out as a starter. Still, his versatility makes him a potential long-relief option. Wherever he’s used, he has shown the ability to get outs at the major league level, I just don’t think it will be on Opening Day.
Then there’s Roddery Munoz, who may have an inside track to make the team. As a Rule 5 selection, the Astros risk losing him if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster. After a slow start this spring where he had me wondering if he would even make it through camp, he has settled in nicely. He has consistantly been showing improved command and the ability to limit walks, which could be another factor in what ultimately tips the scales in his favor. The theme that you will notice throughout this column is simple, experience matters.
Starters Transitioning to Relief Roles
What’s particularly interesting is that many of the Astros’ current bullpen options are starters by trade. The organization appears to be leaning on flexibility, asking several arms to adapt to relief roles while remaining stretched out for potential spot starts. Houston has been known for starting pitching depth in the last few years and this year is no exception. The names may not be as recognizable, but the ability still seems to be there.
Two names that fit this mold are Kai-Wei Teng and Peter Lambert. Both bring major league experience and offer the kind of plug-and-play reliability teams value over a long season. Both guys would prefer to start if given the choice, but the chance to secure a spot on the roster has put them in the pen to earn a role with their flexibility.
Lambert, in particular, has turned heads this spring. Initially overlooked, he has pitched his way into serious consideration for a bullpen spot. Adding urgency to the decision is his ability to opt out of his contract if not added to the roster, making him a compelling case to secure a spot on the 40-man and putting additional pressure on the organization.
The Bigger Picture
General manager Dana Brown has no shortage of starting pitching depth, but that may not solve the immediate issue. The real challenge lies in determining which of those arms can successfully transition into relief roles and do so quickly enough to stabilize the bullpen.
At this point, filling out the bullpen isn’t just another roster decision, it’s arguably the most pressing issue facing the Astros heading into the season.
And there’s another possibility looming.
As other teams begin to finalize their rosters and make cuts, the Astros could look outside the organization for help. Adding a veteran arm not currently in camp may ultimately be the move that solidifies this group, at least until reinforcements return.
Final Thought
The Astros still have options, but they also have questions and lots of them. How they answer those questions over the next several days could go a long way in determining how steady (or shaky) this team looks out of the gate.
One thing is certain: the margin for error is already thinner than expected.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 17: Bryce Harper #24 of Team USA celebrates with third-base coach Dino Ebel #91 after hitting a two-run home run to tie the game in the eighth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Today’s game features two of the best starting pitchers in the game: Reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal versus 2025 NL Cy Young runner up Cristopher Sanchez, who is making his return to the Grapefruit League after a wonderful overall performance in the World Baseball Classic. The Phillies also have Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber back from the WBC.
From driver’s licenses to Tinder, there’s something about men lying about their height baked into the fabric our society — but only in MLB can it result in a competitive advantage, until now. Baseball is implementing its Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system this season, after undergoing a trial in 2025, and that means every player in baseball is getting accurately measured for the system, with some hilarious results.
We’re seeing a lot of players who claimed they were over 6’0 suddenly fall below the mark. Alex Bregman, who recently signed with the Chicago Cubs, has magically shrunk from six-foot, which he was listed as with the Houston Astros, to 5’11 with the Red Sox, now 5’10 in Chicago. Similarly Gavin Lux, previously a strapping 6’1 27-year-old, has now lost some inches as well.
This is happening because the league has to get accurate strike zone data for every single player, which means getting their full and accurate measurements. In order to do this they’ve needed to codify what the strike zone is across all of baseball, moving away from looser the interpretation of “top of the pants to the batter’s shoulders.”
Specifically, the strike zone is now defined as 17 inches across the plate for all players, but in terms of height the zone now starts at 27% of the player’s height, falling roughly around the waist of most players, and extends to 53.5% of the player’s height. MLB says this is a general reduction from umpire rulings, which they found averaged out to be 24.2% to 55.6% — which in turn means a smaller strike zone, and fewer strikes as a result.
Theoretically lying about your height in the past should have been a disadvantage, but umpires were paying attention to what they saw — not the figure on paper. If a ball went above your shoulders or below your belt it was a ball, regardless of the height ratios of players. Now that balls and strikes can be challenges thee has to be accurate measuring for the ABS software to work off.
Interesting MLB attempted to try and use a 3D model that turned the strike zone into a cube, but claimed it caused issues. Adding depth to the equation allowed pitchers to paint unnatural corners of the strike zone that ABS would have claimed was a strike — but didn’t make sense under the former understanding of the zone. So MLB scrapped the experiment and will instead use ABS on a 2D plane, much as we’ve come to understand the zone in the past.
Now you know why some of your favorite players might rock up at the plate seeming more like short kings that the strapping six-footers they’ve been claiming for years. Personally, as a sub-six foot man myself, just own it boys. Nothing wrong with being a little shorter — except when it comes to buying dress pants. Screw the inseam measurements of dress pants when you’re shorter.
There was a small scare on Thursday asAlvarez exited New York's spring training game early after his back tightened up on him. Mendoza said it was for precautionary reasons and called him day-to-day.
The manager gave another update Friday, saying Alvarez felt the tightness after Wednesday's off day and was happy he chose not to push it. If all goes well, the catcher will be back in the lineup on Saturday.
"Better. Saw him earlier this morning, was getting treatment. Definitely feeling better, moving around fine," Mendoza said. "The plan is for him to go through his workout, he's going to swing the bat. Everything goes well, he's back in the lineup tomorrow."
Alvarez will look to stay healthy and cap off his strong spring, as he's gone 8-for-22 (.364) at the plate with three doubles, one home run, and four RBI across 10 games.
Regular season pitching plan
Mendoza wasted no time in naming Freddy Peralta the Opening Day starting pitcher after just three spring training games on Feb. 27.
With Opening Day less than a week away on March 26, the manager shared a loose plan for how things may look in the second and third games of the season against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The team will have minor leaguers start on Saturday and Sunday to round out the Grapefruit League, and then play an intrasquad game on Monday that will feature Nolan McLean vs. Sean Manaea.
"And then on Monday, that game that we have here, it'll be McLean versus Manaea... do the math," Mendoza said with a laugh.
He added on McLean: "Probably game three."
When asked if Manaea will start game two of the regular season, Mendoza said, "We'll see," with a smirk.
New York has still not confirmed it will begin the year with a six-man rotation, but Mendoza gave some more insight into how the rotation may look. He noted that Peralta will be pitching on the backfields Friday instead of facing the Cardinals, since the Mets play them in the second series of the regular season.
"There's a chance he could face them," Mendoza said, indicating that the team could keep Peralta on regular rest even with the six-man rotation.
That would mean one starter (one of David Peterson, Clay Holmes, or Kodai Senga) likely wouldn't pitch until the seventh game of the season.
Opening Day roster decisions
In addition to figuring out the rotation, Mendoza and the Mets will need to finalize their Opening Day roster in the coming days.
Many expect Carson Benge to make the team as the starting right fielder, joining Juan Soto and Luis Robert Jr. in the outfield. Tyrone Taylor is a lock for the bench, in addition to Luis Torrens and Mark Vientos, giving the team one more spot if they go with the six-man rotation.
Mike Tauchman could earn that role after a strong spring, but that would mean New York would be carrying five outfielders and no backups who play shortstop.
With Bo Bichette getting the start at short on Friday, his first time playing his old position this year, Mendoza discussed how the roster could look on Opening Day when asked about carrying five outfielders.
"Yeah I think everything is on the table," Mendoza said. "Again, we still got three or four more days. I'm not anticipating this decision any time soon. I think we are going to go all the way to the last day, not only here in camp, but once we get to New York.
"We could go in a lot of different ways here. And that's why Bo is getting that opportunity today at shortstop."
Mendoza added that it'll be good for Bichette to get some "familiar" work in at short, knowing that Francisco Lindor will be playing every game possible. The other potential bench spot, if not Tauchman, could go to Vidal Brujan, who can play everywhere on the diamond except catcher.
Tobias Myers' role
When the Mets acquired Myers in the Peralta trade with Milwaukee, it was unclear if the team planned to use him as a starter or out of the bullpen.
The 27-year-old will start on Friday against St. Louis in Grapefruit League action, but it will look more like a regular season relief appearance.
"He's very versatile," Mendoza said. "We got six starters that are healthy. Knock on wood here, he's gonna be pitching out of the bullpen in a multi-inning role. This is a guy that is going to get big outs for us. He's gonna pitch in a lot of different situations -- high leverage, medium leverage, low leverage if we need to.
"And if we go that route where there's a need for starting pitching, he's in the consideration. That's why we got him built him up to almost 70 pitches. Now, it's more like how we'll potentially be using him in the regular season. Today, he's only going to go a couple of innings, no more than 35 pitches."
Mendoza noted the team is being "mindful" of how they use Myers in case of an early-season injury to one of the six starters. The right-hander has made 31 career starts out of his 49 appearances, but 25 of them came during the 2024 season as he pitched mostly out of the bullpen in 2025.
Port St. Lucie, FL: New York Mets pitcher Tobias Myers during a spring training workout Feb. 13, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Alejandra Villa Loarca /Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
Mets Lineup
Carson Benge – RF
Tyrone Taylor – CF
Bo Bichette – SS
Mark Vientos – DH
Mike Tauchman – LF
Vidal Brujan – 2B
Jared Young – 1B
Hayden Senger – C
Antonio Jimenez – 3B
Tobias Myers – RHP
Cardinals Lineup
JJ Wetherholt – DH
Ramon Urias – 2B
Ivan Herrera – C
Jordan Walker – RF
Thomas Saggese – CF
Yohel Pozo – 1B
Jose Fermin – 3B
Nathan Church – LF
Brody Moore – SS
Andre Pallante – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:10 PM EDT TV: MLBN (out-of-market only), SNY, ESPN Unlimited Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Just last summer, Bryce Eldridge wasn’t sure where to position himself on relays from the outfield. He lacked other fundamentals that only come with experience at first base, such as tracking the batter, not the ball, when a pitch is on the way.
The Giants’ top prospect didn’t make their Opening Day roster, but the 21-year-old first baseman believes he put to rest this spring any doubts about his defensive future.
“My defense was always something that was kind of a question mark to these guys,” Eldridge told the California Post hours before he was optioned out of camp Thursday. “I think I played a damn good first. If you put me up with some of the best, I think I’m an above-average big-league first baseman.”
Eldridge made his MLB debut last September, but he still only has 84 games above Double-A.
Despite his lack of experience, Eldridge made the decision about more than his defense.
“I think everyone was wondering about (his) position,” Vitello said. “But I think he showed real potential to not just be over at first base, but to be a quality defender at first base.”
In a twist, the prospect known for his prowess at the plate looked more uncomfortable in the batter’s box than he did on the infield dirt. The Giants would like to see Eldridge strike out less than his 38.7% rate this spring and, as Vitello said, “as big and strong as he is, just to be more dangerous at the plate.” Meaning: More consistently laying off pitches outside the zone.
“I think he showed he is a major-league player,” general manager Zack Minasian told the Post. “We’ve talked about him defensively, just getting more comfortable at first base in all facets. I think he’s done a good job there. Offensively, it’s huge, huge upside. I think him putting the ball in play consistently is a big deal.”
The assignment to Triple-A Sacramento should allow Eldridge to get everyday reps in at first base, in the batter’s box — and on the base paths, his next area of improvement. Base running mechanics are all the more important with Eldridge’s large, lanky frame, and he wasn’t on first base much this spring with six of his nine hits going for extra bases.
“It’s hard to keep your body under control when you’re this long and this big,” Eldridge said. “Learning how to run and use good mechanics isn’t something I’ve ever practiced, kind of like how I had never really practiced first before.”
In that case, the Giants should feel good about Eldridge’s ability to pick it up.
Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
Vitello’s first interaction with Eldridge came when he was still a teenager and the Giants manager was attempting to recruit him to Tennessee. At the time, Eldridge was still splitting time between the mound and the outfield. He didn’t pick up a first baseman’s mitt until his first full professional season, in 2024, as he climbed from A-ball to Triple-A in the same year.
Eldridge initially struggled to make some routine plays. This spring, he made some that were only possible for somebody with an athletic, 6-foot-7 build and an understanding how to use it.
“There were several plays that I don’t know many other first basemen make,” Vitello said, commending the improvements in his footwork and the intent behind his work.
Eldridge has taken part in Ron Washington’s famously intense infield drills. He has been coached up by another legendary Giants first baseman in Will Clark. Last year, he struck up a close bond with J.T. Snow, a six-time Gold Glove winner at first base — four with the Giants.
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Snow visited Eldridge twice in Sacramento, where he told the Post that the young first baseman “opened up” about his defensive shortcomings and “got better” because of it.
“Everybody in the organization agreed he was better than day one,” Snow said. “That’s because we worked really hard. … We really got close in Sacramento.”
Eldridge told him he was confused about cutoffs and relays. Snow told him to read the third-base coach to see whether the runner is being waved home. Eldridge would set up before the pitch and lock in on the ball as it traveled to home plate.
“I said, no no no. We don’t do that,” Snow said. “We watch him wind up and we shift our eyes to the hitting zone. You focus on the catcher and the hitting zone. He never knew that because he signed out of high school and he’s 20 years old.”
Eldridge now has more than 200 games at first base under his belt. He added another 19 this spring. He would have had to contend with Rafael Devers for playing time at first base with the big-league club, but there should be no obstacle to him playing the field in Sacramento.
As for those little things he worked on with Snow, Eldridge said, “I definitely feel like I got all those things down.”
“Those are things that, over time, you don’t have to think about as much,” he said. “It’s just gonna take experience and reps, and I’m getting to that point where I’ve had pretty decent experience and taken a lot of reps.”
If there was any doubt about how seriously Eldridge was being considered for the Opening Day roster, look no further than his playing time: Only one player logged more plate appearances.
The Giants were determined to give him a serious look.
They saw enough to be confident that it won’t be long until they see him again.
Vitello said Eldridge took it “like a pro” when he delivered the hard news on Thursday.
“He’s gonna be with us at some point,” Vitello said. “We want him to be ready to rock and roll. I think he will be based off his work ethic and character.”
In the 2022 MLB Draft, Gavin Cross was taken ninth overall by the Kansas City Royals. The Virginia Tech outfielder had just wrapped up an outstanding three-year career with the Hokies.
In his “freshman” season in 2020, he started all 16 games and hit .369, recording seven multi-hit performances before the pandemic cut the season short.
His next season was considered his true freshman campaign, and he became the first freshman in program history to earn All-ACC First Team honors. He also led the team with a .345 batting average. The talent was obvious, and he looked destined for the big leagues. After another strong season, the Royals selected him ninth overall.
Cross carried that success into his first professional season, slashing .312/.437/.633 between the ACL and Columbia with the Fireflies.
At that point, he appeared to be moving quickly through the minors, with the potential to become the next big thing in Kansas City. He opened the 2023 season in High-A Quad Cities and even reached Double-A Northwest Arkansas by year’s end. However, he struggled mightily, hitting just .206/.300/.383.
It didn’t add up. How does a hitter who had posted .300-plus seasons for four straight years suddenly look lost at the plate?
The answer came later. Cross made three separate trips to the emergency room before doctors diagnosed him with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a serious tick-borne illness. Though he was treated with antibiotics, the disease left him physically drained and effectively derailed his season.
The illness is relatively rare, affecting only a few thousand people in the United States each year, according to the CDC.
In other words, a rare condition cost Cross one of the most important developmental seasons of his career and set him back on his path to the majors.
Since then, Cross has somewhat rebounded, spending the last two seasons in Double-A and putting together respectable numbers, hitting .261 and .241 with 32 combined home runs.
Now entering his age-25 season, time is beginning to feel like a factor. Prospects such as Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen have surged up the system, and Cross has faded from the spotlight.
However, with players away for the World Baseball Classic this spring, Cross received an extended opportunity in Arizona—and he made the most of it. He hit .281/.324/.500 with two home runs. The 14 strikeouts are a concern, but elevated strikeout rates are common in today’s game.
He won’t open the season in Kansas City. More likely, he returns to Double-A, though he seems close to breaking through to Triple-A Omaha.
And given the Royals’ outfield struggles over the past two seasons, opportunities could arise. If players like Starling Marte or Lane Thomas fail to produce, or if injuries hit, Cross could finally get his chance to reach the majors and live up to his draft status.
It would make for a compelling comeback story, especially after the lost season caused by Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The earliest realistic timeline for a call-up would be late July or early August, but he’s an easy player to root for, and one who still has a chance to fulfill the expectations placed on him four years ago.
Los Angeles Dodgers pose for a photograph after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-0 to clinch the National League West title during the season home finale at Chase Field in Phoenix on Sept. 25, 2025. | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Although it ultimately came down to a two-horse race, the National League West fielded four teams in 2025 that showed flashes throughout the year. Those four squads started hot and held a winning record as July kicked off. While the Los Angeles Dodgers would ultimately hold serve throughout September, the San Diego Padres were within just a couple games of first down the stretch in a race that was closer than many expected.
The San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks were in the mix for a good portion of the year, but would fall out of the race for first and into a battle with each other for third by August. Neither was a Wild Card threat. Even still, both had their moments.
Hey, even the Colorado Rockies found success, in that they avoided posting the worst record of all time. (It’s the little things.)
Heading into 2026, pitching looks to be a common thread that will define the division. Teams around the West focused their offseason on acquiring pitching talent, for a variety of reasons.
The Padres looked to replace departing aces, the Dodgers bolstered an already strong squad.
The Diamondbacks sought relief for a struggling unit across a number of stats.
The Giants held steady and will generally rely on the pieces they had.
The Rockies tinkered with the philosophy behind their staff.
In a tough division with little margin for error, each team’s adjustments could result in big changes for how the standings shake out.
Key Additions: 3B Nolan Arenado, SP Merrill Kelly, SP Michael Soroka, 1B Carlos Santana
Key Departures: OF Jake McCarthy, SS Blaze Alexander, RP Jalen Beeks
The D-Backs aimed to shore up a pitching staff that was bottom-10 in both ERA and hits allowed, re-signing Zac Gallen to anchor their starting rotation and bringing in Kelly and Soroka to slot in. Kelly will start the season on the IL after an injury in early March, but will look to make his 2026 debut soon enough.
Much of the Serpientes’ success came on the offensive side. Their bottom-10 pitching was countered by an offense that was top-10 in just about every batting category. They got on base, scored a lot of runs, drew a lot of walks, and hit a lot of homers. Things were clicking.
They acquired two new starters in Arenado and Santana, both of whom are coming off of down years at the plate relative to their usual production. Arenado slashed .237/.289/.377, each the lowest in his career. Santana posted .219/.308/.325 across two teams, and while those weren’t career lows, they were big dips from recent years. Both hope to rebound, but bring uncertainty to their new team. Keeping this steady are a core of solid hitters in Geraldo Perdomo, Corbin Carroll, and Ketel Marte.
The D-Backs still have some question marks and might not emerge as one of MLB’s top teams, but they certainly are positioned to push for the playoffs if they see a return to form for Gallen and some improvements to their pitching numbers overall.
However, an uptick in pitching could unfortunately pair with a regression in batting, threatening those chances.
Key Departures: SP Germán Márquez, 1B Michael Toglia, INF Kyle Farmer
After you’ve flirted with the likes of the 2024 White Sox and the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, any improvement feels welcome.
The 2026 Rockies won’t yet be looking for their first winning season in eight years. They probably aren’t even looking at their first sub-100 loss season. But bringing the losses down from 119 to 101, as PECOTA suggests, would feel like a massive win. Again, the bar is low.
Following 103-, 101-, and 119-loss seasons, the biggest improvements the club made in the offseason might be those in the front office. The team is young in positions and approaches related to club management, baseball operations, analytics (FINALLY!), and scouting. Obviously, time will tell how the new philosophies take shape, but for the time being it feels like the Rockies are actually headed in any direction.
The year ahead will be one of evaluation and development, understanding what the Rox have in the pipeline across the roster (see our 2026 State of the Position series for a look at each position in more detail!) and tinkering with organizational philosophies. That is evidenced by the number of one-year deals the Rockies have taken on as they try to avoid being tied down by any more big contracts or players who aren’t a long-term fit.
Obviously, as the Rockies try to shore up talent and work through the growing pains of young players playing who may or may not be around in a couple years, their outlook to compete in the division is very rough. What they can’t bring in wins, they hope to bring in exciting prospects and fun. The Rockies have not been a fun team to watch in a while, but several young cornerstone pieces and bright spots in camp could change that. A double-digit improvement in wins would be a very nice cherry on top.
Key Additions: OF Kyle Tucker, RP Edwin Díaz, UTIL Kiké Hernández
Key Departures: SP Clayton Kershaw, OF Michael Conforto, RP Kirby Yates
I think the Dodgers may have broken the PECOTA Standings…
They come into the year with the highest win projection in all of MLB and the best percentage chance to win their division (98.7%) of any projected division winner. On top of that, PECOTA gives them a 100% chance to make the playoffs and a 21.6% chance to win the World Series. So, yeah, I guess the back-to-back champs are in okay shape.
They came into 2025 with similarly high expectations and while they fell behind the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers for a postseason bye, that was a lost battle on their way to winning the World Series war.
Any concerns about Los Angeles’ outlook can be deferred until a later date. Having Shohei Ohtani and adding some of the year’s top free agents will squash any worries. The 2026 Dodgers had a rich-get-richer offseason, and the defending champs look even stronger with the addition of Tucker and Díaz. On paper, it’s a roster with very few holes. As heavy favorites, the Dodgers will look to put a little more distance between themselves and the Padres in locking up the division and securing the 1-seed on the way to another NL Pennant.
Ultimately, last year’s season is a recipe that should comfort LA. While they didn’t hit the stellar projections many thought they would, they weathered injuries and made it to the dance, where they could unleash a loaded rotation of Cy Young-caliber stars and flash depth in the field that helped them withstand a very good Toronto Blue Jays team that outplayed them for much of a series. In short, all of their talent gives them enough wiggle room to the point that the regular season finish won’t make or break their disgustingly high floor.
Key Additions: SP Michael King, 3B/OF Miguel Andujar, INF Sung-Mun Song, RP Ty Adcock
Key Departures: SP Dylan Cease, 1B/2B Luis Arráez, 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn, RP Robert Suárez
The Friars came surprisingly and agonizingly close to their first division title since 2006. In a West that was thought to belong to the Dodgers, the Padres were just three games out when all was said and done, even coming a game and a half within the lead in the final week of the season. It was a year of “so close, yet so far”, as they would end up falling to the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card Round.
San Diego rode the wave of a top-notch pitching staff in 2025, finishing first in the league in hits allowed and saves, and third in ERA. They’ll look to plug some holes to hit those marks again after losing their top starting pitcher and relief pitcher in the offseason. Cease headed north of the border to join the AL Champs in Toronto, after giving San Diego 32 starts (8-12, 4.55 ERA) last year. Suárez may be even harder to replace, joining the Atlanta Braves after 56 games finished (40 saves, 2.97 ERA) for the Padres.
That’s a lot of games, and San Diego will face an uphill battle in filling them. Yu Darvish is out for the full season following elbow surgery, so the team will have more spots to fill. Germán Márquez looks to be a new addition to their projected starting rotation, as is Randy Vásquez (acquired from the New York Yankees in the Juan Soto trade) after a strong spring. They may look to hop in the trade market to acquire another starter, with rumors that they could be in on Kodai Senga if he’s moved. Mason Miller, the closer acquired at the 2025 trade deadline, will look to take Suárez’s role.
On the other side of things, the Padres bring back a top-heavy lineup led by Fernando Tatís Jr., Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackson Merrill. They’re likely to miss Luis Arráez, who pitched in a team-high 181 hits on .292/.327/.392 batting. Gavin Sheets and newcomer Miguel Andujar will look to contribute, but the team’s fate will rely on how those core guys look this year.
Big change at key positions and the wear-and-tear of the NL West gauntlet will test San Diego’s playoff hopes. PECOTA has them as the biggest fallers in the division, but they’ll look to keep their window of contention forced open in spite of the turnover.
Key Additions: OF Harrison Bader, 1B/2B Luis Arráez, SP Adrian Houser
Key Departures: SP Justin Verlander, C Andrew Knizner
The 2025 Giants were the third horse in the divisional race for a big stretch of the season until things went downhill after the All Star break. Evidently, the club’s brass liked what they saw, adding just a few key pieces to the club that went .500 last year. They laid the groundwork in past seasons with the acquisition of Rafael Devers and Willy Adames, so the quiet path forward looks to build on that.
The Giants will welcome the production that the Padres are losing in Luis Arráez. A three-time batting champion, his on-base percentage and batting average have been very consistent and very reliable throughout his career, to say the least. San Francisco will add that production right into their starting lineup with Arráez projected to bat leadoff, along with some improved outfield defense via Harrison Bader. Bader also brings a wealth of postseason experience, and his bat wasn’t too shabby last year either, as he posted career highs in batting average, hits, and homers.
Beyond those acquisitions and new starting pitcher Adrian Houser, the Gigantes kept things fairly steady and will work with what they’ve got, hoping a few splashes will go a long way. With a rotation of Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Landen Roupp, Houser, and free agent acquisition Tyler Mahle, they’ll look to rely more heavily on more innings from their starters to preserve their bullpen, contrasting with the “opener” approach they’ve used in the past.
While the last four seasons haven’t necessarily marked steady improvement for San Francisco (at least in terms of their record), they also haven’t sounded any alarm bells. They’ve finished at or just under .500 in each of those years. If they can finally move further north of that mark, they’ll show that the path they’ve taken is the right one.
Will the Dodgers win their 13th NL West title in the last 14 years? Will the Giants or the D-Backs leapfrog the Padres in the race? How much will the Rockies improve? Let us know how you think the West will be won!
For a detailed explanation/FAQ regarding this tournament, click here.
QUADRANT 1
1986(1)vs 1962 (16) G1: 5-3, ’86 G2: 8-2, ’62 G3: 6-2, ’86 G4: 12-3, ’86 Series MVP: Ray Knight
I know what you’re thinking: How did 1962, the team with the second-most losses in the modern era, possibly steal a game from 1986? It seems like a miracle. It took a 3-RBI day from Frank Thomas (not the HOFer), a stunning homer from Joe Pignatano (who never hit one during his actual Mets career), and a Jesse Orosco implosion which yielded five runs in the ninth. But aside from that surprising blip, the ’86 Mets performed as expected, getting a walk-off homer from Howard Johnson in Game 1 and outscoring the ’62 squad 18-5 in the series’ final two games. World Series MVP Ray Knight came through with a homer in Game 4 to give the Mets a lead they would not relinquish, and Orosco redeemed himself with a clean outing. A Richie Ashburn groundout to Rafael Santana at short sent the ’86 team advancing, and sent ’62 packing — just like we all expected.
A seesaw series of two near-seeded teams, the advantage in this series ultimately proved to be 2010’s starting pitching staff. Johan Santana collected two of the team’s three wins, tossing a complete game in Game 1 and handing a quality start off to Francisco Rodriguez in Game 5. 2010’s pitchers even came through with the bat, as Santana had a pair of RBI singles and Jon Niese notched a solo homer. On the flipside, 1991’s staff led by David Cone struggled to hold 2010’s bats at bay — especially José Reyes, who batted .542, but also Angel Pagan and Carlos Beltran, who were extra-base hit machines. Though 1991 won’t be advancing in the tournament, we must still offer a footnote to the absurd heroics of catcher Mackey Sasser, who delivered a whopping nine RBI. His efforts will not be forgotten.
1998 (5)vs 2009(12) G1: 13-4, ’09 G2: 7-6, ’09 G3: 12-6, ’98 G4: 15-3, ’09 Series MVP: José Reyes
The opening and closing games of this series were an absolute massacre by 2009’s lineup. They had an eight-run inning in the fifth inning in Game 1, and collected eight extra-base hits in Game 5. Much like the ’09 team’s actual first game at Citi Field, Game 3 immediately got off to a shaky start when Edgardo Alfonzo hit a two-run homer before an out had been recorded. 1998 didn’t let up from there, pouncing on John Maine and earning a clean win led by center fielder Brian McRae on offense. The only truly competitive contest was Game 2, during which ’09 trailed 5-3 entering the bottom of the eighth inning before a Josh Thole RBI single, Luis Castillo RBI double, and José Reyes two-run homer gave them a lead late.
2008 (4)vs 1983(13) G1: 14-2 ’08 G2: 6-2 ’83 G3: 13-12 ’83 G4: 8-7 ’83 Series MVP: George Foster
Things looked all too promising for the 2008 Mets — and then their hopes turned to disaster. Where have I heard that one before? Game 1 was a blowout, with back-to-back homers from Carlos Delgado and Ramón Castro setting the tone early (Castro would finish 4-for-4 with two homers on the day), but the subsequent three games each ended in more devastating fashion than the last. In Game 2, 1983 trailed by a score of 2-1 in the top of the eighth, when George Foster crushed a go-ahead three-run homer. In Game 3, ’83 went ahead 8-3 and 13-6, but ’08 kept coming back, with homers from Carlos Beltran, Fernando Tatís, and Castro (yes, he did it again); but despite 12 runs and 15 hits, it ultimately wasn’t enough. In Game 4, ’08 seemed en route to a cathartic win, with a pair of David Wright homers giving them a 7-3 lead entering the bottom of the ninth inning. That’s when Billy Wagner had a nightmarish meltdown. Foster hit a two-run double, a wild pitch scored a run, and a Brian Giles RBI single tied the game. The only out that ’08 recorded in the ninth inning was the John Stearns walk-off sac fly which put them out of their misery.
2024 (3)vs 1982 (14) G1: 6-3 ’24 G2: 5-0 ’24 G3: 5-3 ’82 G4: 6-1 ’82 G5: 8-6 ’24 Series MVP: Pete Alonso
This series was a tale of two flipped scripts. It started out as an “OMG”-style party, with nothing but magical vibes through the first two games at Citi Field. In Game 1, Sean Manaea was dominating, Jose Iglesias was getting hit after hit, and Edwin Díaz’s trumpets summoned a clean save. In Game 2, everyone was homering while Luis Severino took a no-hitter into the ninth inning before George Foster dunked a floater into left for the only ’82 hit of the night. When ’24 got ahead early in Game 3, and it seemed a sweep was in their sights. Then, the unthinkable happened. After a scoreless David Peterson outing, 1982 stormed back with five runs off Tylor Megill in the eighth inning. In Game 4, with Pat Zachry in command, ’82 kept Grimace’s forces at bay to force a winner-take-all Game 5. Ron Hodges stunned the Citi crowd with a grand slam down the right-field line to give ’82 an early lead. But the ’24 team simply can’t be counted out. Winker homered. Taylor homered. And with two on and two out in the fifth, Alonso delivered what ultimately proved the decisive blow. Dave Kingman and ’82 tried to claw their way back, but Díaz shut the door in the ninth, and the team perhaps most fit for a tournament called “Mets Madness” lived to sing another day.
2005 (6)vs 1968(11) G1: 6-3, ’68 G2: 14-12, ’68 G3: 7-4, ’68 Series MVP: Ed Charles
Despite it being “The Year of the Pitcher,” it was actually 1968’s offense which took center stage in this upset sweep. Lots of players stepped up — Ron Swoboda hit .429, Ken Boswell blasted a three-run homer off lefty Tom Glavine, and Tommie Agee provided key insurance with a homer in Game 3 — but Ed Charles separated himself from the pack, batting .571 with 6 RBI and hitting a three-run homer of his own. In fact, of the four elite pitchers who took the bump in this series (Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Pedro Martinez, and Tom Glavine), Seaver was the only one who avoided getting shelled, tossing a dominant 8.1 innings of one-run ball. 2005 did manage an unusual feat in Game 2, getting back-to-back homers from Carlos Beltran and Marlon Anderson as well as José Reyes and Mike Cameron, but this was ’68’s series all the way.
Make no mistake: 2002 did a lot to make this upset possible. They got a surprise scoreless gem of an outing from Jeff D’Amico in Game 4, saved at the last second by a Roberto Alomar diving play in the top of the ninth inning. Their stars showed up at the right times on offense, with Mike Piazza hitting a three-run homer and Edgardo Alfonzo hitting two solo shots in the winner-take-all Game 5. Even Mo Vaughn got in on the action, crushing a homer onto the Shea Bridge off Nolan McLean. And Al Leiter was gutsy as ever, striking out nine in five innings of one-run ball in Game 1 and tossing a complete game in Game 5 (even more impressive when considering the 2025 home-field stamina settings). But when all is said and done, as with their real-life season, the 2025 Mets beat themselves more than anything else. The big bats did their best, with Pete Alonso, Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Alvarez, and Mark Vientos all homering (the Polar Bear also had a three-hit performance Game 2), but aside from a Brett Baty walk-off single in Game 3, they had no knack for stacking hits together or coming through in the clutch. This tournament was yet another blown opportunity for the talent-rich 2025 squad.
Despite 1973’s series win, the undisputed best game of this series was Game 2 — a 16-inning affair which had everything from game-saving catches (two of them, actually, from left fielder Dave Gallagher and right fielder Jeromy Burnitz in the bottom of the twelfth inning) to RBI from starting pitchers (one from Dwight Gooden, one from Jim McAndrew). The game lasted so long that Jon Matlack, ’73’s starting pitcher slated for the subsequent game, came on in relief, ultimately yielding the Jeff McKnight RBI single and Todd Hundley sac fly that gave 1993 the edge. But ’73 bounced back, with spot starter George Stone delivering a stellar outing in Game 3 and Matlack then heroically tossing a complete game on short rest in Game 4. Willie Mays, who had already put a mark on the series by getting a go-ahead hit late in Game 1, fittingly delivered the decisive blow in Game 5 when he hit an epic grand slam to left-center at Shea, handing “the worst team money could buy” an early exit from the tournament. And of course, Tug McGraw did his part by notching a pair of saves. Ya Gotta Believe!
The Miracle Mets’ path to a first-round victory was, unsurprisingly, stellar starting pitching. I mean, just take a look at these beautiful final lines:
Tom Seaver: 9.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 6 K Jerry Koosman: 8.0 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K Gary Gentry: 8.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Meanwhile, on the offensive side, Donn Clendenon hit .727. That’s not a misprint. He went 8-for-11 with three home runs and seven RBI. The ’63 team used their only ounce of magic late in Game 3, when Jesse Gonder hit an unlikely three-run, inside-the-park home run to give ’63 their first lead of the series. But Ken Boswell responded with a two-run double into the right-center-field gap in the top of the ninth, seizing the momentum right back. It may have been a less miraculous victory than they’re used to, but the 1969 World Champions can still celebrate a clean series win to advance onto the next round.
The first two games of this series were both pitchers’ duels. Jacob deGrom and Bret Saberhagen were in command during Game 1, with Jeff McNeil finally hitting a go-ahead homer in the top of the tenth to turn the game in 2018’s favor. The ’18 bullpen also came up clutch, getting a combined six innings of scoreless relief from Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo, and Daniel Zamora in Games 1 and 2. 1994’s lone win came in Game 3, headlined by homers from Bobby Bonilla (who is technically a salaried member of 30% of the teams in this tournament) and first baseman David Segui. Game 4 was a classic, with Steven Matz cruising and ’18 leading 6-0 before the local left-hander suddenly fell apart, surrendering a seven-run seventh inning (aided by another Bonilla homer). Todd Frazier tied it with a no-doubt homer into the second deck at Citi Field in the bottom of the frame, but a Jeff Kent base hit misplayed by left fielder Yoenis Céspedes in the top of the ninth caused ’94 to retake the lead. Minutes later, Céspedes got his redemption by delivering a game-tying hit off John Franco, before Austin Jackson — who delivered the game-winning hit during David Wright’s emotional final game that season — fittingly capped off the series with a walk-off RBI single to center.
2007 (5) vs 2017(12) G1: 7-6, ’17 G2: 5-3, ’17 G3: 9-7, ’17 Series MVP: Juan Lagares
And just like that, the 2007 team’s devastating stretch of six losses in seven games extends to nine losses in ten games. To add insult to injury, ’07 was close to winning all three contests in this series. In Game 1, Carlos Beltran hit an electrifying game-tying homer in the eighth, but Michael Conforto put 2017 back ahead with a double off the wall in the top of the ninth, and ’08 couldn’t muster a second comeback. In Game 2, ’07 nearly overcame a John Maine disaster (the right-hander walked and hit a batter to drive in two runs), but ’18’s defense stole the show with a vintage Juan Lagares leap, a Travis d’Arnaud caught stealing, and a Yoenis Céspedes diving catch accounting for three of the final six outs. In Game 3, the ’07 team had a 7-3 lead at the seventh-inning stretch off a homer by Beltran and a pair of homers by Carlos Delgado (one of which went to the back of the seven-line section off Jerry Blevins). But José Reyes — the 2018 José Reyes — hit a surprise three-run homer, and Céspedes hit a bases-clearing double down the left-field line. A.J. Ramos induced a Lastings Milledge popup to end it, and seal yet another disappointing finish for the ’07 Mets.
This was about as lopsided an affair as any in Mets Madness’ opening round. 1997 outscored the 1980 squad 31-10, riding the bats of Bernard Gilkey, John Olerud, and especially Edgardo Alfonzo, who hit a pair of homers and drove in seven runs. They also received strong outings from Rick Reed and Dave Mlicki, leaving little work for the ’97 bullpen. The couple of bright spots which ’80 boasted came courtesy of Lee Mazzilli and right fielder Butch Huskey, each of whom delivered a homer in Game 3 and had respectable results at the plate all series.
In one of the most shocking starts to any first-round series, the 1966 Mets had 1985 staring down the barrel after just two games. The ’66 squad outscored ’85 11-4, blindsiding Dwight Gooden in Game 1 and getting a gem from right-hander Dennis Ribant (who put up a respectable 3.3 bWAR that season) in Game 2. But the heavily-favored ’85 Mets dug deep and pulled out a pair of tense wins, taking Game 3 on a go-ahead homer by Keith Hernandez in the tenth inning and hanging on to a shrinking lead in Game 4 thanks to a Lenny Dykstra diving catch in center field. Gooden redeemed himself in Game 5, allowing ’85 to hold a narrow 2-1 lead before Hernandez hit another homer to put the game out of reach. The ’66 team put up a valiant fight, but their goals of pulling off an upset and advancing in the tournament ultimately came up short.
This MVP award could just as easily have gone to Dave Kingman, who racked up eight RBI and hit the only home run of the series for either side. Had his team been victorious, the award certainly would have gone to Lance Johnson — owner of an oft-overlooked 7.2 bWAR season in ’96 — who was raking with the bat and made a game-saving catch with two on in the ninth inning of Game 4. But it was future Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre who delivered when it mattered most, getting the go-ahead hit for the 1976 Mets in Games 2 and 5. Both teams received stellar starting pitching performances, with Rick Reed outlasting Tom Seaver in Game 1, Jon Matlack throwing a complete game for ’76 in Game 3, and 23-year-old Jason Istringhausen showing his future promise with a dominant Game 4. When their rematch came in Game 5, Seaver outdueled Reed, tossing eight innings of two-run ball and securing a series win for the veteran ’76 squad.
Ending with arguably the best Game 5 in Mets Madness’ first round, this series saw quite the pendulum swing. Tom Seaver (8.1 IP) and Nolan Ryan (back-to-back strikeouts of Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso) combined for a shutout in Game 1, while Bud Harrelson and Donn Clendenon each hit two-run homers to power a Game 2 victory for 1971. 2023 bounced back, with Game 3 featuring a Lindor grand slam and Justin Verlander complete game, while Game 4 saw them hang on despite a 4-0 and 7-3 leads turning to 9-8. Finally, we arrive at the main attraction: a winner-take-all showdown of three-time Cy Young Award Winners Tom Seaver and Max Scherzer. The score was knotted at 1-1 through six, with a Cleon Jones sac fly and Francisco Alvarez solo shot providing the only runs. In the seventh, the chaos started. Out of nowhere — and I can’t believe I’m writing this — DJ Stewart hit a go-ahead two-run homer off Seaver. ’71 immediately answered with three runs to retake a 4-3 lead. In the top of the eighth, Brandon Nimmo hit a three-run homer off Danny Frisella, making it 6-4 ’23. In the bottom of the eighth, Jerry Grote hit a ball that Nimmo misplayed in center, leading to two runs scoring and tying the game at 6-6. The score was locked until the bottom of the tenth, when Bud Harrelson stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out against Kodai Senga, who was on in emergency relief. Harrelson tapped a dribbler in front of the mound. Senga pounced in to try and shuffle it to Omar Narváez at home. Jones dashed for the plate. The rest is (simulated) history.
1988(2) vs 1967 (15) G1: 2-1, ’88 G2: 3-2, ’88 G3: 5-3, ’88 Series MVP: Kevin McReynolds
1967’s starting staff, led by a rookie Tom Seaver, held their own against the mighty 1988 offense; but ’88’s starting pitching was somehow even better, with David Cone, Dwight Gooden, and Bob Ojeda combining for 23.2 innings pitched and only five earned runs allowed. Despite all three games being decided by a margin of two runs or fewer, the only contest which felt truly contested was Game 2. After a Kevin McReynolds two-RBI double and early solo homers from left fielder Tommy Davis and pitcher Don Cardwell, the score remained tied until the bottom of the ninth inning, when Mookie Wilson came to the plate with Dave Magadan at third. Mookie hit a ground ball to Bud Harrelson at short, who made a tremendous diving stop and got to his feet to throw home, but Magadan was already crossing the plate. ’88 will certainly need the big bats of Darryl Strawberry and Howard Johnson to step up if they wish to advance further in the tournament, but for now, ten runs in three games was all the offense they needed for a first-round sweep.
The 1965 Mets proved a more frustrating opponent than the 2000 team anticipated, pushing them to five games. ’65 pulled off a surprising late comeback in Game 1, thanks to a game-tying double from third baseman Charley Smith and a go-ahead single from Ron Swoboda. ’00 appeared to have found their footing with which to stomp ’65 in Games 2 and 3, but 23-year-old Dennis Ribant kept the N.L. Champions’ bats at bay in Game 4 (see “1985 vs 1966” for details on another surprising Ribant gem in the tournament). In Game 5, the ’00 team resoundingly silenced any rumblings of an upset, thwacking ’65 by a score of 12-2 in a blowout punctuated by a 455-foot, three-run homer to left-center field from Mike Piazza in the fourth inning.
If you like chaos, this series is dedicated to you. If you like Daniel Murphy, this series is also dedicated to you. In Game 2, 2014’s Murphy ended the game in the twelfth inning with a walk-off single to right field. In Game 3, Murphy ended the game with a two-run walk-off homer in the eleventh inning — only this time, it was 2011’s Daniel Murphy. Over the subsequent two games, ’11’s Murphy drove in two more runs, while ’14’s drove in three. But enough about the Murphies. This series was a sloppy showing from the ’14 squad, who made a total of eight errors and managed to (characteristically) lose both games pitched by Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom. The ’11 team didn’t make it easy on their defense, especially batting champion José Reyes (who hit a whopping .571 across the five games), but between the extra innings loss in Game 3 and the pair of deGrom losses, this certainly feels like a series ’14 should have won.
After getting shutout by Noah Syndergaard in Game 1, the 1974 Mets absolutely teed off in this series, scoring 34 runs over the subsequent four games. They were led offensively by Cleon Jones and Wayne Garrett, both of whom were sizzling hot. The 2016 team was on a slight power surge of their own, hitting 14 homers over the five-game series (including four from Curtis Granderson), but the series’ biggest blast came off the bat of Ed Kranepool. With the ’74 team narrowly winning 1-0 in the seventh inning of a Game 5 pitchers’ duel between Syndergaard and Jon Matlack, Kranepool stunned the Citi Field crowd with a grand slam off the Shea Bridge. As in real life, the 2016 Mets’ plans were foiled by a late homer to right-center field in a winner-take-all game.
1990 (4)vs 1978 (13) G1: 7-3, ’78 G2: 6-1, ’90 G3: 11-3, ’90 G4: 8-4, ’90 Series MVP: Howard Johnson
The post-Midnight Massacre Mets didn’t quite have the power or the pitching to pull off an upset here, despite scrappy hitting from Steve Henderson, Willie Montañez, and Joel Youngblood. The 1990 starting pitchers were untouchable, with Frank Viola, David Cone, Dwight Gooden, and Sid Fernandez all throwing at least seven innings while allowing no more than one earned run. Viola’s Game 1 gem was spoiled by a bullpen implosion and defensive miscues, but ’90 didn’t make the same mistakes in the subsequent three contests, with Howard Johnson and Darryl Strawberry slugging enough (combining for three homers in the final two games) to keep so much as a lead well out of 1978’s reach.
How was this series possibly as close as it was? The 2003 Mets won two of the first three games, stunning 1987 in Game 1 with an epic Mo Vaughn game-tying homer in the eighth and a clutch go-ahead single from future MLBPA leader Tony Clark in the eleventh. In Game 3, they rode a strong eight-inning performance from Tom Glavine and a big homer from Cliff Floyd. But the ’87 team found themselves just in time, with David Cone and Jesse Orosco combining to three-hit ’03 in Game 4 and Dwight Gooden doing his job as an ace in Game 5. The big boppers for ’87 were exactly the pair we all predicted: Darryl Strawberry and…wait for it…Tim Teufel, both of whom hit three homers in the five-game set. That’s 8.6% of the homers Teufel hit in his entire six-year career with the Mets.
2019 (6)vs 1992 (11) G1: 7-0, ’19 G2: 3-2, ’19 G3: 9-7, ’19 Series MVP: J.D. Davis
These three games really summed up all the chaos and charm of the 2019 Mets — except for the part where they ended up winning all the games. In Game 1, that season’s Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom was his usual deGrominant self, tossing six scoreless innings before Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman completed the shutout. In Game 2, the team’s “LFGM” side showed itself, with ’19 getting an exhilarating RBI hit off the bench from, of all people, Jed Lowrie. And in Game 3, their absolutely catastrophic bullpen made its presence felt, nearly blowing a 9-3 lead built by homers from J.D. Davis, Brandon Nimmo, and starter Noah Syndergaard. When Daryl Boston hit his second homer of the game in the bottom of the ninth, it seemed the ’92 team might be able to pull off a comeback of Kurt Suzuki-esc proportions, but Edwin Díaz came through, striking out future Mets manager Willie Randolph to end it.
1975 (7) vs 2021 (10) G1: 2-1, ’75 (f/10) G2: 5-0, ’21 G3: 4-3, ’21 G4: 6-5, ’21 (f/14) Series MVP: Michael Conforto
This series kicked off with the pitchers’ duel to end all pitchers’ duels: prime Tom Seaver versus prime Jacob deGrom. It did not disappoint. DeGrom threw seven innings of one-run ball, while Seaver carried a shutout into the ninth before Michael Conforto suddenly took him deep to tie the game. An inning later, center fielder Del Unser reached on a J.D. Davis error, and future Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre drove him in with a walk-off sac fly. But that was all the 1975 team would get, as 2021 answered by winning a trio of thrillers. In Game 2, Marcus Stroman somehow threw 8.2 scoreless innings while allowing 13 baserunners. In Game 3, a late rally led by RBI from Francisco Lindor, Conforto, and Pete Alonso helped them overcome a mammoth 471-foot, three-run homer from Dave Kingman. And in Game 4, a fourteen-inning extravaganza which saw ’75 come back from down 5-1 against Edwin Díaz and the ’21 bullpen, it was Conforto who once again came through with a walk-off single to right to clinch a series victory.
For a team that outscored its opponent 41-29, the star-studded 2006 Mets came dangerously close to blowing this one. The 1981 squad made a strong statement right out of the gate, going up 6-0 after two innings of play due to a pair of Dave Kingman homers (he would finish the series with a total of four). The ’06 team made a pair of comeback attempts, tying the game in the fifth on a Lastings Milledge single and trying to tie it again in the ninth with runners on — but a diving grab by Ron Gardenhire ended the bid. ’81 earned another win on a Hubie Brooks walk-off single in Game 3, putting them one game from a stunning upset, but ’06 was able to fend off Kingman’s hot bat and secure a pair of tense wins. It wasn’t quite how they drew it up. Well, except for Game 2, which is exactly how they drew it up: an offensive explosion that featured 18 runs and two-homer days from Carlos Beltrán and José Valentín, who also homered in Game 4. But ’06 advances nonetheless, with a chance to prove themselves the champions we hoped they’d be.
QUADRANT 4
2015(1) vs 1964 (15) G1: 3-1, ’15 G2: 4-2, ’64 G3: 10-1, ’15 G4: 8-6, ’15 Series MVP: Wilmer Flores
This performance was true to character for the magical 2015 team, and there are a few key reasons why. For one, their young starting staff was phenomenal. Jacob deGrom racked up nine strikeouts in 7.2 innings of one-run ball in Game 1, Matt Harvey dominated despite ultimately being pinned with a loss in Game 2, and rookie Noah Syndergaard struck out ten in a scoreless Game 3 outing. For another, they did most of their scoring via the long ball, with Yoenis Céspedes, Lucas Duda, Daniel Murphy, and Curtis Granderson all hitting multiple homers in the four-game series. Most importantly, it felt true to 2015 because Wilmer Flores was at the heart of the action, batting .467 and adding a homer of his own in the Game 3 blowout. The 1964 squad put up a tremendous battle in Game 4, with Ron Hunt ripping a grand slam off Steven Matz and right fielder Joe Christopher hitting a late game-tying homer. But it was David Wright who delivered the final blow, mustering a two-out, go-ahead hit in the top of the ninth inning to eliminate the original Shea Stadium squad.
2001 (8) vs 1995 (9) G1: 5-1, ’01 G2: 8-3, ’01 G3: 2-1, ’01 Series MVP: Mark Johnson
The 2001 rotation absolutely dominated in this sweep, with Al Leiter, Kevin Appier, and Steve Trachsel all tossing at least 6.2 innings while allowing no more than one earned run. Offensively, the ’01 squad saw strong showings from Robin Ventura, Mike Piazza, Edgardo Alfonzo, and Jay Payton, who delivered a clutch go-ahead home run off a cruising rookie Jason Isringhausen in Game 1. But it was 33-year-old utilityman Mark Johnson who stole the show despite only appearing in (*checks notes*) the final two innings of the series. He entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth, breaking up a 1-1 tie by dunking an RBI center into center field off future Phillies All-Star Paul Byrd. He then moved to right field, where he made a spectacular diving catch to turn a Carl Everett game-tying hit into the final out of the series. Talk about being ready off the bench.
This series was bracketed by a pair of spectacular Dwight Gooden/Tom Glavine pitchers’ duels. Gooden won the first one with no margin of error, tossing a complete-game shutout while 1989’s only run came off a Juan Samuel RBI single. But Glavine got the last laugh, allowing just two runs in Game 5 while the 2004 lineup jumped on Gooden for three runs early. ’04 was led in Game 2 by a two-homer performance from Mike Cameron, and received a fine pitching performance from Kris Benson in Game 3. ’89 pulled off a Game 4 comeback thanks to big hits from Howard Johnson and Kevin Elster, but was unable to do the same in Game 5 despite bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth.
1984 seemed completely in command at this series’ outset, lighting up Jacob deGrom in Game 1 and exploding for a 14-3 victory in Game 2 thanks to a 10-run seventh inning. But the 2020 squad stormed back, winning both games in their cardboard-cutout-filled stadium. Game 3 was punctuated by a Dom Smith bases-clearing triple to give ’20 the lead in the eighth inning, while Game 4 was all about rookie David Peterson, who tossed 8.1 innings of one-run ball. Game 5 was one of the best in all of Mets Madness’ first round, beginning as a pitchers’ duel between deGrom and Dwight Gooden which kept the score glued at 1-1 through seven. In the bottom of the eighth, Wally Backman slapped a two-run double over the third base bag and down the left field line, seeming to prove the nail in the coffin for a ’20 team struggling to break through when Wilson Ramos suddenly hit a mammoth two-run home run in the top of the ninth to tie it. Seth Lugo somehow sidestepped a jam in the bottom of the ninth, and was on the cusp of evading similar trouble in the tenth with the help of a spectacular Michael Conforto diving catch, but a George Foster dribbler snuck through a scurrying Jeff McNeil on the right side of the infield to finally give ’84 a hard-fought victory.
Much like in real life, the 2022 Mets somewhat collapsed under pressure when seemingly on the cusp of greatness. Games 1 and 2 saw ’22 and 1977 trade a pair of wild extra-inning victories, with Eduardo Escobar delivering a walk-off double to right-center in Game 1 and mid-season “Midnight Massacre” acquisition Steve Henderson notching the go-ahead hit for ’77 in Game 2. The ’22 squad earned a clean victory behind a Mark Canha two-homer performance and scoreless Chris Bassitt outing in Game 3, appearing poised to advance as anticipated; but that’s when their bats went completely silent. Over the final two games of the series, ’22 was held to just one run and six hits, with longtime Met Craig Swan befuddling them in Game 4 and Jerry Koosman narrowly outdueling Jacob deGrom in Game 5. The turning point once again came courtesy of Henderson, who hit a 400-foot homer down the left-field line off deGrom in the sixth inning. Henderson would finish the series with a pair of homers, having driven in five of ’77’s 13 runs scored.
This exhilarating, mind-bogglingly insane series was defined by two things: starting pitching and defense. Every single game was a legitimate pitchers’ duel, with only 23 total runs scored across the five games. In the opening two at Shea, Tom Seaver and Jon Matlack both fired complete games for the 1972 squad (a shutout for Seaver and a one-run performance for Matlack), outlasting Matt Harvey and Jon Niese. In G3, it was 2013’s turn, with rookie Zack Wheeler outdueling Jerry Koosman in a scoreless, eight-inning performance. Game 4 was an extra-inning marathon, which could have ended at multiple points if not for the phenomenal center field play of Juan Lagares and Tommie Agee, both of whom made spectacular catches (Lagares also made a pair of highlight-reel plays in Game 1. It finally ended in the way we’d all expect: with an Anthony Recker lead-off, walk-off home run in the bottom of the fourteenth which barely scraped over the left-field fence at Citi Field. In Game 5, Seaver and Harvey matched up once again, but this time the All-Star Game starter was up to the task, allowing two runs in 7.1 innings pitched while the franchise allowed three runs over eight innings pitched. It’s safe to say that the ’13 team advances to the next round with some of the most unexpected, unbridled momentum of the tournament — not just because they pulled off an upset, and not just because they won three straight after going down 2-0, but because of just how energizing those wins were.
1970 (7)vs 2012 (10) G1: 7-3, ’70 G2: 2-0, ’70 G3: 6-5, ’12 (f/10) G4: 5-3, ’12 G5: 4-3, ’70 Series MVP(s): Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman
You could say that the 1970 Mets won all three games while playing at Shea Stadium, but it would be more apt to say they won all three games while their two aces (and this round’s only co-MVPs) Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman were on the mound. Seaver twice outdueled 2012’s Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, throwing a complete game while allowing three runs in both Game 1 and Game 5. Kosoman, meanwhile, threw a five-hit, complete-game shutout in Game 2. When those two weren’t on the mound, ’12 was able to compete. They won Game 3 after being down 5-1 in the seventh, with a Josh Thole two-run single and Daniel Murphy two-run double tying the game before Scott Hairston dunked a two-out, walk-off single into right field in the tenth. David Wright hit a homer in Game 4 while rookie Matt Harvey and 22-year-old Jenrry Mejía shut down the ’70 offense. Wright seemed to have provided a series-defining moment when he hit a three-run, go-ahead homer off Seaver in a battle of franchise icons late in Game 5, but Bobby Parnell suffered a nightmarish meltdown in the bottom of the ninth, walking two batters and perhaps getting flustered by a Bud Harrelson bunt single. When Ken Boswell hit a two-run walk-off single to right field, the phenomenal five-game series came to an end. It’s also worth noting: Art Shamsky was inexplicably on fire, driving in nine of the ’70 team’s 21 runs while throwing out a runner at the plate.
1999(2)vs 1979 (15) G1: 11-7, ’99 G2: 12-11, ’79 G3: 16-1, ’99 G4: 12-5, ’99 Series MVP: Robin Ventura
You want offense? Boy, do I have the series for you. Let’s just take a minute to marvel at these numbers: the 1999 Mets scored 50 runs and got 61 hits over the course of four games. They spread it out remarkably evenly, too, scoring at least 11 runs in all four affairs, while getting contributions out of everyone from Mike Piazza (3 homers, 7 RBI) to Edgardo Alfonzo (.333 average) to Darryl Hamilton (an insane .533 average) to Robin Ventura, who hit 4 homers, racked up 10 RBI, and recorded a 1.200 OPS. How, you ask, did ’99 manage to lose a game under these circumstances? Believe it or not, the 1979 lineup gave them a run for their money in the early going, managing to outlast them in a see-saw Game 2. ’99 came back from being down 6-1 to take an 11-6 lead, but ’79 surged back to score six unanswered runs aided by a two-homer performance from third baseman Richie Hebner and capped by a go-ahead homer from John Stearns. ’99 looked in position to walk it off with runners at the corners and one out in the ninth, but Skip Lockwood struck out John Olerud looking and then induced a pop out from Mike Piazza to end the slugfest. Still, all’s well that ends well for the ’99 squad, which absolutely put the rest of the tournament on notice with its incredible offensive outpouring.
