Game Thread: Mets (ss) vs. Nats in West Palm Beach
The Nationals host the Mets in their Grapefruit League finale, with Opening Day starter Cade Cavalli on the mound
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – We have arrived at the final day of spring training. Or, at least, the Florida portion of it. The Nationals have already packed their bags and will be flying north following today’s Grapefruit League finale against a Mets split-squad team. Then it’s back-to-back exhibitions with the Orioles (Sunday in Baltimore, Monday in D.C.) before the season officially begins Thursday in Chicago.
Cade Cavalli, of course, is the Opening Day starter. And since that takes place five days from today, Cavalli will be taking the mound this afternoon for his final tune-up. It’s been a very good spring for the right-hander, who has both looked healthy and enjoyed excellent results: nine innings, one hit, one unearned run, two walks, nine strikeouts. As far as today’s start goes, it’s all about building up his pitch count and making sure his body feels fine afterward so he can pitch for real in five days.
The lineup has a combination of regulars, backups and minor leaguers. Nasim Nuñez, who very likely could start at second base in the opener, gets a chance to lead off. Keibert Ruiz, who will most likely be the Opening Day catcher, is behind the plate working with Cavalli. Luis García Jr., who manager Blake Butera confirmed today is going to play both first and second base this season, is at first this afternoon. Two daily call-ups from minor-league camp (Seaver King, Sam Peterson) are also in the lineup for today’s finale.
NEW YORK METS (ss) vs. WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: None
Radio: None
Weather: Partly cloudy, 77 degrees, wind 11 mph in from center
METS (ss)
RF Carson Benge
1B Mark Vientos
DH Jared Young
C Luis Torrens
LF Tyrone Taylor
2B Vidal Bruján
3B Jacob Reimer
CF Cristian Pache
SS Yonny Hernández
Pitcher TBA
NATIONALS
2B Nasim Nuñez
3B José Tena
C Keibert Ruiz
1B Luis García Jr.
DH Andrés Chaparro
CF Joey Wiemer
RF Christian Franklin
SS Seaver King
LF Sam Peterson
RHP Cade Cavalli
And that's a wrap for Cavalli's spring. He faced one jam today (second and third, nobody out) and managed to escape unscathed in part thanks to a nice play by Nasim Nunez to start a 4-2-5 rundown play. Cavalli went five scoreless on 71 pitches. His final spring numbers: 14 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K. That's really good. Next up: Opening Day at Wrigley.
So far, so good for Cavalli. He's through three scoreless on only 37 pitches. His fastball is averaging 96.2 mph, and he's thrown six different types of pitches already.