Mets' Brandon Nimmo: Could be limited to DH duties
Rotowire
Nimmo (knee) said Friday he should be available to serve as the Mets' designated hitter on Opening Day but may not be ready to play the outfield, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The outfielder had a delayed start to camp while finishing up his recovery from the plantar fasciitis that plagued him in 2024, and some soreness in his right knee cropped up in early March. Nimmo estimated that he's feeling about 80 percent healthy after returning to the lineup as a DH on Thursday, and his status is worth monitoring during the final stretch before Opening Day.
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Mets' Jose Butto: Managing groin issue
Rotowire
Butto has been sitting out due to a minor groin injury but is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander made four appearances in spring training prior to the injury and gave up a run on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks over 3.2 innings. Assuming Butto is able to avoid a setback, it doesn't appear the injury will affect his availability for Opening Day.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Garners Opening Day start
Rotowire
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday that Holmes will start Opening Day in Houston, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
He might not have been the choice if the Mets' rotation was fully healthy, but Holmes has earned the nod with a dominant spring that's seen him post a 13:4 K:BB over 9.2 scoreless innings. Holmes is making the move from bullpen to rotation this season after being used exclusively as a reliever since 2019.
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Mets' Dedniel Nunez: Spring debut set for Monday
Rotowire
Nunez (elbow) will make his Grapefruit League debut Monday against the Rays, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Nunez has been slow-played this spring following a flexor strain in the second half of last season, but he's progressed well, most recently completing a two-inning live batting practice session Thursday without issue. The Mets have not ruled Nunez out for Opening Day. Having Nunez available right out of the chute would be a lift for the Mets after the righty posted a 2.31 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 48:8 K:BB over 35 relief innings in 2024.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Might start at 2B with McNeil out
Rotowire
Baty could be the Mets' Opening Day second baseman with Jeff McNeil (oblique) likely to begin the season on the injured list, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Baty has never played an inning at second base at the major-league level, but he started 27 games at the keystone last season at Triple-A Syracuse and has played there often this spring, including on Thursday in the Mets' first game after the McNeil injury was announced. Luisangel Acuna is also in the running to fill in for McNeil at second base, but DiComo projects Baty to be the favorite to get the first shot there.
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Mets' Luisangel Acuna: Could help fill in for McNeil
Rotowire
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Thursday that Acuna is among the players who could step into larger roles in the infield with Jeff McNeil (oblique) expected to begin the season on the injured list, SNY.tv reports.
Mendoza also listed Brett Baty, Donovan Walton and Luis De Los Santos as candidates to help replace McNeil, though Walton and De Los Santos are attending spring training as non-roster invitees and may be less likely than Acuna and Baty to break camp with the big club. After getting a call-up from Triple-A Syracuse last September, Acuna exclusively filled in at shortstop for an injured Francisco Lindor and hit .308 with three home runs in 40 plate appearances to close out the regular season, but he made all seven of his postseason appearances at the keystone while McNeil was recovering from a fractured wrist. Acuna has dabbled at both middle-infield spots as well as third base during Grapefruit League play, but expect most of his reps to come at the keystone for the rest of the spring as he looks to solidify himself as the top option at the position until McNeil returns.
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Mets' Sean Manaea: Begins throwing progression
Rotowire
Manaea was cleared to play catch earlier this week after an MRI on his right oblique was negative, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
With his oblique strain healed, the left-hander has begun his throwing progression. Manaea will need several weeks to get fully stretched out, but he could be ready to make his season debut sometime in April.
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Mets' Jeff McNeil: Tweaks oblique, set to miss opener
Rotowire
Manager Carlos Mendoza announced Thursday that McNeil is recovering from a low-grade right oblique strain and will be out for 3-to-4 weeks, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
After missing time late last season with a wrist injury, McNeil reported to camp at full health and was poised to begin the 2025 season as the Mets' everyday second baseman until he presumably suffered the oblique strain earlier this week. Mendoza said that McNeil will be shut down from baseball activities for the next 7-to-10 days, and the 32-year-old will then need about two or three weeks to complete a hitting progression before being ready to make his season debut. With McNeil potentially headed for a stint on the 15-day injured list, Luisangel Acuna could be in line to open the season as the Mets' primary option at the keystone.
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Mets' Brandon Nimmo: Back in lineup at designated hitter
Rotowire
Nimmo (knee) will start at designated hitter and bat second in Thursday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Red Sox, Manny Gomez of NJ.com reports.
Nimmo will be making just his second start of the spring after he was initially held back early in camp because of a lingering plantar fasciitis issue in his left foot and more recently dealt with right knee soreness. He'll need to show he can play the outfield without the knee flaring up on him, but all signs point to Nimmo being ready to go for Opening Day.
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Mets' Tylor Megill: Sharp in Tuesday's outing
Rotowire
Megill gave up two hits and a walk over four scoreless innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros. He struck out five.
The 29-year-old right-hander was essentially gifted a rotation spot to begin the season when Sean Manaea (oblique) and Frankie Montas (lat) went down with injuries, but Megill has earned the assignment so far this spring with a 1.35 ERA and 7:2 K:BB over 6.2 innings. He's always had intriguing stuff, highlighted by a 27.0 percent strikeout rate over 78 regular-season innings in the majors last year, but to this point in his career a true breakout has eluded him.
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Mets' Blade Tidwell: Showed better velocity this spring
Rotowire
Tidwell topped out at 99 mph with his fastball in big-league camp this spring, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
The 23-year-old right-hander saw his control desert him at Triple-A last season as he issued an ugly 53 walks in 85 innings, but Tidwell reported to spring training in better shape and made a strong impression with both improved command and improved velocity. If those results hold up at Triple-A Syracuse to begin the 2025 campaign, Tidwell could be among the first pitchers called up when the Mets' rotation is in need of reinforcements.
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Mets' A.J. Minter: Cleared for spring debut
Rotowire
Minter (hip) will make his Grapefruit League in Wednesday's game versus the Cardinals, Manny Gomez of NJ.com reports.
Minter will be in line for his first game action since he underwent hip surgery last August. He has just over two weeks to ramp up for Opening Day, but since he'll be deployed as a one-inning reliever, he'll likely need only a handful of appearances in spring training to get himself ready. He's projected to help set up for closer Edwin Diaz in the Mets bullpen this season.
Canning gave up only one hit over 3.2 scoreless innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. He struck out five without walking a batter.
The right-hander built up to 55 pitches (37 strikes), and Canning is all but locked into the Opening Day rotation with both Sean Manaea (oblique) and Frankie Montas (lat) set to begin the season on the IL. Canning flashed quality stuff at times during his tenure with the Angels but was never able to put it all together, with injuries and inconsistency both playing roles in his struggles. He's looked good so far in camp for the Mets however, posting a 0.00 ERA and 7:1 K:BB in 5.1 innings.
