Mets Projected Opening-Day Lineup Gambles On Unproven Talent

The New York Mets may be relying on several players that don't have much of a track record on opening day.

The New York Mets have a lineup that could be divided into two parts — proven and unproven.

At least that’s how MLB.com sees the Mets’ opening-day starting lineup when the Mets open the season on March 28 against Milwaukee at Citi Field.

That unproven part of the order starts at the sixth spot, where the site projects Brett Baty would play third base. Baty played his first full season in 2023 and batted just .212.

After him is catcher Francisco Alvarez, who was a rookie last season and while he batted .209 he also hit 25 home runs. If he improves his average his power numbers are likely to go up.

Mark Vientos would bat eighth and be the designated hitter. Vientos batted .211 in 65 games last season and hit nine home runs.

In the ninth spot was center fielder Harrison Bader, a player the Mets signed in free agency. Bader has more experience than Baty, Alvarez and Vientos but has much to prove after batting .232 last season for the New York Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds.

The top half of the projected opening-day lineup has a track record of production.

Left fielder Brandon Nimmo leads off, followed by shortstop and Silver Slugger Francisco Lindor. Impending free-agent first baseman and primary power source Pete Alonso bats third, followed by second baseman Jeff McNeil and right fielder Starling Marte.

The Mets, led by new president of baseball operations David Stearns, have worked hard to upgrade the overall pitching situation this offseason. But Rookie of the Year finalist Kodai Senga is the projected opening-day starting pitcher.

The only other holdover Mets pitcher to make the projected rotation would be José Quintana.

From there, three of Stearns’ acquisition would make the rotation — Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Adrian Houser. The Mets have plenty of other potential rotation candidates left over from a year ago, as well.