The last time that the Mets were on the diamond at Citi Field, they were taking the Dodgers to the brink in the National League Championship Series.
Despite the Mets being eliminated in Game 6 in Los Angeles, last season's final home game represented a shift in belief for the fan base. The team was on the precipice of its first World Series trip since 2015 after coalescing a new sense of belief.
The Mets' home opener on Friday afternoon against the Blue Jays is a continuation of that sense of hope. Now, the team brings superstar outfielder Juan Soto back to Flushing, alongside the return of Pete Alonso following an unsettled free agency.
"Can't wait to get home Friday," manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters on Wednesday. "First time there, home opener, I'm expecting a packed house, electric, loud, and yeah, we're ready to go."
It is the first chance for New York's fans to show off their enthusiasm for the club's forward momentum. And it comes on the heels of a dramatic 6-5 extra-inning win over the Marlins on Wednesday afternoon.
Here is everything you need to know heading into the Mets' home opener on Friday:
When is the Mets' home opener?
Date: Friday, April 4
Time: 3:10 p.m.
What channel is Mets vs Blue Jays game on Friday?
The game will be broadcast on SNY.
Mets vs Blue Jays pitching probables
Tylor Megill (1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Kevin Gausman (1-0, 3.00)
Outlook: Megill came out strong in his first start of the season against the Astros one week ago, allowing one earned run on three hits and one walk in five innings to score the Mets' first win of the season.
He narrowed his repertoire, leading with his four-seam fastball, slider and sinker, and focused on trusting his stuff, pitching to contact and filling the strike zone. That shift will be important against a Blue Jays unit, led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.
In his first action, Gausman allowed two earned runs across six innings while picking up four strikeouts in a win over the Orioles. The veteran right-hander matched his career high with 14 wins a season ago, but his 3.83 ERA was his highest since 2019. He finished third in AL Cy Young voting in 2023 when he struck out 237 batters in 185 innings.
Mets' projected lineup for home opener vs Blue Jays
- Francisco Lindor SS
- Juan Soto RF
- Pete Alonso 1B
- Brandon Nimmo LF
- Mark Vientos 3B
- Jesse Winker DH
- Luis Torrens C
- Brett Baty 2B
- Tyrone Taylor CF
Outlook: Francisco Lindor, who missed ...
