Mets Beat Pirates 11-7 on Opening Day Powered By Benge and Alvarez Homers and Knock Paul Skenes Out of First

 

Mets DH Brett Baty (Photo Credits to Brad Penner-Imagn Images)

The New York Mets beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-7 this afternoon at Citi Field on Opening Day and improved their record to 1-0.

The Mets offense got off to a fast start in the bottom of the first against Pirates ace RHP Paul Skenes after SS Francisco Lindor led off with a walk and and then LF Juan Soto followed with a single to advance Lindor to third.

3B Bo Bichette then drove in Lindor with a sacrifice fly and 1B Jorge Polanco followed with an infield hit.

CF Luis Robert Jr followed with a walk to load the bases and then DH Brett Baty delivered with a bases clearing triple. 2B Marcus Semian followed with a RBI double.

The offense was held scoreless for the first next two innings until the bottom of the fourth after Lindor led off with a walk and Soto followed with a walk. Three batters later, CF Luis Robert Jr drove in Lindor with a RBI single.

In the bottom of the fifth, LF Carson Benge walked with one out and then catcher Francisco Alvarez followed with a single. Lindor followed with a single to load the bases and Soto drove in Benge with a RBI single.

Two batters later, Polanco drove in Alvarez with a based loaded walk and then Robert Jr reached on an infield hit to score Lindor.

In the bottom of the sixth, Benge hit a solo homer for his first career homer and then Alvarez followed with a homer for back-to-back homers.

RHP Freddy Peralta got off to a tough start in his Met debut in the top of the first after he gave up a two-run homer to  2B Brandon Lowe. 

Perelta had a scoreless top of the second and then gave up a solo homer to Lowe in the top of the third.  Peralta had a scoreless top of the fourth and gave up a RBI double to catcher Henry Davis in the top of the fifth and then Peralta was taken out after the inning.

Peralta's final line was 5 innings,  six hits, four runs, 0 walks and seven strikeouts. He picked up his first win.

RHP Tobias Myers made his Met debut in the top of the sixth and gave up a RF Ryan O'Hearn.

Myers stayed in the game and threw two scoreless innings in the top of the seventh and eighth.

Myers's final line was three innings, one hit, one run, 0 walks and one strikeout.

RHP Rico Garcia came on in the top of the ninth and gave up a two-run double to 3B Nick Gonzales, but was able to pick up the last three outs to close out the game.

The Mets are off tomorrow and return back to action on Saturday, March 28 at home against the Pirates at 4:10 p.m.

Game 1: Mets vs. Pirates Starting Lineup and Pitching Match-Up

 Mets Starting Lineup:

1. Francisco Lindor-SS

2. Juan Soto-LF

3. Bo Bichette-3B

4. Jorge Polanco-1B

5. Luis Robert Jr-CF

6. Brett Baty-DH

7. Marcus Semian-2B

8. Carson Benge-CF

9. Francisco Alvarez-C

The pitching match-up is RHP Freddy Peralta vs. RHP Paul Skenes 

Mets Finalize 2026 Opening Day Roster

 The New York Mets have finalized their 2026 Opening Day Roster:

Catchers:

1. Francisco Alvarez

2. Luis Torrens

Infielders:

1. Jorge Polanco

2. Marcus Semien

3. Francisco Lindor

4. Bo Bichette

5. Brett Baty

6. Mark Vientos

Outfielders:

1.  Juan Soto

2. Luis Robert Jr.

3. Carson Benge

4. Tyrone Taylor

5. Jared Young

Starting Pitching:

1. Freddy Peralta

2. Nolan McLean

3. Kodai Senga

4. Clay Holmes

5. David Peterson 

6. Sean Manaea

Bullpen:

1. Devin Williams

2. Luke Weaver

3. Tobias Myers

4. Huascar Brazoban

5. Luis Garcia

6. Brooks Raley

7. Richard Lovelady

Mets Acquire Brewers Starting Pitcher Freddy Peralta and RHP Tobias Myers

 

Brewers (Photo Credits to Vincent Carchietta-USA Today Sports)

The New York Mets acquired RHP Freddy Peralta and RHP Tobias Myers for prospects Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams.

Peralta is coming off an All-Star season in 2025 with a 2.70 ERA in 33 starts and led the National League in wins with 17.

He was also named to the NL All-Star team in 2021. 

Peralta has a lifetime record of 70-42 with a 3.59 ERA. He is in the last year of his contract before he becomes a free agent.

His repertoire includes a fastball in the mid 90's, change-up, curveball and one of the game's best sliders.

Myers is a starter and reliever "swingman" He has 31 career starts and 18 relief appearances and a career ERA of 3.15. Myers has five years of team control and will serve out of both the bullpen and rotation.

With the acquisition of Peralta, the Mets now have a legitimate ace at the top of the starting rotation that they have desperately needed along with Nolan McLean. 

Their rotation now features more depth with Peralta and McLean as well as LHP Sean Manaea, RHP Kodai Senga, LHP David Peterson, RHP Clay Holmes as well as prospects RHP Jonah Tong and RHP Christian Scott.

Mets Acquire White Sox Centerfielder Luis Robert Jr

 

Mets CF Luis Robert Jr (Photo Credits to Colin Hubbard-AP)

The New York Mets acquired Chicago White Sox CF Luis Robert Jr for infielder Luisangel Acuna and pitching prospect Truman Pauley.

He is owed $20 million for this season and has a $20 million club option for next year.

Robert Jr had a hamstring injury this past season, but finished up strong in the second half with six homers, 11 SB, 21 RBI and a .840 OPS over the final two months.

Two years ago, he had an outstanding season with 38 homers and a .857 OPS and finished 12th in AL MVP voting.

Robert Jr has shown flashes in his careers and that when he stays healthy, he is an excellent fielder who can steal bases and hit for power.

Hopefully he will benefit from a change of scenery and have the kind of production this year that he had in 2024 and hold down centerfield while outfield prospects Carson Benge and Jett Williams await their turn to be called up to the major leagues.

Mets Sign Infielder Bo Bichette To Three-Year Deal

 

Blue Jays Infielder Bo Bichette (Photo Credits to Roberto Carlo)

The New York Mets signed infielder Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million today. The deal is pending a physical and will have two opt-outs. 

Bichette has a lifetime batting average of .294 in his seven years with the Toronto Blue Jays along with 190 doubles, eight triples, 111 home runs, 437 RBIs and 438 runs scored and 21 stolen bases.

He is a two-time  All-Star and has lead the American League in hits twice.

Last year, he hit .311 second in the American League with 181 hits, which was also second in the American League. Bichette had 521 at-bats, was ranked 13th in slugging percentage with .483, 12th in RBI with 94, second in the league with doubles with 44, and tenth in on-base percentage with .357.

Bichette is the third infielder that the Mets have picked up this offseason along with Marcus Semian who was traded for Brandon Nimmo and Jorge Polanco to a two-year $40 million deal.

Bichette brings professionalism and has proven to be a clutch hitter who gets on base.

Mets Sign Reliever Luke Weaver

 

Yankees RHP Luke Weaver (Photo Credits to Jason Szenes-NY Post)

The New York Mets signed RHP Luke Weaver to a two-year $22 million contract. Weaver is coming off another solid year with the Yankees in the bullpen and had a 3.62 ERA, eight saves, 1.02 WHIP and 72 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings. 

In 2024, Weaver was moved to the bullpen with the Yankees and thrived with a 2.89 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 84 innings allowing 52 hits and 28 walks.

Prior to the Yankees, Weaver struggled as a starter with the Reds and Mariners in 2023 before the Yankees claimed him off waivers.

With the signing of Weaver, the Mets bullpen has gotten that much stronger after the signing of RHP Devin Williams and Brooks Raley and AJ Minter from the left side along with veteran reliever RHP Huascar Brazoban.