For the second straight season, the New York Mets’ opening game at Citi Field has been postponed.
Opening Day at Citi Field was postponed to Friday afternoon in anticipation of inclement weather Thursday, the Mets announced. Fans holding tickets for Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers will be able to use them for Friday’s rescheduled matchup.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:40 p.m. Friday, with gates opening at 11:40 a.m. and parking lots open at 10:40 a.m.
Jose Quintana will start for the Mets against Freddy Peralta on Friday. The rest of the Mets’ rotation order: Luis Severino, Tylor Megill, Sean Manaea and Adrian Houser.
Kodai Senga, the Mets’ No. 1 pitcher, started throwing on Monday for the first time since it was revealed in late February that he had a moderate strain in the back of his shoulder. Senga played catch on Wednesday during a workout at Citi Field. He’s on an every-other-day schedule, manager Carlos Mendoza said.
The postponement gives the Mets some extra time to finalize their roster, which still includes a couple of questions in the bullpen. Right-handers Sean Reid-Foley, Yohan Ramirez and Michael Tonkin have competed for the final two spots.
On the position player side, things are set. Mendoza announced that outfielder/designated hitter DJ Stewart made the team. Previously, the Mets had been noncommittal toward Stewart, leaving the door open for an addition of some kind. They decided to go with Stewart, Mendoza said, because he’s a lefty bat with some power who can play left field, right field and, perhaps, first base, which is where he worked on the back fields in spring training at times.
The Mets will have to make a roster move within the next couple of weeks, whenever J.D. Martinez deems himself ready. Mendoza said Martinez has started to rack up at-bats in Port St. Lucie, where he will stay for “the next week or so.” Martinez faced Houser, who threw six innings in Florida. After 10 days, Mendoza said, the Mets will convene with Martinez to see if he needs more time.
Most of the conversation on Wednesday went beyond roster moves and centered on Mendoza’s emotions heading into his first game as a major-league manager. Now, he must wait 24 more hours. But he nonetheless expects the butterflies to persist — until the game starts.
“I remember when I was a player, when I was a coach, when I was a manager even in the minor leagues, Opening Day is a special day,” Mendoza said. “It means a lot. I am pretty sure I will feel those butterflies coming in here. And then, going through the ceremonies and things like that. But once the game starts, it’s business as usual. We’ll be ready. We’ll be prepared. But I am pretty sure there will be a lot of emotions.”
(Top photo of Citi Field in April 2021: Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
