Mets Morning News: Sunday Not-So-Funday

Meet the Mets

Sundays were not kind to the Mets last season, and this first Sunday of the 2018 season was more of the same. Steven Matz struggled to find the plate in a short outing and the bullpen followed suit and was not very effective. The offense, which clicked in the first two games, sputtered all afternoon and the Mets failed to get the sweep of the Cardinals. Hopefully this is just an early season hiccup and not a portent of things to come for the Sundays that follow.

Choose your recap: Amazin Avenue short and long, Bergen Record, Daily News, Faith and Fear in Flushing, MLB.com, Newsday, Post

Steven Matz made his season debut and unfortunately it did not go well since he was continuously behind hitters all afternoon. His manager saw a lack of confidence from his lefty but Matz can still turn it around now that he is healthy.

A sad trombone of a Sunday afternoon was made a little more palatable since the Mets had already won the series with promising performances out of their two aces.

Juan Lagares was a late addition to the lineup when Brandon Nimmo had to be scratched with flu-like symptoms, and he made the most out of his start.

Playing time for both Lagares and Nimmo could be significantly cut back in the near future when Michael Conforto makes his return.

Conforto is heading north and if all goes well he could return to the lineup this week when he is eligible to come off the disabled list.

Anthony Swarzak will undergo a MRI on his oblique after being evaluated yesterday.

Around the National League East

The Marlins surprisingly split their series against the Cubs with a 6-0 win on Sunday.

The Phillies will receive a warning from Major League Baseball stemming from their pitching change fiasco on Saturday. For better or worse, their new manager certainly comes from a different breed of managers that have been in charge in the past.

The Nationals started their season with a sweep of the Reds.

Around Major League Baseball

Shohei Ohtani made his pitching debut and was impressive in his first start with the Angels.

The Diamondbacks waived Yasmany Tomas despite the slugger still being owed $42.5 million.

The Yankees’ vaunted bullpen has looked mortal for its new manager.

The Pirates won both games of a doubleheader against the Tigers and are now 3-0 to start the season.

Dee Gordon seems to be settling in with both a new team and a new position as he dazzled in the Mariners’ win over the Indians.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Chris McShane previewed Steven Matz’s start.

Vasilis Drimalitis wrote about Conforto’s progress.

This Date in Mets History

Davey Johnson made his managerial debut with a 8-1 loss to the Reds on this date in 1984.