New York Mets DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil is starting at the keystone and batting cleanup for the Mets on Opening Day on Thursday against Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta. McNeil isn't your typical cleanup hitter with mediocre power, but if he sticks in this position regularly against right-handed pitching, it will give him more opportunities for RBI with Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso hitting in front of him. It's a batting order for New York that probably won't last too long once veteran designated hitter J.D. Martinez gets up to speed after signing with the team late in spring training. The 31-year-old McNeil won a batting title in 2022 but disappointed last year and is still dealing with a partially torn UCL that he's playing through. Aside from a useful batting average, McNeil isn't a lock to help with much else.

New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder) did some throwing at Citi Field on Wednesday. Senga continues to work his way back from a moderate posterior capsule strain in his right shoulder and is expected to take six weeks to ramp back up, so fantasy managers can expect him to miss at least the first month and a half of the 2024 campaign. The 31-year-old was extremely impressive in his first year in the big leagues with the Mets in 2023, going 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA (3.63 FIP) and 1.22 WHIP with 77 walks and 202 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings over his 29 starts. While his shoulder injury this spring has dimmed his fantasy value for his sophomore season, Senga should be stashed in an injured list spot in all leagues.

The Miami Marlins placed right-hander Huascar Brazoban on the restricted list on Tuesday after he never reported to spring training due to visa issues. The move opens up a spot on Miami's 40-man roster. In his second major-league season with the Fish in 2023, Brazoban appeared in 50 games out of the bullpen and posted a 4.14 ERA (3.94 FIP) with a 1.43 WHIP, 31 walks and 65 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings pitched. The 34-year-old Dominican could still pitch at some point for the Marlins in 2024, but considering the fact he missed all of spring training, he'll have to start his season in the minor leagues and work his way back to the big-league bullpen.

New York Mets starting pitcher Luis Severino tossed five innings of one run ball versus the Washington Nationals in Grapefruit League action on Sunday. He also allowed four hits with one walk and four strikeouts. The 30-year-old signed a one-year contract with the Mets this offseason after being a New York Yankee for the entirety of his career. Severino had a rough go of it in 2023 with injuries and an ugly 6.65 ERA, but he has shown top tier stuff previously and owns a career 3.79 ERA. Severino has struggled with injuries as he hasn't made over 19 starts since 2018, but he has been mostly productive when on the mound. With an ADP of 298, Severino makes for an intriguing late-round target in deeper leagues. He is now 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in four starts this spring with 12 strikeouts in 14 innings.

New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty and infielder Zack Short have made the Opening Day roster, with designated hitter Mark Vientos and Ji Man Choi to start the year in the minor leagues. Especially with Vientos out of the picture in Queens to start the year, it's likely that Baty will receive everyday playing time for the Mets at the hot corner. The 24-year-old former first-round pick in 2019 has struggled so far in his first two major-league seasons, slashing .210/.272/.325 with 11 home runs and 39 RBI in 119 games and 431 trips to the plate. Much like Vientos, he has raked in the minors but hasn't been able to translate that success offensively to the majors. It means that Baty is going to need to perform in 2024 to avoid being put in a platoon situation at third base.