New York Mets DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil (oblique) suffered a low-grade oblique strain and will not participate in baseball activities for the next 7-to-10 days. In addition, manager Carlos Mendoza noted that McNeil could be sidelined for 3-to-4 weeks. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status but given this report, he will likely miss the start of the season. He may also be placed on the injured list if he were to miss several weeks of action. Last season, McNeil held a .238/.308/.384 line across 129 games. He tallied 26 doubles and swiped five bags. The 32-year-old won the NL batting title in 2022 with a .326 AVG. As a result, fantasy managers should expect Luisangel Acuna to likely operate as the team's starting second baseman at the start of the regular season. Donovan Wilson and Brett Baty could also be in the mix for opportunities.

New New York Mets relief pitcher Dedniel Nunez (forearm) faced live hitters in camp on Monday for the first time this spring. The 28-year-old missed most of the second half of last season with a strained right flexor tendon but had been superb before the injury. Combined with already having had Tommy John surgery in his career, the Mets are taking it slow with Nunez, but they still feel there's a chance he's ready for Opening Day. Last season, the righty posted a 2.31 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and an elite 29.6 percent K-BB% in 35 innings of work. Fantasy managers in need of strikeouts and an ERA-lowering arm could give the Dominican some consideration when he's confirmed to be ready, but with Edwin Diaz locked in for now as the Mets' closer, there isn't much fantasy value here in most leagues.

New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (knee) resumed baseball activities on Monday, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. The manager noted that Nimmo could return to action "pretty soon." Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status but it appears Nimmo is nearing a return to the Grapefruit League. The 31-year-old has dealt with soreness in his knee which has kept him sidelined for the time being. Nimmo has also had a lingering plantar fasciitis issue in his left foot. Last season, Nimmo held a .224/.327/.399 slash line with 23 home runs and 15 stolen bases. He generated a strong .335 xwOBA and drew walks at a high 11.6 percent rate. When he is cleared to return, fantasy managers should expect Nimmo to bat behind Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor, which should provide him with elite RBI opportunities.

New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (knee) is serving as the designated hitter and batting sixth on Monday in the Grapefruit League game against the St. Louis Cardinals. It is the spring training debut for the aging Marte, who hadn't played until this point due to soreness in his right knee. If the 36-year-old can avoid setbacks and also return to action on defense in right field, he should be able to avoid starting the 2025 regular season on the injured list. Still, it's a reminder to fantasy managers that Marte is an extreme injury risk in the twilight of his career and can't be counted on as a speed threat anymore. To preserve his health, the Mets are expected to give Marte plenty of built in rest days, which means he won't be a regular anymore after the team signed superstar outfielder Juan Soto this offseason as the everyday right fielder. Expect a short-side platoon for Marte with Jesse Winker in center field.UPDATE: Marte was happy with how his knee felt on Monday in his spring debut and didn't have trouble running to second on a double he hit in the second inning.

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (hand) will be sidelined six-to-eight weeks due to a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. He is set to undergo surgery on Monday. The 23-year-old has been participating in spring training and was slated to be the team's primary backstop in 2025. Last summer, Alvarez missed a significant portion of the season due to a torn UCL in his left thumb. The young backstop could now be facing his second extended absence in consecutive seasons. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status as he will likely miss all of April and potentially part of May. Across 100 contests last season, the 23-year-old posted a .237/.307/.403 with 11 home runs. However, during the 2023 season, Alvarez flashed high power upside as he went deep 23 times and added 12 doubles across 123 contests. While Alvarez is sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Luis Torrens to move to the top of the depth chart with Jakson Reetz serving as the No. 2 option.