WEST PALM STRAND, Fla. As a former All-Star coming off a disappointing season hampered by health issues, Dellin Betances is perhaps the most concerned Mets reliever in the camp.
The right-hander struggled in his Grapefruit League debut last week, but showed improvement on Monday when he allowed an undeserved run in the fourth innings of the Mets’ 9-5 display for the Nationals.
“I felt like I was mostly attacking the strike today,” Betances said. do and make my stands more consistent. ”
Betances allowed a double-double to Starlin Castro before Alex Avilia hit a runner-up in the innings that should have been third. But JD Davis threw it away so the run could score.
This past spring, Betances returned from a torn Achilles and may not have been ready if the season started in time. He missed most of September after straining a bar.
“I like his stuff better than last season,” said a league talent evaluator. “I think his speed will increase on the opening day.”
According to Carlos Rorasco, Carlos Carrasco hosted a simulated game in Port St. Lucie thrown in and set up for the first time in an exhibition match this week, or early next week. The Mets will send Taijuan Walker up the hill on Tuesday for his first exhibit, and Jacob deGrom is on the schedule for Thursday after an empty day.
Dominic Smith starts at first base, and this is the first time he has played a position this spring, as Rojas wants to gradually increase his activity. Rojas indicated that most of Smith’s actions will take place this spring in the left field, which is the most important position in the absence of a universal DH.
Thrower Jordan Yamamoto mishandled Juan Soto’s base in the first innings for a foul, which resulted in the two (undeserved) runs scored against him for the day. The right hand struck three innings and allowed three strokes and one run. Yamamoto competes for fifth place in the Mets rotation, including David Peterson and Jonathan Lucchesi.