The Mets defeated the Marlins 5-3 on Thursday to win yet another Opening Day game, powering them to 41-21 all-time on Opening Day, easily the best in the majors since the Mets joined the league. Brandon Nimmo had 3 RBI out of the leadoff spot, including a go-ahead two-run double after Scherzer allowed a game-tying home run in the sixth. Marte and McNeil also added two hits of their own.
Max Scherzer dominated through the first five but allowed three in the 6th, including Garrett Cooper’s game-tying shot. The Mets pen carried them from then on with three scoreless innings, retiring the last nine Marlins of the game after a double in the 7th. Without Diaz, the Mets bullpen looks very different, but the trio of Drew Smith, Brooks Raley, and David Robertson held down the Miami offense, showing three of Showalter’s top four relievers. They also proved that even without Edwin Diaz, they are capable of holding down games.
Around the rest of the NL East, the Braves defeated the Nationals, and the Phillies lost to the Rangers. In Atlanta, though they won, they lost Max Fried to a hamstring injury, a crushing blow to the reigning division champs rotation. The Phillies got off to a hot start against Jacob deGrom, knocking him out in the fourth inning after five runs were already scored. Philadelphia’s ace, however, allowed the lead right back as Aaron Nola, Gregory Soto, and Connor Brogdon allowed nine runs in the bottom of the fourth and fell 11-7 on Opening Day.
