MIAMI – A battle of Cy Young award winners on Opening Day turned into a bullpen shootout the Mets were better equipped to win.
Neither Max Scherzer nor Sandy Alcantara was his sharpest Thursday, but the difference was the Mets had Drew Smith, Brooks Raley and David Robertson behind him and the Marlins did not.
In the first test for an Edwin Diaz-less bullpen, the Mets received three scoreless innings from their relievers in a 5-3 victory over the Marlins before 31,397 at loanDepot park.
Robertson, in his debut for his new team, got the final three outs for the save, allowing the Mets to extend their MLB-best record on Opening Day to 41-21 (.661).
The performance was a boost after the Mets learned co-ace Justin Verlander would begin the season in the injured list with a low-grade strain of the teres major – a muscle located near the armpit.
Tylor Megill was moved into Verlander’s rotation spot on Saturday and for the home opener next Thursday.
Mets’ Brandon Nimmo, bottom left, collides with Miami Marlins third baseman Jean Segura, top, as he is safe at third on a single hit by Starling Marte.AP
Max Scherzer pitches for the Mets against the Marlins on March 30, 2023.AP
Eduardo Escobar (l.) and Omar Narvaez (r.) celebrate during the Mets’ win.Getty Images Brandon Nimmo put the Mets ahead 5-3 in the seventh with a two-run double that gave him three RBIs in the game.
After Eduardo Escobar had singled and Omar Narvaez walked, Nimmo hit a shot to right-center against Tanner Scott that skipped past Jazz Chisholm Jr. and allowed both runners to score.
