As the warm weather begins, the 2024 MLB season is upon us. This Friday will officially mark opening day 2024 in Queens, NY and will feature the two clubs that were connected through the offseason: the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Mets. Especially since the Mets had hired president of baseball operations David Stearns from Milwaukee during the offseason, this should be a good opening day test for both powerful forces.
The Brewers look to continue their success on the diamond as they won the NL Central for the second time in three years in 2023, though they were swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Wild Card Series. The Mets look to flip the script this year, with a devastating and surprising end to their season last year. They finished the 2023 season with a 75-87 record and sold at the trade deadline despite running the highest payroll in baseball.
The Mets are prioritizing development after last season’s disappointing finish. They are coming back with a lot of the same batters, changing up a few pitchers in the lineup after they had traded away 2 three-time Cy Young award winners in Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, as well as relief pitcher David Robertson. The Mets look forward to having Edwin Díaz back on the mound after a season ending injury he suffered on March 15, 2023, celebrating the World Baseball Classic championship win over Dominican Republic.
The Mets have also signed star Boston Red Sox left fielder and designated hitter J.D. Martinez to a 1-year, $12 million contract. The Mets have decided to begin Martinez’s New York career in the minor league with minor league at-bats. The storyline on the minor league start was decided by the Mets organization to allow J.D. enough preparation to be a starting batter in the Mets lineup. Alongside uprising star Francisco Alvarez, Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Brett Baty, Brandom Nimmo, and Jeff Mcneil who are all players who have made a difference for New York. Especially Alonso who is a three-time home run derby champ.
The powerful Mets lineup is led by center fielder, Brandon Nimmo when playing against the Brewers, as he always seems to shine. Nimmo led the Mets in hitting in 2023, with 68 RBI’s, 24 home runs, six triples, 30 doubles, and a .274 batting average. In seven games against the Brewers last season, he battled .280 with three home runs and four RBI hits. In 31 career games against Milwaukee, he has hit .324 with five homers, seven doubles, and 19 runs scored. However, for Milwaukee, they had signed top prospect Jackson Chourio to an eight-year $82 million extension this past offseason even though he has never got his time in an MLB game yet but looks to shine in one this season. The Brewers also added a veteran presence in former Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins who looks to get on base this season for the Brewers.
