Mets manager Carlos Mendoza shared both good.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza shared both. Spring training is more about honing swings, extending arms, and determining who is prepared to contribute when the real games start than it is about victories and losses. Nevertheless, the New York Mets left Monday with a mixed bag, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 and defeating the Miami Marlins 6-5 as they split their roster for two games.
The spotlight wasn’t on the usual stars against the Marlins, but Paul Blackburn and Alexander Canario gave the Mets reasons to celebrate.
Blackburn Keeps Rotation Hopes Alive
Securing a spot in the starting rotation means making every game count, and Paul Blackburn pitched with that mindset on Monday, fully aware of what’s at stake.
The seasoned right-hander recorded six strikeouts in four innings while giving up two runs, coming close to matching Griffin Canning’s nine-strikeout masterpiece from the last split-squad game.
For Blackburn, it has been a tale of two springs. His recent results speak for themselves, but his early March outings ballooned his ERA to an ugly 5.68. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza shared both good.
He has pitched eight innings and allowed only two runs in his last two appearances. Similar to a poor first impression at a party, a difficult start to spring training is not ideal, but if you persist and demonstrate your abilities, people begin to forget about it. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza shared both good.
Canario Delivers the Final Blow
In addition to hitting a home run, Alexander Canario struck the Marlins with a gut punch at the ideal moment. In the ninth inning, with the Mets leading 4-2, he hit a two-run home run that appeared to end the game. That insurance turned out to be vital since Miami almost turned the tide of the game with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning.
Paul Blackburn's final line this afternoon against the Marlins pic.twitter.com/GaHrJpeqXZ
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 17, 2025
Canario, who also walked three times, needed this kind of moment. Even while his Grapefruit League stats aren’t very impressive—he’s only hitting.154/.313/.308—a timely home run like that makes everyone realize why he’s in camp. Canario offers an abundance of power plays.
Take a Backseat to Stars
The big hitters for the Mets didn’t exactly have a stellar day. Despite working three walks and driving in a run, Starling Marte, Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and Mark Vientos went 0-for-9 as a team.
The problem with spring training is that, once your position in the lineup is set, one poor performance doesn’t really matter. When Opening Day arrives, no one is concerned about this group’s output; on the contrary, it serves as a helpful reminder that even All-Stars have bad days.
