Mayor de Blasio to throw out first pitch in opener

MONTREAL -- New York City mayor Bill de Blasio will throw out the first pitch Monday during Opening Day ceremonies at Citi Field, the Mets announced.

de Blasio will be accompanied by six children from the East Harlem Tutorial Program who were affected by a recent building collapse in that community. Founded in 1958, the tutorial program runs public charter schools and after-school programs for children in East Harlem.

The Mets also announced that they will celebrate the life and legacy of late broadcaster Ralph Kiner during an on-field pregame ceremony, which will include a video tribute and the unveiling of a Kiner commemorative logo above the left-field wall. Kiner's children, Michael, K.C., Tracee and Kimberlee, will participate.

The Whiptones, a doo-wop a cappella group from Hanover Township, N.J., will perform the national anthem after winning the Mets' Anthem Search competition over the winter. Terence Archie, who stars as Apollo Creed in the Broadway production of "Rocky," will sing "God Bless America" before the seventh-inning stretch.

A select number of standing-room tickets are still available for the 1:10 p.m. ET game against the Nationals. They cost $35 and are available at Mets.com/tickets, (718) 507-TIXX and the Citi Field ticket windows. The Mets expect a sellout and are encouraging fans to take mass transit to the game.