VIERA, Fla. -- First, the Mets teased their fans with an intrasquad game -- fun, yes, but few of their regulars played and the competition was internal. Next was Thursday's Grapefruit League opener against the Nationals. Of the Mets' eight projected Opening Day regulars, only Michael Conforto made the trip for that one.
So expect a bit of added pomp and circumstance when the Mets return to Tradition Field for their Grapefruit League home opener Friday at 1:10 p.m. ET. Yoenis Cespedes, Neil Walker, Asdrubal Cabrera and Travis d'Arnaud are all expected to play. And with SNY broadcasting and MLB.TV delivering the feed worldwide, it will be the first chance for fans back home to catch live glimpses of the 2016 National League defending champions.
Watch Mets games live on MLB.TV
Every Mets home game this spring will be on MLB.TV, beginning with Friday's showdown against the Marlins. Logan Verrett is scheduled to start for the Mets opposite Justin Nicolino, all of it in front of a sellout crowd. But that's not even the main attraction. After all of Cespedes' car-driving, horse-riding antics earlier this spring, the Mets' most significant offseason signing will make his Grapefruit League debut at designated hitter.
As manager Terry Collins said earlier this week, "It's time to get ready for baseball."
SNY's award-winning broadcast team of Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling will have the call for those watching at home on MLB.TV.