Juan Soto can expect a warm reaction to Citi Field when he finally plays his first home game as a member of the New York Mets.
But the biggest cheers may be reserved for Pete Alonso – a familiar face, but one whose return to New York was anything but certain throughout the season.
Alonso will look to build an impressive season opening road trip when he and Mets host the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game Interleague series Friday.
Tylor Megill (1-0, 1.80 era) is planned to start for mets against Kevin Gausman (1-0, 3.00 era) in a battle at right hand.
Both teams were on Thursday after serving victories on Wednesday. Mets took the rubber game in a three-game series with a 6-5, 11-inning victory over Miami Marlins. Values Blue Jays beat the Washington National 4-2 to complete a three-game-sweep.
In Miami, Alonso 3-for-4 ended with four RBIs and met the game-binding three-run Homer in the eighth round before he went and got Mets second and decisive driving in the 11th round.
Alonso ended the road and met .286 with two homers, eight RBI and a 1,090 ops. Afterwards, he admitted that he was looking forward to being introduced to Citi Field, where he has been a popular presence since he met a rookie record 53 Homers 2019.
“It’s going to be so amazing,” Alonso said. “All guys live for the little moments like it, so it will be really special. Stoked to be back.”
It was not always guaranteed that Alonso would be back. Owner Steve Cohen said that January 25 that the Alonso contract was “worse” than those between Mets and Soto, which signed a 15-year-old, $ 765 million agreement on December 11.
But Alonso, whose 228 Homers leave him 24 round triplers shy for Darryl Strawberry’s Franchise record, and Mets finally agreed on Terms February 12. He signed a two-year agreement worth $ 54 million with an opt-out after this season.
Alonso has spent the first six games that beat Soto, which beats .238 with a Homer, two RBI and a .407 base percentage thanks to six walks in 27 album appearance.
Potential contract snafus is nothing new for Blue Jays, who successfully tried to sign the imminent free agent Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to an extension during the winter. Guerrero struck second in the first seven games behind Bo Bichete, who is also planned to meet free agency after this season.
But even with Guerrero to a slow start (.222, Inga Homers, .624 Ops), Blue Jays offered a glimpse on their offensive potential while walking 5-2 and met an American league champion .288 during a season opening of homeland. The new decontamination Hitter Andres Gimenez laced three homers while Bichete and George Springer hit a combined .360 with eight RBI in 50 bats.
Toronto surpassed the National and Baltimore Orioles 17-8 as he won the last four games in the home.
“(A) 5-2 Homestand is fantastic and to sweep anyone is really hard to do,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “… I love how they went to it.”
Megill and Gausman each got the victory in their seasonal debut on March 28. Megill allowed a run over five rounds when Mets beat Houston Astros 3-1 while Gausman gave up two runs over six rounds in Blue Jays’ 8-2 victory over Orioles.
Megill is 1-0 with a 0.52 era in 17 1/3 rounds over three career starts against Blue Jays. Gausman is 1-3 with a 5.16 era in 22 2/3 rounds over five matches (four starts) against Mets.
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