Spring Training Game Chat: Marlins vs Mets, 6:10 PM

Monday, March 9, 2026 • 6:10 PM
Clover Park • Port St. Lucie, FL
RHP Tyler Phillips (1-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Zach Thornton (0-0, -.–)
SNY • MLBN

The Mets play their first night game at home tonight in St. Lucie! The Mets (and their opponents) have radically increased the number of night games played in spring training over the last two years. What used to be a rare phenomenon will happen a total of seven times this spring.

Brandon Waddell was supposed to start tonight, but has been sidelined with a shoulder issue. He pitched 31 1/3 innings for the Mets in 2025, spread over 11 games with a 118 ERA+. Zach Thornton, the Mets’ fifth-round pick in 2023, will get the start instead.

Mets Lineup

1. Mike Tauchman, CF
2. Luis Torrens, C
3. Carson Benge, RF
4. Tyrone Taylor, LF
5. Ronny Mauricio, SS
6. Ryan Clifford, 1B
7. Christian Arroyo, 3B
8. Vidal Bruján, 2B
9. Hayden Senger, DH

Starting Pitcher: Zach Thornton

Opposing Lineup

1. Xavier Edwards, DH
2. Connor Norby, 3B
3. Christopher Morel, 1B
4. Heriberto Hernández, LF
5. Maximo Acosta, SS
6. Kemp Alderman, RF
7. Daniel Johnson, CF
8. Brian Navarreto, C
9. Andrew Pintar, DH

Starting Pitching: Tyler Phillips

Game Notes

Before Monday’s game, the Mets optioned OF Nick Morabito and RHP Jonathan Pintaro to Triple-A Syracuse. RHP Jack Wenninger was also reassigned to minor league camp. The team’s spring training big league roster now stands at 64 players.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Zach Thornton. Thornton is coming off a strong 2025 campaign where he made 14 starts totaling 72 2/3 innings between Binghamton and Brooklyn. He had a 1.98 ERA and 0.812 WHIP in 72.2 innings pitched. Unfortunately, an oblique injury put a stop to his tremendous season. MLB Pipeline has Thornton listed as the Mets’ No. 15 prospect with a 2027 ETA. The Mets are hoping for another healthy season of development for Thornton in 2026.
2. Still searching for his first spring hit. Ryan Clifford is still searching for his first 2026 spring training hit. Over eight games, Clifford has gone 0-for-13 with a run off of three walks (.235 OBP) while striking out six times. It’s still way too early to panic; the Mets’ No. 5 prospect is coming off a season where he had an .826 OPS over 579 plate appearances across Binghamton and Syracuse.
3. Three Potential Opening Day Right Fielders. You could make a case for Mike Tauchman, Carson Benge, or Tyrone Taylor as the Opening Day right fielder, and all three are starting in the outfield today (there are, of course, other players competing for that spot as well, not on the field today). All three are putting up impressive springs. Tauchman is currently 4-for-11 with three doubles, a homer and two walks (1.442 OPS). Benge has gone 7-for-20 with a stolen base and only three strikeouts. Taylor has gone 4-for-15 with a double, two home runs and six RBIs (1.027 OPS).

Let’s go Mets!

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