Who will be the starting nine for the Mets on Opening Day 2024?
Our ideal starting lineup won’t be realized by the New York Mets. That was never going to happen. We’ll have to make do with another option.
What will the lineup be for the Mets Opening Day, taking some of the pressure off?
Forecasting the 2024 Opening Day lineup for the Mets
This is a fair lineup to anticipate:
Brandon Nimmo, CF
Starling Marte RF
Francisco Lindor SS
Pete Alonso 1B
Justin Turner DH
Jeff McNeil 2B
Adam Duvall LF
Brett Baty 3B
Francisco Alvarez C
We should have no trouble filling in a lot of the gaps because the Mets don’t appear to be planning to reduce their roster. It’s also not too difficult to determine the precise order. The logical next step is Brandon Nimmo at the top, followed by the swift Starling Marte on the right. In order to prevent any one batter’s box from being trampled on for an extended period of time, Jeff McNeil does continue to be buried in the number six hole.
Another logical step would be Francisco Lindor and then Pete Alonso. The good times then start. At the DH location, we have an answer. Justin Turner is here.
The Mets have Turner as a potential replacement for the DH position. Even more so now that Ronny Mauricio is out, the Mets must make it happen. He’s a good addition, though he’s probably only going to sign a one- or two-year deal. Five times out of seven, start him at DH. Complete the remaining two games at first base and third base. Give Alonso one day off every seven days. We simply cannot let him go.
Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez round out the lineup, which is once more set up to get rid of two lefties hitting consecutively. We have a left field solution in front of them. Adam Duvall is it.
Duvall isn’t the best outfield player on the field right now. Similar to Turner, his former Boston Red Sox teammate, he should sign a shorter, more affordable contract. With some doubts about Marte’s ability to regain his form and whether Baty is a legitimate major leaguer, the two can reunite on a Mets team searching for two answers in their lineup. Duvall can play all three outfield positions and has a history of hitting for power, which makes him a good fit. He’s even competent at them.
Is this the lineup the Mets should play on Opening Day? We’ve witnessed worse.