World Series champion has 1 major worry for the Mets going into the season

The New York Mets signed outfielder Juan Soto to the largest declaration successful nonrecreational sports past to bolster their lineup this offseason, but World Series champion AJ Pierzynski is acrophobic astir their pitching staff. 

He said Soto would marque an interaction and explicit concerns astir those connected the mound.

"I deliberation (Soto will) person a important interaction due to the fact that of the bat that helium brings and the at-bats, the mindset that helium has. The lone happening I question astir the Mets, who’s going to pitch? Who’s going to beryllium their starting pitcher?" Pierzynski asked during a caller quality connected OutKick’s "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich."

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New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga, #34, stretches during a outpouring grooming workout astatine Clover Park connected Feb. 19, 2025. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

"(Sean) Manaea is already hurt, Clay Holmes is their opening time starter, is helium going beryllium capable to transportation each year? And past you interest astir (Kodai) Senga’s wellness who missed a batch of the year. They’ve already mislaid Frankie Montas for a clump of time, who’s going to beryllium their starting pitching? That’s the 1 happening I interest astir with the Mets."

Manaea, who re-signed with the squad connected a three-year deal, sustained a close oblique strain and is expected to instrumentality astatine immoderate constituent successful April. 

Montas, a escaped cause acquisition, sustained a high-grade close lat strain and was unopen down from throwing for 6–8 weeks successful mid-February.

Holmes has spent the past three-plus seasons with the New York Yankees arsenic a high-leverage reliever and closed games for them astatine points successful his tenure. Over the people of his seven-year vocation with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Yankees, Holmes has lone started 4 games and volition present beryllium relied upon arsenic a cardinal subordinate of the Mets' starting rotation. 

When helium signed with the Mets successful escaped agency, Holmes transitioned backmost into a starting pitcher, aft helium came up successful the Pirates' strategy arsenic a starter. 

Senga would apt person been the opening-day starter implicit Holmes, but helium pitched successful conscionable 1 regular-season crippled past twelvemonth owed to injury, and the Mets are being cautious with him entering the season. Last season, Senga dealt with shoulder, triceps and calf injuries. 

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New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes, #35, delivers a transportation against the Houston Astros during the archetypal inning astatine Clover Park connected Feb. 27, 2025. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

"At the extremity of the day, if you privation to triumph successful Major League Baseball, I don’t attraction you tin rake each you want, but if you don’t person the pitching to backmost it up you’re not going to triumph implicit a agelong haul and implicit successful the playoffs," Pierzynski said. 

With the injuries to Montas and Manaea, these are the 5 starters the Mets are rolling retired for their archetypal 5 games:

1. Holmes
2. Tylor Megill
3. Griffin Canning
4. David Peterson
5. Senga

While disquieted astir the pitching staff, Pierzynski praised the Mets’ offense. 

"I deliberation their lineup is going to beryllium unbelievable. They brought backmost Pete (Alonso), who I love, (Francisco) Lindor obviously, I deliberation (Mark) Vientos is going to beryllium a stud for them successful the mundane lineup. We saw what helium could bash successful the postseason," Pierzynski said. 

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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, #12, returns to the dugout during the 3rd inning against the St. Louis Cardinals astatine Clover Park connected March 10, 2025. (Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images)

Pierzynski played 19 seasons successful the large leagues, playing for the Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals.

The two-time All-Star deed .280 with 188 vocation location runs successful his career. Pierzynski won the World Series successful 2005 with the Marlins. 

Holmes volition instrumentality the mound for the archetypal clip with the Mets erstwhile they instrumentality connected the Houston Astros for their play opener connected Thursday, astatine 4:10 p.m. ET. 

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