Scherzer (1-0) earned the win Thursday, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks over six innings against the Marlins. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

Scherzer briefly gave up the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning on a Garrett Cooper two-run homer, but Brandon Nimmo responded in the top of the seventh to put the future Hall of Famer back in line for the win. David Robertson notched the save. Scherzer got 14 called strikes and 13 swinging strikes on 91 pitches, so he looks up to the challenge of carrying the Mets' rotation while Justin Verlander is sidelined with a low-grade teres major strain.

Scherzer dominated the Rays in Friday's Grapefruit League game, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over six innings while striking out 11.

EDGE Analysis

Facing a Tampa Bay lineup made up of most of the team's likely Opening Day starters, including Randy Arozarena, Wander Franco and Yandy Diaz, Scherzer cranked up his intensity and fired 73 strikes over 100 pitches in his final spring start. The veteran right-hander posted a 2.29 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 30.6 percent strikeout rate in 2022 during his first season with the Mets, but the 38-year-old managed only 145.1 innings due to oblique issues -- his lowest total over a full MLB season since he became a regular starter in 2009.

Scherzer will start Opening Day against the Marlins on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Scherzer will draw the Opening Day nod in his second season with the Mets, earning the spot over the newly acquired Justin Verlander. Scherzer was especially sharp in 2022 with New York, posting a career-low 2.29 ERA while striking out 173 batters over 145.1 innings in 23 starts.

Scherzer gave up four hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings while striking out eight in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

Facing a Houston lineup that featured only two big names in Alex Bregman and Jose Abreu, Scherzer appeared to be more than ready for Opening Day. The veteran right-hander has a 14:1 K:BB through 11.2 innings this spring while allowing only one run, and the 38-year-old is showing no signs that his dominance is slipping. Aside from the pandemic season, Scherzer hasn't posted an ERA of 3.00 or higher since 2014, and he's delivered a sub-1.00 WHIP in six of the last eight campaigns.

Scherzer is expected to receive the Mets' Opening Day starting nod March 30 in Miami, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Mets had two excellent choices in Scherzer and Justin Verlander, but it will be "Mad Max" getting the call for the opener. Verlander is set up to take the ball for the team's home opener April 6 versus the Marlins. Scherzer will be matched up against Sandy Alcantara on Opening Day.

Scherzer struck out nine batters over three innings in an exhibition game against Team Nicaragua on Wednesday. The right-hander gave up two runs on a hit and a walk.

EDGE Analysis

Former Royals prospect Cheslor Cuthbert took him deep to lead off the second inning, but otherwise Scherzer was dominant over 68 pitches (48 strikes) against a lineup with very little big-league experience. The 38-year-old threw only 145.1 innings last year in his first campaign with the Mets -- his lowest total over a full season since he became a regular starter in 2009 -- but as long as he can stay healthy there's little reason to think he won't post elite ratios again in 2023.

Scherzer gave up seven unearned runs in 2.2 innings during Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals, allowing five hits and striking out one.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran right-hander was having a little fun trying out different strategies to exploit the new pitch clock and use it to his advantage by messing up hitters' timing, but his experiments back-fired in the third inning when he got charged with a balk, and some shaky defense by Luis Guillorme at shortstop contributed to an eight-run frame for Washington. This outing will be long forgotten by the time Opening Day rolls around, and Scherzer's 6:0 K:BB through his first 4.2 spring innings is a far better indicator of where he is in his preparations for the regular season.

Scherzer is scheduled to make his first Grapefruit League start Sunday against the Nationals, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Scherzer is unlikely to work more than two innings while he pitches in a competitive setting for the first time since Game 1 of the Mets' wild-card round series against the Padres on Oct. 7, when he surrendered seven runs -- including four home runs -- in 4.2 innings. The poor postseason start and a pair of oblique-related stints on the injured list were just about the only blemishes on an otherwise excellent first season in New York for Scherzer, who produced a 2.29 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 173:24 K:BB across 145.1 innings. While those numbers would normally make Scherzer the clear-cut choice for the Opening Day starting nod for the majority of teams, he'll face competition for those duties from Justin Verlander, whom the Mets signed to a two-year, $86 million contract this winter following a Cy Young-winning season in Houston.

Scherzer took the loss in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Friday, allowing seven runs on seven hits -- including four home runs -- over 4.2 innings. He struck out four and did not issue a walk.

EDGE Analysis

Afterward, Scherzer explained that there was nothing physical that affected him, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Scherzer said he simply wasn't getting his usual ride on his fastball and he wasn't sure why. Jacob deGrom (blister) will try to keep the Mets' season alive in Game 2 of the best-of-three series.

Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Scherzer will start in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card series against the Padres, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

EDGE Analysis

Scherzer finished the regular season with a 2.29 ERA and 0.91 WHIP, and he will now begin the postseason at the top of the rotation. The Mets will keep their options open for the following games, with Chris Bassitt and Jacob deGrom as the main candidates to start in Game 2.