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Mets look to make it three Opening Day shutouts in a row

By Tim Boyle

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 04: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) A general view during the national anthem prior to the Opening Day game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on April 04, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 04: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) A general view during the national anthem prior to the Opening Day game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on April 04, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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The last time a team scored a run on Opening Day against the New York Mets was 2018. Remember that year? It feels like a century ago.

Kevin Plawecki was the starting catcher. Adrian Gonzalez was over at first base. Noah Syndergaard, not Jacob deGrom, was on the mound. In fact, at this stage of his career, deGrom had never started an Opening Day in his career.

When the Mets take the field on April 1, 2021, they will look for more than just a victory in game one of the season. They’re also aiming to extend their Opening Day shutout streak to three.

No April foolin’, the Mets have been fantastic on Opening Day

The Mets hold the best Opening Day record in MLB history. In the last four seasons, they have been especially great at preventing runs.

Three of the last four Opening Days have ended in Mets shutout victories. Only the 2018 St. Louis Cardinals managed to cross the plate against them. However, the Mets answered back with their highest run total since 2013—winning 9-4 against the Cardinals.

deGrom has been on the mound for the last two Opening Days. A 2-0 shutout versus the Washington Nationals included a home run from Robinson Cano in his first at-bat with the team.

In 2020’s game, a Yoenis Cespedes solo home run accounted for the lone run in New York’s 1-0 win over the Atlanta Braves.

Back a little further in history, the 2017 Mets started their current streak of four straight Opening Day wins. They shutout the Braves 6-0. A wild seventh inning capped off by a bases-clearing Lucas Duda double is what accounted for all of the crooked numbers in this one.

What to expect from the Mets on Opening Day 2021

Opening Day might be the easiest of all games to predict for the Mets. deGrom on the mound automatically puts them in contention for a victory. Add in an ace opponent and two rosters of batters who haven’t seen non-spring training action in months, we’re likely in for a low-scoring affair.

It’s no guarantee, however. The franchise has been involved in their share of blowouts.

The 2013 opener was an 11-2 victory against the San Diego Padres. A decade earlier, New York was on the losing side of a 15-2 beat down by the Chicago Cubs.

Only once have the Mets been involved in an Opening Day featuring both teams reaching double-digits. In 1969, the season began with an 11-10 loss versus the Montreal Expos—the franchise that would one day become the Nationals.

Next. Worst Mets Opening Day starters since 2000

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So, even if we get the unexpected and see the Amazins score a bunch of runs but also get battered around for plenty by the Nationals, there’s always hope for a positive ending.

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