3 thoughts about Friday’s bold NY Mets lineup that’s so crazy it might just work

At 7-6, there’s no reason to panic about the New York Mets. They responded quickly to the loss of Juan Soto. Although the mood has dampened over the last two days, the season is so young it can’t even lift up its own head.

Friday’s game will feature the black uniforms for the first time all year. With it comes a bold starting lineup against the Athletics.

Do you see what I see? That’s a lot of changes. Against former Mets prospect J.T. Ginn, the Mets face a righty who has been knocked around in the majors. It’s important to note when we gather our thoughts on this Mets lineup.

Three thoughts about the Friday Mets lineup

1) Jared Young hitting third?

So crazy it might just work, Jared Young is only in the majors to mash against righties like Ginn. His big game over the weekend where he collected 3 hits has bought him a spot batting third in this opener. Everyone already knows what’s going to happen. Young will either have a huge game or fall flat on his face. There is no room for anything in between. In game 14, if someone told you Young would be batting third, you’d think the plague ripped through the locker room.

Takeaway: This is so bold it needs to work.

2) The Mets aren’t sold on Brett Baty

If the Mets wanted to reward a lefty with a spot hitting third in the lineup, why not Brett Baty? They didn’t trade him in the offseason. He was pumped up as the savior at several positions. Coming off of a day where his outfield defense became the big question of the day, the Mets are sticking with him in the number five slot. He’s having an okay start to the year. Choosing Young to hit third over him is a choice.

Takeaway: Good for them. Make Baty earn a higher spot in the lineup.

3) Bo Bichette gets his first chance to DH

Could this be more of the kind of lineup we see? Mark Vientos isn’t playing with Ronny Mauricio getting his first start at third base and Baty going back out into right field. Bo Bichette moves off of third base for a day to DH. His results haven’t been excellent nor have they been costly in comparison to some other defensive question marks. The Mets are leaning into the lefty-heavy lineup with a purpose and choosing what they feel is their best defensive alignment with what they have to pair with it. There’s no real change to argue about other than decisions to raise an eyebrow at.

Takeaway: Bichette better hope Mauricio doesn't make a play too dazzling.

The Mets should score runs against Ginn regardless of how they line themselves up to face him. A lifetime 4.87 ERA sitting at 5.14 entering the game, we’re seeing one of the first truly odd lineups of the season.