1 bold NY Mets prediction for each member of the starting lineup

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We don’t yet know what the exact New York Mets starting lineup will look like to begin the 2023 season nor do we know exactly what they will deliver. It’s prediction season for the Mets and the rest of baseball where we help hype up what’s in store for everyone’s favorite blue and orange baseball squad.

Going bold rather than staying home, here is one prediction for each player likely to open the season in the Mets lineup.

1) NY Mets prediction for Brandon Nimmo: An All-Star selection

Brandon Nimmo is going to have a big year in 2023. His new contract should give him comfort. He’s not the kind of guy to take time off. He runs to first base after a walk for crying out loud.

My bold prediction for Nimmo is he finally gets an All-Star selection. It’ll be just one big accomplishment for the Mets center fielder who will challenge for a Gold Glove and the league lead in OBP. He won’t capture either. It’ll be fun watching him try.

2) NY Mets prediction for Starling Marte: Less than 100 games played

It’s not too outrageous to expect Starling Marte to miss a lot of time. After playing 118 games for the Mets last year, another 19 missed isn’t too outrageous.

I do think Marte will be a good player for the Mets when healthy. Age may be catching up with him quickly. Someone from the Mets Opening Day lineup is bound to go down with an injury. Marte seems to be one of the likelier candidates.

3) NY Mets prediction for Francisco Lindor: 30 home runs

The Mets will have two players with 30+ home runs in 2023. The other, aside from Pete Alonso, is Francisco Lindor. The star shortstop finds his home run stroke and launches over 30 dingers.

Lindor had 20 home runs in 2021 and another 26 in 2022. This year, he’ll swing for the fences a little harder and end up with, let’s say, 32.

4) NY Mets prediction for Pete Alonso: 140 RBI season

It’s hard to make a bold prediction for Pete Alonso because he seems like the type of player who can do some awesome things without being unbelievable. Is it bold to predict Alonso reaches 140 RBI? After driving in 131, maybe not so much.

Alonso is a run-producer and someone who seems to grow each season of his career. A slight uptick in home runs this year from the 40 he hit in 2022 will help him reach 140 RBI on the year. He gets there on the final day of the season with a two-run home run in a meaningless game he exits after the fifth inning.

5) NY Mets prediction for Jeff McNeil: Utility man Gold Glove winner

A lot of what is said about Alonso and doing the unthinkable could be attributed to Jeff McNeil. Saying he wins another batting title isn’t bold. Expecting him to break the franchise’s single-season batting average record is a little too big for me.

Instead, my McNeil prediction is a Gold Glove. MLB is now awarding one to a utility man. Because we should still expect McNeil to fill in at the two corner outfield positions occasionally, it’ll be an award he can win. He’s definitely a likable underdog voters will be captivated by.

6) NY Mets prediction for Mark Canha: Hits below .240

Mark Canha actually had a very good season for the Mets in 2022 compared to some of his past years. His power was down, but Canha did bat .266 which is much higher than the .244 he posted while with the Oakland Athletics.

My prediction for Canha is we see something closer to his Athletics days except no increase in pop. He’s going to hit below .240, something he did the year prior to joining the Mets. His OBP numbers should still be good thanks to a strong eye and, of course, willingness to take one for the team.

7) NY Mets prediction for Daniel Vogelbach: Replaced as the DH before July

Maybe it’s wishful thinking. Daniel Vogelbach as the DH just doesn’t jive with what the Mets need out of that spot. By the time we get to July, he’ll be out as the primary DH against right-handed pitchers. He should still get his chances to start and pinch hit. However, someone else will be getting a lot of opportunities.

The Mets do have plenty of internal candidates. Rookies like Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, and Mark Vientos should challenge for some of those opportunities. He should also see regulars who actually play the field get their share of chances, too.

8) NY Mets prediction for Eduardo Escobar: Almost as many at-bats at DH as he does at 3B

Eduardo Escobar is one of those regular position players who could shift to the DH spot. As long as he hits the way he did at the end of the year, he is in little danger of being replaced completely.

Escobar does seem like a strong candidate to take over a lot of at-bats at the DH spot. Whether he is in a platoon or moves out of the way for Brett Baty to also play third base, it does seem he is trending toward becoming a regular designated hitter.

9) NY Mets prediction for Omar Narvaez: Hits fifth in one game before June

What can we really predict from Omar Narvaez other than some quality starts? Let’s get a little weird with this prediction. Sometime in April or May, there’s going to be a game where he bats fifth.

What the heck is this lineup going to look like? Maybe a jammed thumb keeps one guy out. Another is on the IL. Then there’s another guy who is dealing with a mystery illness that turns out to be the result of undercooked chicken. A Mets lineup with Narvaez batting fifth is going to look weird. Maybe, in part, it has something to do with breaking up the righties and lefties. Expect it on a Sunday.

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1 bold prediction for each member of the Mets starting lineup