The 2025 Mets, despite finishing ninth in the Majors in runs per game, eighth in slugging and ninth in total bases, underwent an offensive transformation during the winter. New players, new coaches and a new outlook were brought in.
Opening Day provided the first evidence that these Mets can be a championship-caliber team even if their pitching needs some time to catch up. On Thursday, Mets hitters began to prove that things might be different.
Domination at Citi Field
In an 11-7 win on Opening Day, Mets hitters ground out at-bats and took advantage of multiple Pirates mistakes to knock reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes out of the game in the first inning. They maintained relentless pressure at Citi Field, drawing nine walks and forcing the Pirates to throw 152 pitches over the first five innings alone.
Carson Benge homered for his first career hit, Francisco Alvarez also went deep and reached base safely three times, Francisco Lindor scored three runs, and Luis Robert Jr. drove home two. The Mets leaned on the Pirates until they broke.
Key Offensive Contributions
Bo Bichette played crucial roles in multiple Mets rallies despite finishing hitless. According to Bichette, getting down early and coming back against maybe the best in the game is good stuff.
Starter Freddy Peralta was good but not great over five innings, but it did not matter. Peralta was one of eight players making his Mets debut, the most in a single game since 1995.
Pirates’ Mistakes Help Mets
The Mets knocked Skenes out in the first inning in part because of their pressurized offense, and in part because of multiple mistakes from converted Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz. Cruz broke inward on a Brett Baty sharp line drive that landed over his head for a bases-clearing triple.
Marcus Semien followed with the first of his two hits — a ball that Cruz appeared to lose in the sun. The Mets were off to the races.
Bichette’s Crucial At-Bat
In the first inning, Bichette spoiled a 98 mph two-strike fastball before finally lofting a fly ball deep enough to plate the Mets’ first run. That plate appearance helped pile Skenes’ pitch count so high that eventually, Pirates manager Don Kelly had little choice but to remove his ace from the game.
Bichette struck out in his next three at-bats, yet not before seeing 13 pitches.
The first game could give a glimpse into what the Mets want to be as a team, so they will try to keep it going.