APRIL (SNOW) SHOWERS: Workers clear snow from the upper deck (above) and dugout at Target Field in preparation for tonight’s series opener between the Mets and Twins. There is a chance for more snow tonight, and a game time temperature of 28 degrees. (
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The novelty of interleague play has long dissipated for the Mets, but this season brings a new twist.
When the Mets take the field tonight in Minnesota, weather permitting, it will mark the first April game against an American League opponent in franchise history. Such is the new reality of baseball following the Astros’ shift to the AL, giving baseball a 15-15 split of teams in the two leagues. Interleague games, previously confined to May, June and July, are now played throughout the entire schedule.
The Mets were subjected to 4-6 inches of snow after arriving in Minneapolis yesterday, and tonight are scheduled to play their first game at Target Field, which opened in 2010. The forecast again includes a chance of snow, with a projected low temperature of 28 degrees.
“I wish the interleague were somewhere warmer, but I think the tradeoff is well worth it,” David Wright said. “Because it makes it more fair for the National League. It’s a little strange looking up on Opening Day and seeing interleague, but at the same time it’s a very fair tradeoff going to a 15-15 split.”
The Mets have been designated as an AL Central opponent this season, leaving them with road games against the Twins, White Sox and Indians, with home dates against the White Sox, Royals and Tigers. The Mets also have their annual home-and-home series with the Yankees — reduced this year from six games to four.
“I’m not the biggest fan of interleague play until the field is even on both sides,” manager Terry Collins said, referring to the designated hitter. “We don’t have a chance to do what a lot of teams do, but it’s what the game is and we’ll adjust to it and we’ll figure out what our best lineup is going to be and go from there.”
Collins, if he wants, can take a defensively challenged player such as Lucas Duda and make him the DH for the weekend or allow another position player to get rest. Even so, the manager indicated AL teams ultimately have the offensive edge in their home ballparks.
“We don’t have somebody sitting on the bench who is a big homer guy who we can just slip in as the DH,” Collins said.
The Mets (5-4) closed a three-game series in Philadelphia with consecutive losses, but have the benefit of Jon Niese and Matt Harvey aligned in succession for the first two games of this series before giving the ball to Dillon Gee on Sunday. The Twins will counter with Vance Worley, lefty Scott Diamond and Kevin Correia.
Mike Pelfrey, who was non-tendered by the Mets in the offseason, pitched Tuesday for the Twins and will not face his former team this weekend. Pelfrey is 1-1 with a 7.36 ERA over two starts in his comeback from Tommy John surgery last May.
Wright said he expects to catch up with Pelfrey at some point during the weekend.
“Pelf and I were pretty close here, so I am always rooting for him,” Wright said.
Is Wright disappointed the Mets won’t get to face Pelfrey?
“It wouldn’t be the first time I faced a former teammate,” Wright said. “But [Pelfrey] might have come out throwing 120 mph, at least against the guys he knows.”