Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn delivers a pitch to the Colorado Rockies in the second inning. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Lance Lynn and Matt Harvey were in mid- season form, as the Cardinals and Mets played to a scoreless tie at Roger Dean Stadium on the final day of Grapefruit League play.
Lynn, scheduled to pitch the Cardinals’ third game of the season on Wednesday, tossed six shutout innings, surrendering only three hits and striking out four. The right-hander combined with three relievers to surrender only four hits and strike out 11 New York batters.
Harvey was as sharp as he’s been all spring as he returns from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander went four scoreless innings and yielded only three hits, striking out four. In six spring training starts Harvey, also his team’s No. 3 starter, pitched to a 1.19 ERA, allowed only 17 hits, struck out 21 and walked one in 22 2/3 innings.
St. Louis opens its season on Sunday night against the Cubs in Chicago. Adam Wainwright will be the Opening Night starter for the Cardinals, who have one more exhibition game remaining, playing their Triple-A team, the Memphis Redbirds, in Memphis on Friday.
The Mets next travel to Arlington, TX, to take on the Rangers in a pair of exhibition games on Friday and Saturday before heading to Washington, DC, to take on the Nationals on Monday in the season opener for both teams. Bartolo Colon will be the Opening Day starter for the Mets.
The Cardinals have their Opening Day roster set, while the Mets are waiting on the health of starting second baseman Daniel Murphy to decide on their roster.
If Murphy begins the year on the disabled list due to a hamstring injury, it looks like New York will keep infielder Danny Muno to platoon with Ruben Tejada at second. The Mets could also stick with infielder Matt Reynolds over Muno.
