Mets' bullpen making presence felt ahead of opener vs. Marlins

While Juan Soto attracts most of the headlines, the bullpen has been the main story for the New York Mets early this season.

New York carries a four-game winning streak into Monday night's opener of a three-game series against the visiting Miami Marlins.

Miami had its series finale against the Atlanta Braves postponed due to rain on Sunday. The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on Aug. 9.

The Marlins are expected to use an opener on Monday following news that scheduled starter Sandy Alcantara will be placed on the paternity list before the game.

Miami will look to slow the Mets, whose relievers boast a major-league-best 1.29 ERA.

Max Kranick, Reed Garrett, A.J. Minter and Edwin Diaz combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings in a 2-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

Diaz secured his second save for the Mets, who held Toronto to a total of three runs in a three-game series sweep.

"That bullpen has been huge for us," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. "That's what it's going to take. They're not going to be perfect back there. There's going to be times where the offense will pick those guys up, and there's going to be stretches where the starters are going to go deep in games."

Soto doubled in the seventh inning and has reached base safely in all nine games with his new team. While the Mets are off to a promising 6-3 start, Mendoza offered a dose of perspective.

"It's always good to win games and series, but it's way too early," he said. "We've got to stay the course and stick to our process. We've got to take it one series at a time. It's a long year. We've got a one-day-at-a-time mentality here."

Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (0-1, 3.60 ERA) is set to face Miami for the second straight time.

Senga, 32, made just one regular-season start last season due to shoulder, calf and triceps injuries. He had mixed results last Tuesday against the Marlins, allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits over five innings in a 4-2 loss.

Senga is 3-1 with a 2.63 ERA in five career starts against Miami, which bounced back from a 10-0 loss to Atlanta on Friday with a 4-0 win on Saturday.

First baseman Matt Mervis was 2-for-15 to start the season before hitting two home runs in Saturday's victory.

"It feels great," he said. "It's always good. Like I said, confidence is always there. But it feels good to back it up and just know that I can do it. It's kind of like childish, almost, to say, but it's good to get that affirmation."

Miami also received a boost from rookie catcher Liam Hicks, who hit his first career double and delivered an RBI single in Saturday's victory.

"We've been touting the at-bat quality since we acquired Liam," Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. "He elevated a couple balls to the pull side, he had a nice two-out RBI to left, he got a sac bunt down, so really good offensive day."

--Field Level Media