Astros Take Opener:: Houston secured a 3-1 victory on Opening Day (March 28th) powered by starter Framber Valdez's 7 scoreless innings.
Hader Hits Milestone:: Astros closer Josh Hader earned his 200th career save, striking out Juan Soto with the bases loaded to end the game.
Notable Moments:: Astros veteran Jose Altuve successfully debuted in left field, while top prospect Cam Smith singled in his first MLB at-bat. Juan Soto hit his first home run as a Met in the series.
Saturday Showdown:: The Mets will send RHP Griffin Canning to the mound for his team debut against Astros' RHP Spencer Arrighetti in the 7:15 PM CT game.
Why This Matters:: This game determines the winner of the opening series. It's a key test for Canning with his new team and a chance for Arrighetti to build on his 2024 rookie campaign. Both teams are seeking offensive consistency after scoring only four runs each in the first two games.
The Astros silenced the Mets' bats in front of a raucous home crowd, winning 3-1. Lefty Framber Valdez was dominant, tossing seven scoreless innings, allowing only two walks and striking out four while inducing mostly ground balls. Valdez continued his Opening Day success, having now allowed zero runs in three of his four career Opening Day starts. The Astros scratched out runs via a Jake Meyers fielder's choice and a Yainer Diaz RBI single against Mets starter Clay Holmes. While they didn't manage an extra-base hit, their patient approach drew five walks. The game ended dramatically as closer Josh Hader loaded the bases in the ninth but struck out Mets star Juan Soto swinging on a 3-2 slider to notch his 200th career save.
Other notable Opening Day storylines included Jose Altuve's seamless transition to left field after years at second base and Astros' top prospect Cam Smith getting a single on the first pitch he saw in the Majors.
The series concludes with an intriguing pitching matchup. Griffin Canning makes his Mets debut after a strong spring training where he posted a 1.88 ERA and struck out 22 batters in 14.1 innings, utilizing a revived cutter and a new sinker. Formerly with the Angels, Canning faced the Astros three times in 2024, allowing nine runs over 15.2 innings. Several Astros hitters, including Yordan Alvarez (7-for-13, 2 HR) and Christian Walker (4-for-8, 2 HR), have had success against him.
Spencer Arrighetti takes the ball for Houston. The right-hander had a solid rookie season in 2024 with a 4.53 ERA over 145 innings. He relies primarily on a mid-90s fastball, curveball, and cutter. This marks his first career start against the Mets; only Juan Soto (2-for-3, HR) and Jose Siri (0-for-3) have faced him previously.
Projected Mets Lineup (3/29): Lindor (SS), Soto (RF), Alonso (1B), Vientos (3B), Nimmo (LF), Winker (DH), Torrens (C), Baty (2B), Siri (CF)
Projected Astros Lineup (3/29): Altuve (LF), Paredes (3B), Alvarez (DH), Walker (1B), Peña (SS), Caratini (C), Dezenzo (RF), Dubón (2B), McCormick (CF)
Both teams are looking for their offenses to wake up, as PECOTA projections ranked them highly in expected runs scored entering the season. Several Mets, including Francisco Lindor and Brett Baty, are still seeking their first hits of 2025.
Game Note: The Mets will wear a tribute patch honoring team Hall of Famer Ed Kranepool throughout the season.
When is the next Mets vs. Astros game?
The next game is Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 7:15 PM CT / 8:15 PM ET in Houston.
Who is pitching in the Mets vs. Astros game on March 29th?
RHP Griffin Canning will start for the New York Mets, facing RHP Spencer Arrighetti for the Houston Astros.
How did the Astros win the first game?
The Astros won 3-1 on Opening Day behind 7 scoreless innings from starter Framber Valdez and Josh Hader earning his 200th career save by closing out the 9th inning.
Saturday's game is the rubber match, deciding the winner of this opening series.
Watch Griffin Canning closely in his Mets debut; his spring performance suggests potential, but the Astros lineup presents a challenge.
Both the Mets and Astros potent offenses have started slowly; expect adjustments as they try to generate more runs.
Juan Soto has already made his presence felt with a home run, but the Mets need broader offensive contributions.
Will Griffin Canning impress in his Mets debut, or will the Astros take the series at home? Let us know your predictions!
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Information also compiled from Metsmerized Online and MLB.com reporting.
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