The 2026 MLB Spring Training is officially underway.
Today, February 25 at 3:10 AM KST, the New York Mets and Houston Astros will face off in a Spring Training game at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Although it is an exhibition game, the meeting between the New York Mets, who underwent a massive roster overhaul last offseason, and the Houston Astros, who are aiming for a return to the playoffs, promises to be a meaningful checkpoint for both teams.
Game Overview
| Category | Details |
| Event | 2026 MLB Spring Training |
| Date & Time | Feb. 25 (Tue) 03:10 AM (KST) |
| Venue | Clover Park (Port St. Lucie, Florida) |
| Home Team | New York Mets |
| Away Team | Houston Astros |
| Broadcast | MLB.TV |
This game at Clover Park, the Mets' Spring Training home, provides an important opportunity for both teams to check the condition of their starting-caliber players and evaluate how well newly acquired players are adapting, with Opening Day just a month away.
This is especially significant as both the Mets and Astros underwent major roster changes this season, making the process of testing new lineup combinations a key point of interest.
New York Mets - A Completely New Look
The New York Mets made bold changes this offseason, replacing nearly one-third of their 40-man roster.
The biggest headline was undoubtedly the signing of Bo Bichette.
The Mets signed Bo Bichette to a massive 3-year, $126 million deal and acquired Marcus Semien in a trade from the Texas Rangers.
In return, Brandon Nimmo departed to Texas, and Pete Alonso also left as a free agent, giving the Mets lineup a completely new look.
Mets Key Offseason Moves
Acquisitions: Bo Bichette (FA), Marcus Semien (Trade), Luis Robert Jr. (Trade), Freddy Peralta (Trade)
Departures: Pete Alonso (FA), Brandon Nimmo (Trade), Jett Williams (Trade), Brandon Sproat (Trade)
The Mets finished last season with an 83-79 record (2nd in the NL East) — they posted MLB's best record at 45-24 in the first half but collapsed down the stretch and missed the postseason.
Learning from that painful experience, President of Baseball Operations David Stearns made the decisive move to completely overhaul the lineup's identity.
The core strategy this offseason was a shift from a power-heavy approach to one built around contact hitting and veteran experience.
However, there is some concerning news as well.
The team's franchise shortstop Francisco Lindor underwent surgery on February 11 for a left hamate bone fracture.
While approximately six weeks of rehabilitation is required, the Mets remain optimistic that he can return by Opening Day on March 26.
Lindor has already had his large bandage removed and replaced with a smaller one, a sign that his recovery is progressing smoothly.
Houston Astros - The Return of a Familiar Face and a New Ace
The Houston Astros have also undergone significant changes heading into this season.
The most notable news is Carlos Correa's return to Houston.
Correa, who rejoined the team via a mid-season trade in 2025, will be settling in at third base this season.
The return of Correa — a key figure in the 2017 World Series championship — to a Houston uniform is nothing short of thrilling for the fans.
On the pitching side, Hunter Brown has emerged as the undisputed ace.
After posting an impressive 12-9 record with a 2.43 ERA in the 2025 season, Brown has been confirmed as the Opening Day starter.
Additionally, Tatsuya Imai — a three-time NPB All-Star — has joined the team on a 3-year, $54 million deal, adding significant depth to the rotation.
Astros Key Offseason Moves
Acquisitions: Tatsuya Imai (NPB), Christian Walker (FA)
Key Returns: Carlos Correa (3B), Yordan Alvarez (Expected healthy return)
The Astros posted an 87-75 record last season (2nd in the AL West) and still boast a strong core of Jose Altuve, Jeremy Peña, Yordan Alvarez, and Yainer Diaz.
However, Diaz suffered a left foot sprain during winter ball and is still recovering, while Alvarez appeared in only 48 games last season due to injuries, making their health status a critical variable for this season.
Projected Starting Lineups for Both Teams in 2026
| Order | New York Mets | Houston Astros |
| 1 | Marcus Semien (2B) | Jose Altuve (2B) |
| 2 | Francisco Lindor (SS)* | Yordan Alvarez (DH) |
| 3 | Juan Soto (LF) | Carlos Correa (3B) |
| 4 | Bo Bichette (3B) | Yainer Diaz (C) |
| 5 | Luis Robert Jr. (CF) | Christian Walker (1B) |
| 6 | Francisco Alvarez (C) | Jeremy Peña (SS) |
| 7 | Mark Vientos (1B) | Zach Cole (LF) |
| 8 | Jorge Polanco (DH) | Jake Meyers (CF) |
| 9 | Tyrone Taylor (RF) | Cam Smith (RF) |
*Lindor is absent from early Spring Training while rehabilitating from hamate bone surgery
In Spring Training games, it is common for starters not to play full games.
Starting-caliber players on both teams will typically play around 3-5 innings before minor league prospects and non-roster invitees take over.
For the Mets, Lindor is rehabilitating from surgery, and players such as Luis Robert Jr., Brett Baty, Francisco Alvarez, and Jorge Polanco are ramping up slowly for conditioning purposes, so their availability for this game remains uncertain.
Starting Rotation Comparison
| Slot | New York Mets | Houston Astros |
| No. 1 | Freddy Peralta | Hunter Brown |
| No. 2 | Nolan McLean | Tatsuya Imai |
| No. 3 | David Peterson | Cristian Javier |
| No. 4 | Clay Holmes | Spencer Arrighetti |
| No. 5 | Sean Manaea / Kodai Senga | Lance McCullers Jr. |
Freddy Peralta, acquired from Milwaukee, is the frontrunner to start on Opening Day for the Mets.
Peralta posted an outstanding 17-6 record with a 2.70 ERA last season and has established himself as the clear No. 1 starter in the Mets rotation.
As for Kodai Senga, he has been plagued by injuries over the past two consecutive seasons, and he is now competing with Sean Manaea for the fifth starter spot.
For the Astros, Hunter Brown is locked in as the ace, and the addition of NPB product Tatsuya Imai is the biggest storyline.
In his first bullpen session, Imai threw 17 pitches and faced five batters — starting with Altuve, then Correa, Meyers, and Trammel — striking out the latter three in impressive fashion.
Trammel was particularly effusive in his praise of Imai's splitter, saying, "Honestly, I've been playing baseball for 24 years and I'm in my 11th year as a pro, and I've never seen a pitch like that in my life."
Key Players
Juan Soto (New York Mets, Left Fielder)
Soto, who posted a .419 on-base percentage last season, has moved from right field to left field this season.
He is in the lineup from the very first Spring Training game, working hard to adapt to his new position.
All eyes are on what kind of synergy one of MLB's best hitters can create with his new team.
Bo Bichette (New York Mets, Third Baseman)
Bichette, who moved from Toronto to the Mets, has transitioned from shortstop to third base.
He previously formed a double-play combination with Semien in Toronto during the 2021 season, making their reunion with the Mets a popular storyline.
He is expected to deliver performance worthy of his massive 3-year, $126 million contract.
Tatsuya Imai (Houston Astros, Starting Pitcher)
Imai, a three-time NPB All-Star with an impressive career resume, is heading into his first MLB season.
He raised expectations sky-high by dominating his teammates during his first bullpen session of Spring Training.
His devastating splitter is a particular point of intrigue — whether it can be equally effective against MLB hitters is one of the biggest storylines of the season.
Head-to-Head Record
| Season | Games | Mets Wins | Astros Wins | Notes |
| 2025 Regular Season | 3 | 1 | 2 | Opening Series (Houston) |
| Last 3 Seasons Combined | 9 | 3 | 6 | Houston leads |
The two teams made history last season when they met for the first time ever in an Opening Day game.
Born together as National League expansion teams in 1962, the two franchises faced each other on Opening Day for the first time in 63 years.
Houston took that series 2-1, and the Astros hold the overall edge over the last three seasons at 6-3.
This Spring Training, the two teams are scheduled to meet a total of six times, giving them plenty of opportunities to scout each other before the regular season begins.
Key Points to Watch
1. Chemistry Among the Mets' New Acquisitions
The biggest point of interest is what kind of combinations Semien, Bichette, Soto, and other new core players can produce within the same lineup.
This is a great opportunity to see how smoothly Bichette is adapting to third base and how Soto is handling the transition to left field.
While results matter less than process in Spring Training, this is the stage where we get our first impression of the new-look Mets.
2. Depth of the Astros Pitching Staff
This is the time to evaluate the revamped rotation's game readiness, including Hunter Brown, Tatsuya Imai, Cristian Javier, and Spencer Arrighetti.
Whether Imai makes his first live-game appearance in MLB is the focal point of interest.
Seeing whether the dominance he showed in bullpen sessions translates to live action will be the highlight of Spring Training for Astros fans.
3. Prospects' Chance to Make an Impression
The Mets brought in prospects such as Carson Benzi, Ryan Clifford, and A.J. Ewing as non-roster invitees.
The Astros also have Zach Cole, Cam Smith, and Taylor Trammel battling fiercely for outfield roster spots.
Spring Training is the perfect stage for these young players to etch their names onto a big league roster.
Viewing Guide
Spring Training games have a unique charm that differs from the regular season.
It is a special time that blends brief but intense appearances by starters, spirited play from prospects, and the anticipation of a new season.
The most noteworthy moment to watch in this game is the Mets' new core lineup taking the field together.
We will get a chance to see what kind of energy the Soto-Bichette-Semien lineup generates in live action.
Also not to be missed: Carlos Correa manning third base in a Houston uniform, and the chemistry of an infield featuring Altuve, Peña, and Correa.
Although conditioning takes priority over wins and losses in Spring Training, both teams have high expectations for the 2026 season, making this a meaningful game.
Do not miss this first meeting between the revamped New York Mets and the perennial powerhouse Houston Astros.
Prediction
Predicting the outcome of a Spring Training game carries little significance, but there are clear points worth noting.
For the Mets, the key lies in communication and chemistry within their new lineup, while for the Astros, the focus is on how well their revamped pitching staff adapts to live game situations.
With roughly a month remaining until Opening Day, it is best to view today's game as the first step on a long journey.
That said, the Mets, playing at home, may hold a slight edge in terms of playing time for their starting-caliber players, giving them a marginal lean in this contest.