PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- David Wright will see game action for the first time since his June neck surgery as the designated hitter for the Mets in their Grapefruit League home opener against the Washington Nationals on Saturday.
Wright has been taking batting practice and hitting live pitching for a couple weeks now and is ready to see the progress he's made with the bat since his surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck. He won't play third base or even first for a few more weeks.
Curtis Granderson, Yoenis Cespedes, Asdrubal Cabrera and Jay Bruce will also make their first starts.
WATCH: Syndergaard throws live BP
Lefthander Sean Gilmartin will make his first spring training start, opposing Gio Gonzalez. Jerry Blevins will then take over and the Mets plan to test out a few more lefties in relief.
Gilmartin has primarily been a starter in the minor leagues but has mostly pitched out of the bullpen at the major league level. Gilmartin, a Rule 5 selection in 2015, has held lefties to a .226 average in the majors. He'll face a lineup loaded with them, as the Nationals will start five, including Adam Eaton, Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper going 2-3-4.
The Mets won their spring opener 3-2 on Friday, on the road against the Boston Red Sox.
Here is the Mets' lineup for Saturday:
Jose Reyes, 3B
Curtis Granderson, CF
Yoenis Cespedes, LF
David Wright, DH
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Wilmer Flores, 1B
Jay Bruce, RF
Ty Kelly, 2B
Rene Rivera, C
Abbey Mastracco may be reached at amastracco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @abbeymastracco. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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