Opposite dugout: Meet the 2014 Mets

By Josh Land

Nationals

March 30, 2014, 6:56pm

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Manager: Terry Collins, fourth year
Record (2013): 74-88
Last 10 games: N/A
Who to watch (2013 stats): 3B David Wright (.307/.390/.514, 18 HR, 58 RBIs); RF Curtis Granderson (.229/.317/.407, 7 HR, 15 RBIs); RHP Dillon Gee (12-11, 3.62 ERA); RHP Bartolo Colon (18-6, 2.65 ERA)
Season series vs. Nats (2013): 7-12, 76 runs scored, 88 runs allowed

Pitching probables
March 31: Dillon Gee vs. Stephen Strasburg, 1 p.m., MASN2 HD
April 2: Bartolo Colon vs. Gio Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD
April 3: Zack Wheeler vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 1 p.m., MASN HD

Series breakdown
The Mets open the 2014 season looking to return to relevancy after five straight losing campaigns. They don't have it easy at the start, as they open the year by hosting many pundits' NL East and World Series favorites, the Washington Nationals.

But New York goes into the year a hopeful club after remaking its outfield with free agents Curtis Granderson and Chris Young. With ace Matt Harvey expected to miss at least the majority of this season, the Mets also brought in starter Bartolo Colon, who won 18 games with Oakland last year.

New York has the Nats and Braves standing in its way when it comes to pushing for a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Mets will need a major rebound from first baseman Ike Davis, who hit nine homers during a nightmarish 2013, and another leap forward from a young rotation that includes Dillon Gee, Jon Niese and Zack Wheeler. In case anyone from that group falters, New York has top pitching prospects in waiting, led by Noah Syndergaard.