In their first shutout of spring, the Cardinals got swing-and-miss from their switch-pitcher, intriguing velo from a pair of righties and loft from a lefty Nolan Gorman.

Carson Benge has a novel view on swinging and missing. “I hate striking out,” Benge said after collecting three hits in the Mets’ 6-0 loss to the Cardinals on Wednesday, all on two-strike pitches. “That’s one thing about me.

Mets’ Jonah Tong will stay with the Mets this spring instead of pitching for the Canadian team in the World Baseball Classic to continue his development.

The Cardinals top prospect will get a start at shortstop Wednesday vs. the Mets at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Jonah Tong’ effort to increase his pitch mix continued against the Cardinals, as the 22-year-old flashed the cutter he’s been working on this spring.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor took one step closer to returning from his hamate bone surgery earlier this week. Lindor had the stitches removed from his surgically repaired left hand on Tuesday, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza revealed before Wednesday’s game at Clover Park against the Cardinals.

The Mets’ offseason wasn’t about headlines, until the ending demanded one. Freddy Peralta headlines the rotation after a winter of big-league upgrades.

Former Mets, Cardinals lefty reliever named 'dark horse' to make Phillies roster originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.