The Mets’ 2025 season got off to a rocky start on Opening Day, falling to the Astros 3-1 in Houston. It wasn’t a blowout, but it was the kind of game that leaves fans feeling like it slipped through their fingers—especially with the way things unfolded in the ninth inning. New York had chances, including a golden opportunity late, but couldn’t deliver the clutch hit when it mattered most.

Juan Soto made his much-anticipated Mets debut and started off strong, collecting a single in his first at-bat. It was a promising sign, but from there, the offense struggled to find its rhythm. Credit goes to Astros starter Framber Valdez, who was in complete control. He held the Mets to just one hit over seven shutout innings, keeping the lineup guessing and limiting hard contact all afternoon.

Clay Holmes got the Opening Day start for New York and turned in a decent outing, though not without issues. He went 4.2 innings, gave up two runs on five hits, and issued four walks. Command was inconsistent, and the Astros made him work for every out. A defensive miscue didn’t help matters—Luisangel Acuña’s throwing error in the third inning allowed Christian Walker to score, giving Houston a 3-0 lead and some early breathing room.

Houston did all their scoring in the first three innings, capitalizing on timely hits and Mets mistakes. Yainer Diaz brought in a run with a single, while Jeremy Peña scored on a fielder’s choice earlier in the game. The Astros didn’t blow the game open, but they executed well in key spots. On the other side, the Mets’ bullpen did its job, shutting things down after Holmes exited and giving the offense a chance to climb back in.

That chance came in the top of the ninth. Down 3-0, the Mets loaded the bases with no outs against Houston closer Josh Hader, setting the stage for some Opening Day drama. Francisco Lindor drove in Starling Marte with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1, and with two runners still on, Juan Soto came to the plate with a chance to tie or even take the lead. But Hader won the battle, striking Soto out to end the game.

It was a tough ending for a Mets team that showed late life but couldn’t quite finish the rally. While the offense was mostly quiet, there were still encouraging signs—Soto’s debut hit, a strong showing from the bullpen, and some flashes of fight in the final inning. But the early struggles against Valdez and missed opportunities in the field and at the plate ultimately proved too much to overcome.

Defensively, the Mets weren’t sharp. Acuña’s error loomed large, and a few missed plays added extra stress to Holmes’ outing. On the flip side, Houston made several solid defensive plays, including a leaping grab by Peña and a smooth double play in the fourth inning to halt any momentum New York was building.

It’s only one game, and there’s plenty of baseball ahead. The Mets will look to bounce back in the next matchup of the series and shake off the disappointment of Opening Day. With a long season ahead and talent up and down the roster, there’s still every reason for optimism moving forward.