Opening Day is less than two weeks away, which means spring training is quickly coming to a close and baseball games will soon count toward the standings. The Mets are limping to the finish, with four big league regulars set to start the season on the injured list, and one who was projected to be on the Opening Day roster out for the season. Starting pitchers Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea, catcher Francisco Alvarez and infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil will all be out to start the season. Nick Madrigal will be out all year. No team gets through spring training without injuries, and the Mets remain bullish on their depth, but it does create more competition during the final week of camp. With that said, here are five questions the Mets will seek to answer as they enter the home stretch in Port St. Lucie. WILL BRETT BATY MAKE THE TEAM? The Mets have been trying to figure out a role for the former third-base prospect since last summer. With McNeil out with an oblique strain, Baty has a chance to make the Opening Day roster as a second baseman. The team is trying to convert him into a utility infielder. They let the 24-year-old know ahead of spring that he would have to fight for a role in Port St. Lucie, and assured him that he would have every opportunity to do so, giving him time at second and third base. Baty has had an outstanding spring at the plate, maintaining an OPS of over 1.000 and getting the ball in the air more often. His experience at second base is limited to only 27 Triple-A games. With McNeil going down, the Mets don’t have to force Baty into an unfamiliar position. But they do need a shortstop to spell Francisco Lindor, which leads me to the next question… CAN THEY CARRY LUISANGEL ACUÑA? The utility infielder has to be able to spell the shortstop, and Acuña might be the best option. But at what cost would it be to the prospect’s development? The Mets have been discussing this since last season ended. Acuña can play shortstop and played it well in place of Lindor late last season. With the team in the middle of a tight race for a Wild Card playoff spot, the 23-year-old Acuña produced, hitting .308 with three homers, two doubles, a triple and one walk in 40 plate appearances. However, a 14-game sample size is pretty small, and Acuña had already struggled in Triple-A all season. Would it be best to start him in Syracuse? The Mets faced a similar dilemma last spring with Mark Vientos. Slated for a DH spot, the team ultimately decided they needed more power and weren’t comfortable using someone with only 81 games of big league experience as a DH. They signed J.D. Martinez late and Vientos started the season in Triple-A. An outside acquisition probably isn’t in the cards with Donnie Walton and Luis De Los Santos. The Mets could be more inclined to go with one of those two to start the season, especially since De Los Santos has minor league options, to be able to get Acuña more time in Syracuse. Related Articles New York Mets | Bill Madden: Darryl Strawberry a big fan of what Mets are building New York Mets | Bob Raissman: Mets voices need to strike the right balance when it comes to Juan Soto New York Mets | Mets will be without Jeff McNeil on Opening Day due to an oblique injury: ‘We’ve got to keep going’ New York Mets | Mets’ Tylor Megill searching for more consistency entering the season: ‘It’s being confident in your stuff and your strengths’ New York Mets | Mets prospect Drew Gilbert’s hamstring issue lingering, timeline unclear: ‘It’s just more of a day-to-day thing’ WHO WILL BACK UP LUIS TORRENS? Alvarez (hamate surgery) is hoping to return at the end of April, which opens a spot for the No. 2 catcher behind Torrens. Hayden Senger has long been lauded for his defensive abilities behind the plate, but hasn’t hit consistently at any level. In eight Grapefruit League games this year, he has only two hits (2-for-12), both singles. Jakson Reetz has put up similar numbers, but did hit one home run. Chris Williams has only one hit. Reetz has major league experience, which could land him a spot on the Opening Day roster, but they’re familiar with Senger and so is the pitching staff. WILL THEY CARRY SIX STARTERS? The Mets will have four off days in the first month of the regular season, three of which will come before April 10. So how do they construct the roster for the early days of the season? They could carry right-handed starters Griffin Canning and Paul Blackburn, while sending Tylor Megill to the minor leagues until April 11, when they begin a 13-game stretch. Or they could use Megill in the rotation and put Blackburn or Canning in the bullpen. However, assuming Max Kranick makes the Opening Day roster as a reliever, that could mean carrying three long relievers. Maybe that’s not a bad idea early in the season, especially given the concern around Kodai Senga’s health. HOW WILL INJURIES IMPACT METS IN APRIL & MAY? Manaea and Alvarez aren’t expected to be out long, but Senga was supposed to return within six weeks of the start of the regular season last year and didn’t return until July. No team is immune to injuries, especially pitching injuries. This question might not be answered by March 27, but if these end up being longer-term injuries, the Mets may have to adjust some plans. ...read more read less