For the second straight season, Travis d’Arnaud will be on the bench for Opening Day.

Kevin Plawecki, who shuffled between Triple-A Las Vegas and the Mets last season, will receive the start in Thursday’s opener, according to manager Mickey Callaway, based on offense.

But Plawecki was also a preferred target for Noah Syndergaard last season.

“It’s probably more of a matchup against [Carlos] Martinez,” Callaway said, referring to the Cardinals’ starting pitcher. “You know Martinez has good stuff, keeps the ball down, and I felt Plawecki can cover that very well.”

Plawecki had a solid spring, posting a .747 OPS after a torrid start. It’s expected he and d’Arnaud will share the position close to equally this season. Such an arrangement proved successful for the Mets in the final six weeks of last season, when Plawecki was among the team’s better performers.

D’Arnaud was on the bench for last year’s opener, as Rene Rivera got the start behind the plate with Syndergaard on the mound.

Bryce Brentz cleared waivers and was out-righted by the Mets to Triple-A Las Vegas. Brentz, an outfielder was claimed off waivers from the Pirates this week.

The Mets are 36-20 all-time on Opening Day, the best winning percentage among major league teams. At Citi Field, the Mets are 4-1 on Opening Day.

The Empire State Building was illuminated in blue and orange tower lights Wednesday night to celebrate the Mets’ opener.

The Mets are asking fans to use mass transportation Thursday with a capacity crowd expected at Citi Field.

Yoenis Cespedes, who has consistently used a translator for interviews during his tenure with the Mets, answered questions in English following Wednesday’s workout.

Cespedes’ answers were clear, with little if any ambiguity.