Game Preview: Diamondbacks vs Mets

The Mets did it! They won a baseball game!

Francisco Lindor called the team meeting after Wednesday’s game. Francisco Lindor led the team on Thursday going 4-for-4 at the plate with home run and a key hit late that tied the game. J.D. Martinez would later hit a go-ahead shot. Most importantly, Reed Garrett came in and got the one-run save, breaking the cycle of Mets relievers falling apart when they were needed most. A good night in Metsville – and now they need to repeat it again tonight.

Luis Severino has made 10 starts this season totaling 58 2/3 innings with a 3.22 ERA, 3.79 FIP, 1.159 WHIP and a 118 ERA+. He’s coming off of a spectacular start against the Giants where he allowed one run over seven innings from two hits and three walks while striking out six. Severino has been getting it done with limiting exit velocity (average 87.2 mph, 82nd percentile) and getting a lot of ground balls (52.1%, 86th percentile). The Diamondbacks have the following career numbers against him:

  • Tucker Barnhart 1-7, 4 K
  • Randal Grichuk 2-6, HR
  • Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 1-10, 5 K
  • Ketel Marte 0-2
  • Kevin Newman 1-2, K
  • Eugenio Suarez 1-2, 2B, BB

The Mets bats draw Jordan Montgomery who signed as a free agent with the Diamondbacks just as the season was starting. Over seven starts and 40 1/3 innings, Montgomery has a 4.69 ERA, 4.11 FIP, 1.413 WHIP and an 85 ERA+. Montgomery is coming off of a solid start where he allowed nine hits over six innings of work that translated into only two runs. In general, Montgomery is allowing a lot of hits this year, with his lowest total being four (his debut). He’s allowed seven or more hits in four of his starts this season. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

  • Pete Alonso 1-6, 2B, 3 BB, 4 K
  • Harrison Bader 0-3, K
  • Francisco Lindor 6-11, 2 2B, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
  • Starling Marte 3-5, 2B, HR
  • J.D. Martinez 3-26, 2 2B, B, 9 K
  • Jeff McNeil 1-7, BB, 2 K
  • Tomás Nido 0-1, K
  • Brandon Nimmo 2-5
  • DJ Stewart 0-4
  • Tyrone Taylor 1-7, 2 K

Three Things To Watch For:

  1. Francisco Lindor: Lindor extended his hitting streak to nine games on Thursday in a huge way going 4-for-4 at the plate. Over his last nine he has gone 15-for-40 with six extra-base hits, slashing .375/.405/.625. His batting average has gone from .193 to .225 and his OBP from .268 to .291 over this stretch.
  2. Can Marte to do it three games in a row? Marte has collected two hits in each of the last two games going 4-for-7, all singles. Despite getting on base five times (he walked Thursday night too) and stealing a base, he hasn’t scored yet, which says more about the offense behind him than anything else.
  3. Limiting Walks. The Mets are at their worst when they walk a ton of batters. It puts them in constant danger and eats through their bullpen. Thursday the Mets only walked three Diamondbacks, scattered in three different innings (although I’ll admit the leadoff walk in the ninth caused some agita). This is a recipe for success.

Let’s Go Mets!

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