
For a second day in a row the Mets will attempt to win a baseball series! The Mets took the first two games of the series but dropped Saturday’s game. A loss today will put the Mets right back where they were before Thursday’s game. A win today is the first step in the “just win two of every three games” mantra that made the 2022 team so good.
Jose Quintana looks to give the Mets what they need most right now – a solid start from a starting pitcher. Over 11 starts (58 2/3 innings) Quintana has a 5.06 ERA, 4.83 FIP, 1.364 WHIP and a 75 ERA+. Over his last three starts he has pitched 17 1/3 innings with a 4.15 ERA, 4.47 FIP. It’s not great, but his results are getting more consistent. A massive warning sign did pop up in the month of May though. From March 29th through April 28th, Quintana allowed only three homers over six starts. In his five starts in May he allowed six homers.
Quintana faced the Diamondbacks last season in September holding them two runs over five innings. The Diamondbacks have the following career numbers against him:
- Tucker Barnhart 3-8, 2 BB, 3 K
- Corbin Carroll 0-3, K
- Randal Grichuk 4-16, 2 2B, HR, 5 K
- Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 0-1, BB
- Ketel Marte 4-11, 2B, 2 K
- Jake McCarthy 1-1, BB
- Kevin Newman 10-21, 3 K
- Eugenio Suarez 8-25, 2B, HR, 6 BB, 5 K
- Christian Walker 2-7
The Mets bats will get a look at Brandon Pfaadt this afternoon. Over 11 starts, 67 innings, Pfaadt has a 4.16 ERA, 3.25 FIP, 1.075 WHIP and an 96 ERA+. Pfaadt’s season started off rough allowing 11 runs over a two game span but since then he’s allowed three earned runs or less in each start. The only exception is his last start where he allowed four runs over seven innings. Only two Mets have seen Pfaadt in a major league game. J.D. Martinez is 0-for-2 with a strikeout and Tyrone Taylor has a homer in his only plate appearance against Pfaadt.
Three Things To Watch For:
- The Mark Vientos Show. On Friday Vientos went 3-for-5 at the plate. Saturday Vientos went 2-for-4 with a homer. Since returning to the major leagues he has slashed .326/.380/.609. Does Vientos continue to seize the opportunity to be the Mets everyday third basemen?
- Does Alonso make it four straight games with an extra-base hit? Alonso has hit in three consecutive games with going 4-for-10. All four hits have been for extra bases, hitting three doubles and a home run. While his season slugging is still the lowest it has been in his career (.477 compared to a career .524 mark), it’s starting to creep up in the right direction. Over his last 13 games he has had a .563 slugging percentage raising his season mark by about 20 points in the same stretch.
- Stolen Bases. The Diamondbacks love to steal bases. The Mets have been pretty terrible at holding runners on this year. Neither of these statements are Earth-shattering facts. Saturday the Diamondbacks stole four bases against the Mets. Will they be as aggressive today?
Let’s Go Mets!