The Mets go for a sweep this afternoon to end the first half of the season!
Juan Soto hit a two-run home run Saturday and that was pretty much all the Mets needed as they held on and beat the Royals 3-1. Carlos Mendoza went all out, pushing Edwin Díaz to get get a six out save. Today the Mets should be able to give most of the bullpen the day off as Clay Holmes will be followed by Sean Manaea’s 2025 debut!
Clay Holmes gets the start today, looking to end the first half of the season on a high note! Over 18 starts (98 1/3 innings) he has a 3.29 ERA, 4.27 FIP, 1.261 WHIP and a 116 ERA+. Holmes is coming off of a rough start against the Orioles where he allowed five runs over five innings from seven hits. Before that start, Holmes allowed only eight runs over 26 innings spread over five games (2.77 ERA). The Royals hit him well in 2024, scoring three runs off of five hits over 1 2/3 innings against Holmes. The Royals have the following career numbers against him:
- Freddy Fermín 0-1
- Maikel García 2-7, 2B, 2 K
- Jonathan India 1-3, 2 K
- Kyle Isbel 3-5
- Luke Maile 0-0, BB
- Vinnie Pasquantino 0-3, K
- Salvador Perez 2-5, HR
- Bobby Witt Jr. 0-6, BB, K
The Mets bats will close out the first half against rookie Noah Cameron. Cameron is off to a fine start to his major league career posting a 2.56 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 0.963 WHIP and a 160 ERA+ over 11 starts (63 1/3 innings). He’s been great in July allowing only two runs over 11 2/3 innings while striking out 12 batters. He was more human in the month of June allowing 13 runs over 20 innings stretched over four starts, mostly due to allowing four home runs. The Royals will need Cameron to go deep in today’s game after yesterday’s surprise bullpen game with Michael Lorenzen being a late start due to illness. Cameron can provide that length, going seven innings in his last start and going at least six innings in six of 11 starts this season.
Three Things To Watch For:
- Sean Manaea’s 2025 Debut. Manaea has been sidelined since spring training with an oblique injury followed by an elbow injury while rehabbing. Manaea was the ace of the Mets staff for stretches in 2024, especially when he dropped his arm slot and changed his delivery. Over 32 starts (181 2/3 innings) Manaea had a 3.47 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 1.084 WHIP and a 111 ERA+. In his last rehab start he allowed three runs from four hits over 3 2/3 innings getting up to 73 pitches. The Mets are counting on Holmes and Manaea to carry the pitching staff today.
- Make this man an All-Star already. Juan Soto continued being Juan Soto on Saturday, going 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. It was his second straight game with a home run and his third straight game with an RBI. Soto has a 4.1 bWAR, a league leading 77 walks and is tied in 7th in the league with a .915 OPS this season. His 163 OPS+ is the fourth highest in his career. Hopefully the league makes this snub right today.
- The Mets are stealing more bases. Francisco Lindor stole his 15th base of the season on Saturday. Earlier this week Juan Soto stole his 11th base, just putting him one shy of his single-season best 12 stolen bases in a single season. As a team the Mets have 74 stolen bases, tied with the Marlins for 11th in MLB. The Mets were 16th in the league in 2024, 13th in 2023 and 23rd in 2022. Something to keep an eye on as we head into the second half.
Let’s Go Mets!
