The vibes are cold, but good heading into this afternoon’s Mets game! For a second straight day the Mets will play a few hours earlier than originally scheduled due to the cold temperatures in the area today. The cold couldn’t stop the Mets yesterday who had a comeback win, eventually beating the Diamondbacks in extra innings. It was the Mets fourth win and second comeback win in a row. This was also the Mets third extra-inning game this season. Hopefully the Mets can extend their winning streak to five in regulation today!
David Peterson has a 4.66 ERA over 9 2/3 innings, but that hides how different his two starts have been. In his first start of the season he held the Pirates scoreless over 5 1/3 innings, scattering six hits and two walks. Last time out against the Giants he allowed six runs, five earned over 4 1/3 innings from nine hits and two walks. Peterson faced the Diamondbacks in back-to-back starts last season. In Queens he allowed only one run over five and then on the road he allowed four runs, two earned, over six innings. The Diamondbacks have the following numbers against Peterson:
- Nolan Arenado 2-3
- Luken Baker 0-3, 2 K
- Jorge Barrosa 1-3, 2B, K
- Corbin Carroll 2-9, 3 K
- Ketel Marte 2-10, 2B, HR, 4 K
- James McCann 0-0, BB
- Gabriel Moreno 1-2
- Geraldo Perdomo 2-8, 2B, 3 BB, K
- Tim Tawa 0-2
- Ildemaro Vargas 4-12, 2 2B, K
Ryne Nelson has allowed 11 runs but only six earned over his first 9 1/3 innings this season. He’s also had to face two tough lineups to start the season. The Dodgers tagged him for four runs over 4 2/3 innings hitting two home runs and walking three times. The Braves then got him for seven runs, only two earned, over 4 2/3 innings also allowing two home runs. He was great at Citi Field last season holding the Mets hitless over four innings. Then in his next start he allowed two runs from three hits and four walks over 4 1/3. The Mets have the following career numbers against Nelson:
- Francisco Alvarez 1-8, HR, 4 K
- Brett Baty 0-1, BB, K
- Bo Bichette 1-5, BB, K
- Francisco Lindor 4-10, 2 3B, HR, 3 K
- Ronny Mauricio 1-2, HR
- Jorge Polanco 0-2, 2 K
- Luis Robert Jr. 1-5, HR, 2 K
- Marcus Semien 1-5, 2 K
- Tyrone Taylor 1-4, 3B, K
- Luis Torrens 0-2
- Mark Vientos 2-6
Three Things To Watch For:
- Does Nelson make adjustments? Over two starts this season, Nelson has a 110 Stuff+ on his fastball and 114 on his slider. He’s used his fastball 53.4% of the time and he’s been hit around with a .286 BA and a staggering .517 xBA. He actually used his fastball more last season (61.9%) with a .244 xBA. His slider though has been another story. He’s used it 22.1% of time, up from last year’s 14.3%, and it hasn’t been hit at all (.147 xBA).
- He has sunshine on a cold day. As Francisco Lindor goes, the Mets go. Lindor went 2-for-5 yesterday and scored twice. It was Lindor’s third multi-hit game of the season (he actually only has hits in four games!). It was the third time this season that Lindor scored more than one run. The Mets need their table setter today!
- Sean Manaea Day? Manaea last pitched for the Mets on April 4/2, which was also Peterson’s last start. Manaea gave the Mets bullpen some much needed relief going 3 2/3 innings allowing one run on four hits and two walks. On the season he has allowed one run over five innings. The underlying stuff is still fairly alarming, despite the on field success. Manaea’s four seamer is averaging 89.6 mph and he’s using it half as much as he did last season (60.5% to 34%). He’s not getting whiffs (23.8%, 41st percentile) and hitters are making solid contact against him (11th percentile for average exit velocity, 38th for Hard-hit%).
Let’s Go Mets!
