The Red Sox overcame their plane issues and beat the Mets in the first game of the series last night. The Mets were able to string together 10 hits but old problems returned and they went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Now the Mets need to win the next two games in order to end the first of the season with a series win.
This is a huge start for Freddy Peralta. Unless the Mets go on a historic run for the rest of the month, Peralta will be dealt at the trade deadline. He has started 19 games this season totaling 100 innings with a 4.68 ERA, 4.29 FIP, 1.420 WHIP and an 88 ERA+. Peralta allowed three runs, only one earned in his last start totaling 4 2/3 innings. His starts have been weird recently. He’s been ineffective in two of his last five, allowing a total of 15 runs. In his other three starts in his last five he has allowed only two earned runs but seven runs total thanks to the defense behind him. The Red Sox have the following career stats against him:
- Wilyer Abreu 0-3, 2 K
- Jarren Duran 3-5
- Ceddanne Rafaela 2-2, HR
- Connor Wong 1-2
- Masataka Yoshida 0-3, 2 K
The Red Sox needed a starter today after an injury to Ranger Suárez after his last start. This was a perfect opportunity for the Red Sox to bring back Brayan Bello after his struggles in the rotation earlier this season. Instead the Red Sox are going with Eduardo Rivera who pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings against the Yankees in his Major League debut back at the end of April. Across two levels in the minors, Rivera has pitched 87 innings over 20 games with a 2.48 ERA. He’ll probably go a few innings then its on to the bullpen for the rest of the game.
Three Things To Watch For:
- Brett Baty. Baty has been quietly putting together a hot streak in his last 10 games. In his last 10 he has gone 13-for-38 with four doubles, a home run, two stolen bases and eight runs scored. Before this streak he was hitting .208/.295/.290 and now he’s hitting .226/.301/.322. For context he is a career .230/.296/.360 hitter.
- Watch Fielding Alignments. On Thursday A.J. Ewing played in center then saw time at second base before going back to center. In the same game, Brett Baty moved between second, third and back to second. Yesterday Ewing started the game in center until Tyrone Taylor came in as a pinch hitter and stayed in the game at center. Ewing then took over second from Zack Short. With Marcus Semien injured, Polanco working his way back as a DH, and the inevitable return of Luis Robert Jr, the Mets need to find ways to keep A.J. Ewing (and to a lesser extent, Brett Baty) in the lineup. Let’s see if the defensive alignment changes continue today.
- Trade Targets. Tyrone Taylor came in late as a pinch hitter yesterday and then played center going 0-for-2 at the plate. In his last six games he has a double and three home runs going a combined 4-for-12 with a walk. Raley and Luke Weaver, who both could be traded this month, had another day of rest yesterday. Weaver hasn’t pitched since Monday and has a 1.89 ERA over 38 innings. Raley hasn’t pitched since Wednesday and has a 2.16 ERA over 37 games.
Let’s Go Mets!
