The Mets look to rebound after losing to the first place White Sox Friday night. The Mets took a 4-0 lead scoring in the second, fourth and fifth inning last night but then the White Sox came roaring back. They scored four runs in the sixth and then won the game with a walk-off home run off Jefry Yan in the ninth inning.
The Nationals also lost Friday night so the Mets are still only 2.5 games back of fourth place. They can’t climb out of the cellar this weekend, but they can close the gap further with a win tonight!
Christian Scott has made 18 starts totaling 84 2/3 innings this season with a 3.51 ERA, 3.36 FIP, 1.287 WHIP and a 116 ERA+. August has been a bit rough for Scott who has allowed at least three runs in each of his last three starts (5.87 ERA, 2.89 FIP over 15 1/3 innings). Scott has been striking out hitters a healthy clip, posting an 11.2 K/9 this season, already eclipsing 100+ strikeouts. Over his first eight starts in 2024 he had a 7.4 K/9. The only member who has faced Christian Scott before is Brenton Doyle (1-for-2).
The White Sox acquired Luis Castillo from the Mariners at the trade deadline this season. Overall this season Castillo has pitched 115 1/3 innings with a 4.99 ERA, 4.52 FIP, 1.370 WHIP and an 80 ERA+. In three starts with the White Sox he has pitched 15 2/3 innings with a 4.60 ERA, 4.30 FIP, 1.213 WHIP and a 93 ERA+. But those numbers are hiding small-sample results. In two of those starts, Castillo has allowed nine runs, eight earned, over 8 2/3 innings. In the other start he shutout the Reds over seven innings. The Mets have the following career stats against Castillo:
- Francisco Alvarez 1-2, K
- Bo Bichette 7-20, 2 2B, BB, 3 K
- Francisco Lindor 8-15, 3 2B, 2 HR, K
- Christopher Morel 2-11, 2B, BB
- Luis Robert Jr. 0-6, K
- Marcus Semien 5-21, HR, BB, 2 K
- Luis Torrens 2-4, K
- Eric Wagaman 0-2, K
Three Things To Watch For:
- Bo Bichette. Bo Bichette is closing in on a career high for walks. He is sitting at 36 this season in only 128 games played. He has had 40 walks twice, and 41 walks once. Bichette’s game has been getting hits, he led the league in hits in 2021 and 2022. He is still digging himself out of the whole he his cold start put him in. Even with getting walks at a comparatively high rate, his OBP is still the second lowest in his career.
- Keep the ball in the park! The White Sox hit three massive home runs last night with two in the sixth and the walk off in the ninth. Amazing, Murakami didn’t hit any of those home runs. The long ball has been part of their success as a team this season, hitting 171, good for third in the league behind the Nationals (183) and Yankees (176). The Mets are currently tied for 10th with 156.
- Kodai Senga. Senga allowed a run his last time out on two hits and a walk, but still locked down his fourth save, all in consecutive appearances. Senga has pitched in six games in August allowing one run on three hits and three walks while striking out seven batters (1.50 ERA, 2.75 FIP).
Let’s Go Mets!
