213 Miles From Shea

The Mets skipped across the pond Wednesday evening and have had the last two days to prepare for international baseball, welcome to London lads!

For the third time in MLB’s history, games will be played in London Stadium, the home of West Ham United F.C. The fireworks this afternoon/evening (depending on what country you are watching this game in) won’t be created by star midfielders Mohammed Kudus and Edson Álvarez . It is Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso’s turn!

Sean Manaea has made 11 starts totaling 57 innings this season with a 3.63 ERA, 3.42 FIP, 1.298 WHIP and a 105 ERA+. He’s coming off of a rough start against the Diamondbacks where he allowed six runs, five earned over 5 2/3 innings but still managed to have a season high in strikeouts at 10. He last faced the Phillies on May 13th and allowed only one earned run from four hits and a walk over six innings while striking out six. The Phillies have the following career numbers against him:

• Alec Bohm 1-5, HR, 2 K
• Nick Castellanos 5-11, 2B, 2 HR, 3 K
• Bryce Harper 2-6, 2B, K
• Whit Merrifield 4-11, 2 2B, BB, 2 K
• J.T. Realmuto 0-2, BB, 2 K
• Johan Rojas 0-3, K
• Kyle Schwarber 0-0, 2 BB
• Edmundo Sosa 3-4, 2B, 3B, HR, K
• Bryson Stott 3-6, HR, BB
• Garrett Stubbs 1-2

The Mets bats will really get to test the theory if London Stadium is still a hitters park as they face one of the best pitchers in baseball this year, Ranger Suárez. Over 12 starts (74 innings), Suárez has a 1.70 ERA (league leading), 2.65 FIP, 0.797 WHIP (league leading) and a 236 ERA+ (you guessed it, league leading). The Mets scored two unearned runs against Suárez back on May 15th off of four hits and two walks over five innings. Suárez had a short outing his last time out when he took a 106 mph comebacker off of his pitching thumb. This is of course something to keep an eye on today. The Mets have the following career numbers against Suárez:

• Pete Alonso 1-15, 2B, 4 BB, 3 K
• Harrison Bader 1-2
• José Iglesias 2-2
• Francisco Lindor 3-13, HR, BB, K
• Starling Marte 4-13, 2 BB, K
• J.D. Martinez 2-7, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Jeff McNeil 2-10, 2B, 3B, K
• Tomás Nido 0-4, 3 K
• Brandon Nimmo 3-19, 3 BB, 2 K
• Tyrone Taylor 1-5, K
• Luis Torrens 0-2, BB, K
• Mark Vientos 3-9, 2B, HR, 3 K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Come On You Irons! West Ham United F.C., also referred to as the Irons invoke iron hammers in club imagery. The Mets and Phillies will be looking to use their hammers today in what has historically been a high scoring ballpark. In 2019, before the fences were brought in, the Red Sox and Yankees combined for 10 home runs over two games. Before heading across the pond the Mets hit six homers over their three game sweep against the Nationals.
2. Mushy P’s and Proper Relievers. The bulk of the Mets has been a bit mushy for the better part of the month. The Mets pen has lost six games where the Mets were leading in the 8th or leader. There were two games where the Mets bullpen allowed big leads to almost slip away at the last moment. But the Mets have won five of their last seven games and that’s because of two new relievers who are off to strong starts. Dedniel Núñez has allowed only three earned runs over 11 2/3 innings with an astounding 19 K’s. Danny Young has allowed one unearned run over 6 2/3 innings while striking out eight.
3. Changing of the Guard? When the Mets traded for Luis Torrens out of the Yankees minor league system, it was widely assumed at the time he would be the odd man out once Francisco Álvarez comes back. All Torrens has done though since coming up is hit for power. He has gone 3-for-10 at the plate with two homers and a double. Nido over his last five games has gone 4-for-13 at the plate with a double and a homer. Nido probably still has the advantage here, but both catchers will be auditioning all weekend for who gets to stay when Álvarez returns.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets have finally done it! They won a baseball series!

It has been about a month since the Mets last won a series and now they have the opportunity to sweep the Nationals before going into a long, two day travel period heading over to London. The Mets looked loose last night and scored six or more runs for the second game in a row. Further the bullpen was able to close the door in the ninth inning (although it still wasn’t pretty).

Luis Severino has made 11 starts (64 innings) this season with a 3.52 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 1.172 WHIP and a 108 ERA+. His last start wasn’t the best, allowing four runs over 5 1/3 innings. He said after the game he wasn’t feeling well at the beginning of the game, and then ate some energy gummies and then felt better later in his start. He is in the midst of a pattern right now alternating good starts and bad starts. He’s allowed two earned runs or less or in three of his last six and four earned runs or more in the other. The Nationals have the following career numbers against him:

• CJ Abrams 0-3, K
• Joey Gallo 0-2, BB, K
• Joey Meneses 0-3
• Eddie Rosario 3-8, 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
• Keibert Ruiz 1-3
• Nick Senzel 0-2, K
• Lane Thomas 0-3
• Ildemaro Vargas 0-1, BB

The Mets leave DC facing long-time National Patrick Corbin. Corbin, who led the league in losses for three consecutive seasons from 2021-2023 is having another Corbin like year. Over 12 starts and 66 1/3 innings he has a 5.83 ERA, 4.84 FIP, 1.673 WHIP and a 68 ERA+. He is currently leading the league in hits allowed at 85, a stat he has led the league in for three of the last five seasons. That being said, Corbin has been largely successful in his last month of work. He’s allowed 19 earned runs over six starts, but eight of those runs came in one start. He has allowed only five earned runs over his last 12 innings from 10 hits.

The Mets faced Corbin three times in 2023 recording 14 runs from 21 hits over 15 2/3 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 14-44, 2 2B, 5 HR, 9 BB, 12 K (1.130 OPS)
• Harrison Bader 3-12, 2B, HR, BB, 9 K
• José Iglesias 5-11, 2 2B
• Francisco Lindor 12-38, 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 K
• Starling Marte 13-42, 2 2B, HR, 2 BB, 10 K
• J.D. Martinez 1-1, 2B, 2 BB
• Jeff McNeil 10-37, 2B, 2 BB, 5 K
• Tomás Nido 3-10, 5 K
• Brandon Nimmo 10-37, HR, 2 BB, 12 K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-4, K
• Mark Vientos 2-3, 2B, 3B

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Pete Alonso’s bat is waking up! Alonso hit his 14th homer of the season on Tuesday, his second over four games in June. On May 30th Alonso came into a game as a pinch hitter and ripped a double. Since then he has gone 7-for-24 with three doubles and two homers slashing .292/.320/.667. He has a 1.130 OPS against Patrick Corbin. Let’s leave in America on a high note Pete!
2. Nimmo is finding his bat again! Nimmo has had three multi-hit games in his last five played, which is generally a sign that he is about to heat up. Since May 31st he has gone 7-for-21 with two doubles and triple slashing .333/.364/.524. Lindor has been hot. Pete is getting hot. Vientos has provided a spark. If Nimmo comes along to the offense will really be clicking in London over the weekend.
3. The Mets bullpen has incrementally better days. The Mets bullpen survived on Saturday, blew the game on Sunday and survived again on Monday night. Tuesday the bullpen didn’t completely fall apart with Reed Garrett making it interesting in the ninth inning, allowing a run to score on a hit and two walks. Until the bullpen consistently starts showing more success, we will be wary going into the late innings with any lead.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets look to take the series tonight in DC! Monday night the Mets and Nationals were locked in a back-and-forth type game with the Mets eventually taking an 8-5 lead. Things were looking good for the Mets until the ninth inning where things almost fell apart. The Mets were able to squeak by with an 8-7 win. Did Monday’s game finally exorcise the Mets demons?

David Peterson looks to give the Mets what starting pitchers have struggled too in the last week – length. In his 2024 debut last week he tossed five innings allowing three runs, two earned, off seven hits and a walk. He tossed 86 pitches facing 22 batters. As a starter against the Nationals last season he allowed six runs from nine hits and two walks over five innings. Later in the season he faced the Nationals in relief, totaling four innings over two games holding the Nationals to one unearned run from four hits. The Nationals have the following career numbers against him:

• CJ Abrams 1-5, K
• Luis García Jr. 3-12, 3 K
• Joey Meneses 3-6, 2 2B, BB, K
• Eddie Rosario 1-2
• Keibert Ruiz 2-7, BB
• Nick Senzel 4-6, 2B, HR, BB
• Lane Thomas 2-7, 2B, 2 BB, K
• Ildemaro Vargas 4-6, 2 2B
• Jesse Winker 1-2, 2B

The Mets will face an old friend tonight in Trevor Williams who is now in his second season with the Nationals. Williams was a critical piece of the 2022 Mets team, putting up a 3.21 ERA, 3.88 FIP, 1.227 WHIP and a 120 ERA+ over 30 games including nine starts. In 2024 he’s having a career year at age 32. Over 11 starts spread out over 56 2/3 innings he has a 2.22 ERA, 2.78 FIP, 1.076 WHIP and a 178 ERA+. Over his last two starts he has allowed one earned run from nine hits while striking out 12 batters. He’s allowed one earned run or less in seven of his last eight starts.

The Mets got his number though last year, scoring 10 runs from 18 hits over 11 1/3 innings in three starts. The Mets have the following career numbers against Trevor:

• Pete Alonso 3-13, 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
• Harrison Bader 6-15, 2B, 4 K
• José Iglesias 2-8, 3B
• Francisco Lindor 4-14, 2 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
• Starling Marte 0-3, BB
• J.D. Martinez 2-5, 2B, HR, 2 K
• Jeff McNeil 4-13, 2B, 3B, 3 BB, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 1-10, BB, 4 K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-2

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Playing time at second. Jeff McNeil did not start Monday’s game despite having good career numbers against MacKenzie Gore (6-for-7, BB). José Iglesias got the start instead and went 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored and a stolen base. Does Mendoza go with the hot hand? If he goes with McNeil, does he pinch hit for him later in the game?
2. Mark Vientos. Over his last 12 games Vientos has gone 15-for-42 at the plate with three doubles and four homers. He’s slashing .357/.438/.714 in that stretch. In Monday’s game that translated into two runs scored. This is the exact spark the Mets needed in their lineup.
3. What will the Mets bullpen do today? Adrian Houser held things down for the Mets with 2 1/3 scoreless innings on Monday and Drew Smith coming off the injured list finished off the 8th inning for him. Then Ottavino came in for the 9th and the game started to disintegrate. The Mets bullpen just needs a clean end of the game.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets kick off a weird week with a quick road trip to DC. The Mets are coming off of another loss where they had the lead late, but couldn’t hold on, in what has become a horrendous stretch. Further this week the Mets have two days off Thursday and Friday as they make the journey to London.

The Nationals are four games below .500 but generally have been punching above their weight this season. This week provides an opportunity for the Mets to slow the Nationals roll. For the Nationals, they have a chance to show they are a Wild Card contender.

Tylor Megill has a 1.69 ERA, 1.96 FIP, 1.000 WHIP and a 229 ERA+ over three starts and 16 innings so far this season. He’s coming off of a tremendous start against the Dodgers where he shut the Dodgers out over seven innings, limiting them to three hits while striking out nine. In his only start against the Nationals last season, Megill allowed two runs, one earned over five innings. The Nationals have the following career numbers against Megill:

• CJ Abrams 0-2
• Joey Gallo 1-3, HR, 2 K
• Luis García Jr. 1-7, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Joey Meneses 1-4
• Eddie Rosario 5-10, 2 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
• Keibert Ruiz 2-5, 2B, BB, K
• Lane Thomas 1-10, HR, BB, 5 K
• Ildemaro Vargas 1-1

The Mets bats draw MacKenzie Gore in the midst of a breakout season. Over 11 starts, 58 2/3 innings, Gore has a 2.91 ERA, 2.82 FIP, 1.278 WHIP and a 134 ERA+. For comparison, last season over 27 starts he had a 4.42 ERA, 4.89 FIP, 1.401 WHIP and a 96 ERA+. Over his last two starts he has allowed three runs, two earned over 12 1/3 innings of work while striking out 18 batters.

Gore faced the Mets three times in 2023 holding the Mets to four runs despite allowing 14 hits and walking eight batters over 15 innings of work. He also struck the Mets out 15 times. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 1-7, BB, K
• Harrison Bader 1-2
• José Iglesias 1-2
• Francisco Lindor 0-8
• Starling Marte 2-5, K
• J.D. Martinez 1-2, HR, K
• Jeff McNeil 6-7, BB
• Tomás Nido 0-2, K
• Brandon Nimmo 2-8, BB, 2 K
• Tyrone Taylor 1-5, HR, K
• Mark Vientos 0-2, K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Jeff McNeil. Jeff McNeil has not had a very Jeff McNeil like season, currently hitting .227/.296/.320 (82 OPS+). He’s a career .293/.356/.429 hitter with a career OPS+ of 118. In three of the four last seasons, his OPS+ has been below 100, but in the one season it wasn’t, he had a 140 OPS+. A great way to start heading back to his career averages is getting a few hits against a pitcher he has hit well against in the past. McNeil has gone 6-for-7 lifetime with a walk against Gore.
2. Washington’s Run Scoring Style. The Nationals are 27th in the league in home runs and 1st in the league in stolen bases with 94 this season. The Mets lost Saturday’s game because of stolen bases and homers. The Mets lost Sunday’s game due to homers. So this is mixed for the Mets. While they have been weak to homers recently, that’s not the Nationals strength. The Mets have been letting teams run wild on them and that is something the Nationals do regardless. Let’s see how things shake out this week.
3. Mets bullpen usage. The Mets need to get through three games and then everyone gets two days off. Adrian Houser was the only pitcher who wasn’t used Sunday in the pen and we’ve seen the Mets already deploy him in a way that allows him to close out the game. The only pitcher who pitched on back-to-back days is Danny Young. In an ideal world, Megill goes deep and Houser can close things out today.

Let’s Go Mets!

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:

1. 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?
2. 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.
3. 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!

The Mets Friday night allowed four runs in the ninth inning, but still won the game! It’s a new era in 2024 Mets baseball!

The Mets look to extend their winning streak to three games this afternoon and win their first series in 64 years. It is also Darryl Strawberry’s number retirement ceremony! Strawberry’s name can be found all over the Mets career leader boards:

• #2 Position WAR – 36.6
• #3 Slugging – .520
• #3 OPS – .878
• #9 Games Played – 1109
• #7 Plate Appearances – 4549
• #3 Runs Scored – 662
• #9 Hits – 1025
• #9 Doubles – 187
• #6 Triples – 30 (Tied with Brandon Nimmo)
• #2 RBI’s – 733
• #5 Stolen Bases – 191
• #1 Home Runs – 252

Strawberry has left his mark on the organization and now the Mets will finally give him his flowers, putting his number where it belongs with other Mets greats.

Sean Manaea looks to give the bullpen a rest today. Over 10 starts (51 1/3 innings) he has a 3.16 ERA, 3.46 FIP, 1.286 WHIP and a 120 ERA+. Over his last seven starts (36 2/3 innings) he has a 2.70 ERA and a 3.49 FIP, so getting better results on the field despite having similar stuff to his season as a whole. After starting May off with back-to-back six inning outings, Manaea has pitched five innings in his last two starts.

Manaea faced the Diamondbacks three times last year, all in relief, totaling 2 1/3 innings where he allowed one run off a hit and a walk. The Diamondbacks have the following career numbers against Manaea:

• Corbin Carroll 0-2, BB
• Randal Grichuk 5-14, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, BB, K
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 0-4, K
• Ketel Marte 8-25, 2 2B, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
• Jake McCarthy 1-5, 2B
• Pavin Smith 0-3, 2 K
• Eugenio Suarez 1-3, BB
• Christian Walker 4-19, 2B, BB, 4 K

The Mets bats will look to build off Friday’s offense explosion facing Slade Cecconi this afternoon. Over six games, five starts this season Slade has pitched 32 1/3 innings with a 6.12 ERA, 5.92 FIP, 1.052 WHIP and a 66 ERA+. May was an interesting month for Slade. he had one good start where he allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings. In each of his other three outings he allowed exactly six runs. This came after an April where he allowed only three runs over 12 innings. Which Slade do the Mets get today? No one on the Mets roster has faced Slade in a major league game.

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Lindor’s hot streak continues. Lindor stretched his hitting streak to 10 games Friday night going 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, a stolen base and a run scored. He has now gone 17-for-44 over his last 10 games with seven extra-base hits while hitting .386/.426/.636. The Mets are also 2-0 after he called the team meeting.
2. J.D. Martinez breakout time? The Mets brought in J.D.’s bat to give solidify the Mets lineup. He has now homered in back-to-back games and three times over his last seven games. Additionally he has an extra-base hit in three consecutive games and hasn’t struck out in his last two games (16 strikeouts in the seven games before that). If he breaks out the same time that Lindor is heating up, the Mets can start to go on a bit of a run.
3. Can the bullpen have a normal game today? Thursday the Mets bullpen took a one run lead and locked it down. Friday the Mets bullpen took a five run lead in the ninth inning and allowed four runs, but still held on for the win. Over the last week we’ve seen the bullpen lose big leads or take tied games in extra innings into insurmountable situations for hitters. Let’s just have a normal day please.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets did it! They won a baseball game!

Francisco Lindor called the team meeting after Wednesday’s game. Francisco Lindor led the team on Thursday going 4-for-4 at the plate with home run and a key hit late that tied the game. J.D. Martinez would later hit a go-ahead shot. Most importantly, Reed Garrett came in and got the one-run save, breaking the cycle of Mets relievers falling apart when they were needed most. A good night in Metsville – and now they need to repeat it again tonight.

Luis Severino has made 10 starts this season totaling 58 2/3 innings with a 3.22 ERA, 3.79 FIP, 1.159 WHIP and a 118 ERA+. He’s coming off of a spectacular start against the Giants where he allowed one run over seven innings from two hits and three walks while striking out six. Severino has been getting it done with limiting exit velocity (average 87.2 mph, 82nd percentile) and getting a lot of ground balls (52.1%, 86th percentile). The Diamondbacks have the following career numbers against him:

• Tucker Barnhart 1-7, 4 K
• Randal Grichuk 2-6, HR
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 1-10, 5 K
• Ketel Marte 0-2
• Kevin Newman 1-2, K
• Eugenio Suarez 1-2, 2B, BB

The Mets bats draw Jordan Montgomery who signed as a free agent with the Diamondbacks just as the season was starting. Over seven starts and 40 1/3 innings, Montgomery has a 4.69 ERA, 4.11 FIP, 1.413 WHIP and an 85 ERA+. Montgomery is coming off of a solid start where he allowed nine hits over six innings of work that translated into only two runs. In general, Montgomery is allowing a lot of hits this year, with his lowest total being four (his debut). He’s allowed seven or more hits in four of his starts this season. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 1-6, 2B, 3 BB, 4 K
• Harrison Bader 0-3, K
• Francisco Lindor 6-11, 2 2B, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
• Starling Marte 3-5, 2B, HR
• J.D. Martinez 3-26, 2 2B, B, 9 K
• Jeff McNeil 1-7, BB, 2 K
• Tomás Nido 0-1, K
• Brandon Nimmo 2-5
• DJ Stewart 0-4
• Tyrone Taylor 1-7, 2 K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Francisco Lindor: Lindor extended his hitting streak to nine games on Thursday in a huge way going 4-for-4 at the plate. Over his last nine he has gone 15-for-40 with six extra-base hits, slashing .375/.405/.625. His batting average has gone from .193 to .225 and his OBP from .268 to .291 over this stretch.
2. Can Marte to do it three games in a row? Marte has collected two hits in each of the last two games going 4-for-7, all singles. Despite getting on base five times (he walked Thursday night too) and stealing a base, he hasn’t scored yet, which says more about the offense behind him than anything else.
3. Limiting Walks. The Mets are at their worst when they walk a ton of batters. It puts them in constant danger and eats through their bullpen. Thursday the Mets only walked three Diamondbacks, scattered in three different innings (although I’ll admit the leadoff walk in the ninth caused some agita). This is a recipe for success.

Let’s Go Mets!

Tonight is one of those moments where both teams get to exhale and say, “well, at least we are playing the Mets/Diamondbacks”.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are five games below .500 and currently riding a three game losing streak with a -4 run differential. They come to Citi Field tonight as one of the better defensive teams in the league, just the results of games haven’t worked out for them. They have scored the 10th most runs in the league yet they have only a -4 run differential. They sorely need a series against a struggling Mets team.

As long as you were on planet Earth on Wednesday, you know the state of the Mets. They got swept by the Dodgers falling to 11 games below .500. Like four of their last six games, the Mets were tied at one point late in the game and had a meltdown. Wednesday’s meltdown just happened to be spectacular leading to a team meeting and a player getting DFA’d hours after the game. The Mets sorely need a series against an underperforming Diamondbacks team.

Christian Scott looks to right the ship for the Mets this afternoon. Over four starts and 22 2/3 innings, Scott has a 3.97 ERA, 3.79 FIP, 1.103 WHIP and a 97 ERA+. He’s coming off of strong start against the Giants where he allowed two runs from two hits over six innings. According to Baseball Savant, Scott’s performance so far has been about league average, which is fine. The Mets need average right now. He’s in the 73rd percentile for xERA (3.31) and the 84th for BB% (5.4%), he’s just not getting hitters yet to consistently chase his pitches (26th percentile).

The Mets bats start the series off against the ace of the Diamondbacks rotation, Zac Gallen. Over 10 games and 57 2/3 innings, Gallen has a 3.12 ERA, 3.23 FIP, 1.127 WHIP and a 128 ERA+. Gallen has a better FIP over his last three starts (2.98) than his season line, but a worse ERA (3.66). He’s struck out 19 batters over his last 19 2/3. The Mets hit Gallen hard last year, tagging him for seven runs, six earned over five innings while the Diamondbacks were making their September run. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 4-14, 2B, 2 BB, 6 K
• Harrison Bader 0-2
• Brett Baty 2-3, K
• Francisco Lindor 2-9, 2B, BB, K
• Starling Marte 0-2, 2 BB, K
• J.D. Martinez 3-6, HR, K
• Jeff McNeil 3-16, 2B, 4 K
• Omar Narváez 0-8, 2 K
• Tomás Nido 1-3, BB, K
• DJ Stewart 0-2
• Tyrone Taylor 1-5, 2B, BB, K
• Mark Vientos 1-3, HR, K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Can the Mets have a normal day? I don’t remember the last time the Mets had a normal day, can they have one today? Yesterday started off with Edwin Díaz landing on the IL right before first pitch. Alonso then left the game after getting hit by a pitch, the Mets bullpen blew the game wide open for the Dodgers in 8th inning and then everything else happened. The Mets are in desperate need for a normal day.
2. Danny Young. It was announced after the game that Danny Young will be returning the Mets for tonight’s game. The Mets bullpen was already taxed from the doubleheader on Tuesday. Wednesday they had to put in extra work and lost two relievers, so the current state is pretty bad. Danny Young pitched three innings over two games earlier this season allowing an unearned run off two hits and three walks while striking out 13. Over 12 games in Syracuse he has a 1.59 ERA. He’s walked 11 batters over 11 1/3 innings but has also struck out 18.
3. Hitting with runners in scoring position. There are a lot of problems with the Mets right now, and this one has been fairly consistent over the last couple of weeks. The Mets went 1-for-6 with RISP and left 10 batters on base overall in yesterday’s game. This has been true throughout the weekend. There is an incredible amount of pressure on the bullpen to be perfect, because the offense is just not producing runs.

Let’s Go Mets!

Tuesday was a new low point for the Mets. The Mets had the lead most of the afternoon in the first game. In the 8th they made a series of defensive miscues to allow one run. In the 9th they allowed the Dodgers to tie it and then left the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. Then the Mets self-destructed in the 10th. This felt like Saturday’s game all over again. The Mets bats just disappeared after the game as the Dodgers made quick work of the Mets in the second game.

Now the Mets are 10 games below .500 and trying to avoid being swept, again.

David Peterson returns for the Mets this afternoon! Peterson had hip surgery near the start of November and has been working his way back since. In 2023 he pitched in 27 games for the Mets including 21 starts totaling 111 innings with a 5.03 ERA, 4.34 FIP, 1.568 WHIP and an 82 ERA+. Over six rehab starts spread across three levels in 2024, Peterson has a 1.14 ERA over 23 2/3 innings with 35 strikeouts.

Peterson faced the Dodgers twice last season. He had a fairly terrible start against the Dodgers allowing six runs over six innings from seven hits and no walks. Then in relief he allowed one run from two hits over an inning. The Dodgers have the following numbers against Peterson:

• Austin Barnes 0-1, BB, K
• Mookie Betters 2-5, 2B, K
• Freddie Freeman 5-15, 2 HR, BB, 5 K
• Kiké Hernández 1-3, 2B, K
• Teoscar Hernández 2-2, HR
• Jason Heyward 0-3
• Gavin Lux 0-1, BB
• Shohei Ohtani 1-4, K
• Miguel Rojas 6-12, 2 2B, HR, K
• Chris Taylor 0-5, 3 K
• Miguel Vargas 0-3

The Mets bats look to end the series with a boom against James Paxton. Over nine games (49 innings) he has a 3.49 ERA, 5.65 FIP, 1.429 WHIP and a 115 ERA+. Paxton is coming off two rough games where he allowed eight runs over 10 2/3 seasons from 12 hits and four homers. Paxton had one start against the Mets last year where he allowed three runs, two earned over six innings while striking out seven batters. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 2-6, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
• Brett Baty 0-2
• Francisco Lindor 3-14, 2B, BB, 5 K
• Starling Marte 1-2, K
• J.D. Martinez 10-22, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 4 K
• Jeff McNeil 4-7, 2B
• Brandon Nimmo 0-3, 2 K
• DJ Stewart 0-1, BB
• Mark Vientos 0-2

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Mets with good numbers against Paxton. Jeff McNeil is 1-for-13 over his last four games, slashing .077/.200/.154. J.D. Martinez is 3-for-21 over his last five games with a homer and 12 strikeouts (.143/.182/.286). Both have great career numbers against Paxton as seen above. This is a great opportunity for both players to break out of whatever is propelling the slump.
2. The Mets bullpen is tired. The bullpen got Sunday and Monday off, but needed to put a lot of work in yesterday. Only Sean Reid-Foley and Edwin Díaz  haven’t been used over the last several days, but both pitchers played a role in Saturday’s heart-wrenching loss. Houser is in an interesting position because he pitched four innings on Sunday but threw only 44 pitches.
3. The Vibes. Things are pretty bad on the Mets right now. After the first game yesterday the Mets looked liked they were sapped of personality and hope in the nightcap. How do they come out in today’s game? Do work at bats? They take wild cuts at swings? The Mets approach will give us a clue on how today’s game is going to go.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets escaped a series sweep from the Giants and now welcome the Dodgers to town! Due to thunderstorms rolling through the area yesterday, we now have a doubleheader this afternoon!

The Mets finally got a win on Sunday, snapping their five game losing streak in a fairly unconventional fashion. Sean Manaea was solid for the Mets over five innings and then Houser came in with four of his best innings of relief this year, allowing only one run to score, which changed the score from 2-1 to 3-1 Giants. The Mets then rallied in the bottom of the ninth, finally getting some hits with runners in scoring position, to win the game 4-3. Could this be an inflection point of the season for the Mets?

Tylor Megill makes his second start since returning from the injured list for the Mets. Over two starts this season he has allowed five runs, three earned, over nine innings while striking out 11 batters. He looked solid in his last start, allowing three runs, two earned over five innings racking up seven strikeouts and tossing 86 pitches overall. In his one start against the Dodgers in 2023, he allowed three runs from seven hits and four walks while striking out four batters over five innings. The Dodgers have the following career numbers against him:

• Austin Barnes 0-2
• Freddie Freeman 5-11, 3 K
• Teoscar Hernández 1-5, K
• Jason Heyward 1-3
• Shohei Ohtani 0-2
• Miguel Rojas 1-4, BB, K
• Will Smith 0-2, K
• Chris Taylor 1-2, K
• Miguel Vargas 0-2, BB, K

The Mets bats will start the afternoon off by facing Tyler Glasnow. This season Glasnow has made 11 starts totaling 67 innings with a 3.09 ERA, 2.46 FIP, 0.910 WHIP and a 130 ERA+. He leads the league in strikeouts (87), strikeouts per nine (11.7) and wild pitches (8). He’s looked more human in his last two starts allowing seven runs over 10 innings from 10 hits while striking out 14. One of his best starts of the season was against the Mets in late April where he held the Mets scoreless over eight innings while striking out 10. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 1-9, 7 K
• Harrison Bader 2-10, 2 K
• Brett Baty 0-3, K
• Francisco Lindor 2-12, 5 K
• Starling Marte 1-7, HR, 4 K
• J.D. Martinez 4-16, 2 2B, HR, 3 BB, 6 K
• Jeff McNeil 3-10, 2B, BB, K
• Tomás Nido 1-3, K
• Brandon Nimmo 1-6, 3 BB, K
• DJ Stewart 1-6, 3 K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-2, 2 K

Jose Quintana is on the bump for the nightcap. Over 10 starts, 52 2/3 innings, he has a 5.13 ERA, 4.63 FIP, 1.367 WHIP and a 74 ERA+. Quintana has been solid in his last two starts, allowing five runs from eight hits and no walks over 11 1/3 innings (3.97 ERA, 3.40 FIP) with opponents slashing .200/.238/.300 against him. The Dodgers have the following career numbers against him:

• Austin Barnes 2-10, 4 BB, K
• Mookie Betts 7-25, 2 2B, HR, 2 BB, 6 K
• Freddie Freeman 3-13, HR, 3 BB, 3 K
• Kiké Hernández 4-13, 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
• Jason Heyward 1-2, 2B, K
• Gavin Lux 2-7, 2B, K
• Miguel Rojas 3-10
• Will Smith 1-6, 2 K
• Chris Taylor 8-24, 3 2B, 2 BB, 8 K
• Miguel Vargas 1-2

The Mets bats will get a look at Gavin Stone who has made nine starts this season pitching 50 innings. He has a 3.60 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 1.300 WHIP and a 112 ERA+. Gavin Stone is coming off of his first rough start since April 20th (when he faced the Mets. After facing the Mets, Stone pitched four games allowing four earned runs (exactly one run per game) over 26 innings (1.38 ERA, 4.32 FIP). In his last start he allowed four runs over six innings from eight hits and a walk.

Against the Mets this season he allowed two runs from four hits and five walks over 3 1/3 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 0-2
• Harrison Bader 0-2
• Francisco Lindor 1-2, 2B
• Starling Marte 0-2, K
• Jeff McNeil 1-1, 2B, BB
• Omar Narváez 0-2
• Brandon Nimmo 0-0, 2 BB
• DJ Stewart 0-0, 2 BB

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Can the Mets keep Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts off the basepaths? Ohtani and Betts are third and sixth respectively in OPS this season. Ohtani is currently hitting .336/.403/.621 with a 1.024 OPS and a 188 OPS+. He’s leading the league in all of those stats just listed except for OBP. He’s in the 99th or 100th percentile for six different hitting stats on Baseball Savant. Betts is hitting .335/.431/.542 with a .974 OPS and a 177 OPS+. The Mets have to keep both hitters in check tonight and throughout the series.
2. The bullpen is rested. From Wednesday through Saturday the Mets bullpen player a role in three straight losses for the Mets. Adrian Houser saved the entire bullpen yesterday pitching four innings allowing only one run (which makes up for his performance on Tuesday where he allowed six runs as a starter). This now becomes even more important with two games today. If one or both starters today do not go deep the bullpen will have to be depleted.
3. Working walks. The Mets were patient against Gavin Stone the last time they faced him, working five walks over 3 1/3 innings and getting him out of the game quickly. They should try the same gameplan this afternoon, get to the Dodgers bullpen and make them work harder than they have to. The Mets only had two walks as a team in Sunday’s game and we know the Mets as a team are better when they make pitchers work harder and longer in at-bats.

Let’s Go Mets!