The Mets head to California for a long ten-game road trip with the Mets playing in Oakland, Los Angeles and San Francisco. This is on the heels of a three game series against the San Diego Padres – the Mets are definitely getting quality time with Californian teams!
After getting swept by the Brewers in Milwaukee, the Mets have responded with winning back to back series against the Marlins and the Padres. They head into Oakland to face a squad that has been struggling so far this season with a 3-10 record.
Kodai Senga makes his third start of the season this evening for the Mets. He has an early season 1.59 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 1.059 WHIP and a 276 ERA+. Both of his starts so far have been against the Marlins who have recorded exactly one run from three hits and three walks in each start. Senga’s second start against the same roster gave us the first peak into a major question – how fast can teams adjust to him? The Marlins struck out less in the second start but still produced the same outcome.
James Kaprielian takes the mound for the third time this season as well. Over his first two games he has allowed 12 runs over 9 1/3 innings leading to a 11.17 ERA, 8.67 FIP, 1.966 WHIP and a 40 ERA+. His first start was at home against the Guardians who tagged him for five runs on seven hits. His last start was in Tampa against the surging Rays who got him for seven runs from seven hits including three homers over 4 2/3 innings. The only Met on the roster who has faced James is Tommy Pham who went 0-2 with two strikeouts.
Three Things To Watch For:
- Starling Marte finally returns to Oakland. Starling Marte was traded from the Marlins to the Athletics at the 2021 deadline. Marte should have turned to his brief home at the end of last season when the Mets played a three game set in Oakland at the end of September, but Marte missed the last month of the regular season with an injury. Over 32 games Marte has hit .328/.359/.515 in Oakland. The Mets would love to see some of that this weekend.
- Old Friends! The Mets will be reunited with a couple of old friends this weekend. Trevor May signed a deal with the Athletics this off-season. The emoji posting reliever has pitched in six games and 4 2/3 innings so far this season with a 9.64 ERA. Jeurys Familia signed a deal with the Diamondbacks in February and was cut in late March. Oakland picked up the former Mets closer. In six games and 5 1/3 innings this year he has allowed four runs but only two earned.
- Pete Alonso shares the league lead in homers. Pete Alonso and Ryan Mountcastle (Orioles) have each hit six homers this season. The Mets as a team have only hit 12 homers, so Pete still has half of the teams homers. Lindor is the only other player on the Mets roster who has hit more than one homer this season.
Let’s Go Mets!
