The Mets did it! They snapped their losing streak!
The Mets beat the Pirates 5-1 yesterday thanks to another homerun Francisco Álvarez and a three RBI day from Mark Canha. Kodai Senga gave the Mets their first quality start in ages, going seven innings allowing one unearned run, despite the Mets gloves behind him committing three errors. Robertson and Ottavino shut the door in the 8th and 9th. This is exactly what the Mets look like, despite the defensive miscues, when they are at their best. Now the Mets look to repeat that same magic today and take the series.
Carlos Carrasco looks to get back on the right track this afternoon as he makes his 8th start this season. In 36 1/3 innings he has a 5.94 ERA, 6.08 FIP, 1.404 WHIP and a 69 ERA+. Carrasco had back to back great starts where he allowed two runs from 11 hits and three walks over 12 2/3 innings but faltered in his last start where he allowed four runs over five. His one start against Pittsburgh last season was a great one. He held the Pirates to one run from four hits while he struck out 11 batters over six innings (one of two double digit strikeout games he had in 2022). The Pirates have the following career numbers against him:
- Ji Man Choi 3-12, 2 HR, 7 K
- Andrew McCutchen 2-7, 2 2B, BB, 2 K
- Bryan Reynolds 2-7, K
- Ke’Bryan Hayes 0-5, BB, K
- Rodolfo Castro 0-3, K
- Oneil Cruz 0-3, 2 K
- Connor Joe 1-3
- Calvin Mitchel 0-1, 2 BB
- Jason Delay 0-2, K
- Jack Suwinski 0-2, 2 K
Mitch Keller makes the start today for the Pirates. He currently leads the league in winning percentage, .778, with his 7-2 and record this season. Over 80 innings he has a 3.60 ERA, 3.16 FIP, 1.163 WHIP and a 122 ERA+. Keller has not pitched like his season numbers though in his last three starts. Over 17 1/3 innings he’s allowed 15 runs (7.79 ERA, 4.95 ERA) from 25 hits and seven walks. He faced the Mets twice last season in September. In the first game in Pittsburgh he allowed no runs over six innings. Ten days later he allowed three runs over six innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:
- Francisco Lindor 2-5, 4 BB, K
- Tommy Pham 2-8, BB
- Omar Narváez 4-8
- Jeff McNeil 0-6, K
- Brandon Nimmo 1-5, K
- Daniel Vogelbach 1-4, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
- Mark Canha 1-4, K
- Eduardo Escobar 1-3, BB, K
- Luis Guillorme 1-3
- Starling Marte 0-2, K
Three Things To Watch For:
- Tommy Pham has arrived! Yesterday Tommy Pham went 2-for-4 at the plate scoring twice, including his seventh double of the season. In his last nine games he has gone 10-for-25 at the plate with four doubles, a triple and three homers leading to a .400/.467/1.000 batting line. As Vogelbach’s struggles continue, Pham is starting to heat up. With Alosno down for the next three to four weeks, Pham should see an increase in playing time. This is the contribution the Mets need to find in a couple of more bats in their lineup if they are going to go on a little run now.
- Is it Canha Season again? Outside of Pham and Vientos, the other player who is going to become more important with Alonso’s injury is Mark Canha. Canha had a four game hitting streak between May 31st and June 3rd which made us think that it was Canha season. Then he went cold going 0-for-7 in his next two starts. This weekend he has gone 3-for-8 with two doubles and drove the Mets offense yesterday. He could be the Mets player of the series today.
- Will the Mets field like the Mets today? Brandon Nimmo make a gold glove caliber catch yesterday. According to Baseball Savant he is in the 82nd percentile for outs above average. Álvarez made a tremendous throw yesterday and caught a runner stealing. The Mets have been fielding well this year. They are 8th in the league in errors per game at a paltry 0.43. That’s why it’s so surprising they made three errors yesterday and six in their last three games.
Let’s Go Mets!
