The Mets and Diamondbacks will try to squeeze a game in today’s rainy weather this evening at Citi Field. The Diamondbacks won the first game of the series. The Mets were able to muscle up last night and win with multiple homeruns. With the loss the last night the Diamondbacks lead on the last Wild Card spot has shrank to one game.
The Mets are mixing in a sixth starter to the rotation tonight bringing back fan-favorite Joey Lucchesi to Citi Field. In six major league starts he has pitched 28 innings with a 3.54 ERA, 4.26 FIP, 1.286 WHIP and a 120 ERA+. His last start on August 18th was a great one where he held the Cardinals scoreless over 5 2/3 innings. Since that start in the majors things haven’t been so great in Syracuse for Joey. He’s allowed 13 runs runs over 14 innings. The Diamondbacks have the following career numbers against him:
- Ketel Marte 7-16, 2 2B, HR, 3 BB, 2 K
- Evan Longoria 4-13, BB, 3 K
- Christian Walker 1-6, K
- Tommy Pham 1-4, HR
- Lourdes Gurriel 1-2, HR, K
The Diamondbacks back of the rotation is being held together by magic and sheer will – the front of the rotation is held together by Zac Gallen. The 2023 All-Star has made 30 starts this season tossing 187 2/3 innings with a 3.31 ERA, 3.25 FIP, 1.082 WHIP and a 132 ERA+. He bounced back in his last start pitching a complete game shutout against the Cubs, holding them to only three hits. Before that start he allowed 11 runs over 10 2/3 innings against the Dodgers and the Orioles. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:
- Pete Alonso 2-11, 6 K, 2 BB
- Jeff McNeil 2-13, 2B, 3 K
- Francisco Lindor 1-7, K
- Rafeal Ortega 1-8, 3 K
- Omar Narváez 0-6, 2 K
- Daniel Vogelbach 1-5, 2 K
- Brandon Nimmo 1-4, 2B, K, BB
Three Things To Watch For:
- Ronny Mauricio is a power hitter now. Well his calling card all season has been the pop in his bat. He had a double in his first game and then didn’t hit another double until Monday night. Yesterday he finally hit his first major league home run which traveled 440+feet into the second deck.
- Pete is inching closer to 50 homers. Pete Alonso hit his 44th home run of the season last night, getting ever so closer to 50 on the season. Matt Olson’s recent homerun tear, putting him at 51 home runs probably puts the season title out of reach for Alonso. Alonso getting to 50 homers on the season and Lindor achieving a 30-30 season are two big season milestones we’ll keep following the rest of this month.
- Branon Nimmo’s extra base hit spree. Brandon Nimmo had three hits last night – two doubles and a triple. Since September 3rd he has gone 12-for-34 with three doubles, a triple and three homers leading to a .353/.405/.765 batting line.
Let’s Go Mets!
