The red-hot Mets face a world series contender for the second time the last two weeks tonight! The Mets have won their last four games in a row, four consecutive series and ten of their last 13 games. This includes a series win against one of the favorites to win the National League pennant – the Atlanta Braves.
Now the Mets face the other favorite to win the pennant – the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers started off the season 10-4. Since then they have won two of their last seven games. They have dropped back-to-back series against the Padres and the Nationals.
Sean Manaea gets the nod for the Mets tonight and looks to rebound after a tough start last Saturday in Queens. This season, over three starts (14 2/3 innings), he has a 4.30 ERA, 3.47 FIP, 1.364 WHIP and a 96 ERA+. This is close to his career line of 4.10 ERA, 4.04 FIP, 1.225 WHIP and a 100 ERA+. Almost all of the damage was done his last start where he allowed eight runs, six earned, from nine hits and three walks over 3 2/3 innings.
In two games (one start) against the Dodgers last season Manaea pitched 10 2/3 innings allowing four runs from seven hits and a walk while striking out eight. The Dodgers have the following career numbers against him:
- Austin Barnes 2-7, BB, K
- Mookie Betts 10-29, 2 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 2 BB, 3 K
- Freddie Freeman 5-14, BB, 2 K
- Kiké Hernández 1-9, 2 K
- Teoscar Hernández 2-13, HR, 3 K
- Max Muncy 1-6, BB, 2 K
- Shohei Ohtani 1-5, BB, 2 K
- James OUtman 1-4
- Miguel Rojas 3-9, 2B, 2 K
- Will Smith 8-16, 2B, BB, K
- Chris Taylor 4-16, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 7 K
It is just too poetic that the first pitcher for the Dodgers this week is the major player the Mets tried and failed to sign this off-season. The Mets made a strong push for Yamamoto this winter with a lucrative offer, but ultimately Yamamoto wanted to be a Dodger. Over four starts this year he has a 4.50 ERA, 3.14 FIP, 1.063 WHIP and a 95 ERA+ over 16 innings. He’s also struck out 21 batters. Yamamota’s major league debut was during the two-game Korea Series that occurred during spring training. If you remove that start from his season, he has a 1.80 ERA, 3.00 FIP. Opponents have a .167 BA against him. If you take the Padres out of his season, he has a 0.00 ERA over two starts.
Three Things To Watch For:
- The Dodgers Big Three. The Dodgers have a stacked lineup top to bottom, and the lineup is anchored by Mookie Betts (213 OPS+), Freddie Freeman (116 OPS+) and Shohei Ohtani (184 OPS+). How Mets pitchers navigate the big three will dictate how the weekend goes for the team. There are several starting players for the Dodgers that are also struggling right now and the Mets cannot allow them to beat Mets pitchers: Gavin Lux (6 OPS+), Chris Taylor (-41 OPS+), James Outman (74 OPS+).
- The Mets pitching staff has been rolling. The Mets have won 10 of their last 13 because of the pitching staff. The team ERA is 3.15, which sixth overall in baseball and first in National League. They have struck out 176 batters which is tied for sixth overall and second for the National League. They have allowed 133 hits which is the least in the league. The Dodgers will be a big test for the Mets pitching staff this weekend.
- Harrison Bader. This season Harrison Bader is hitting .288/.327/.365 with a 98 OPS+. He is a career .244/.311/.395 hitter. Right now he is on a hot streak that has fueled the Mets offense. He has reached base safely in seven consecutive games going 10-for-26 with a double and a homer, his only extra-base hits of the year.
Let’s Go Mets!
