The Grimace-era Mets go for their 8th win a row and their second consecutive series sweep tonight in Texas!
The key aspect of the 2022 Mets that made them feel so invincible was this inevitability about them, a never say die attitude. That can only happen the offense clicks! After the Mets took a 2-1 lead on Tuesday night, the Rangers roared back with a five-run inning, taking a 6-2 lead. The Mets then proceeded to score in five consecutive innings to eventually take the lead. In the ninth inning, after a bloop hit, José Iglesias took a massive hit turning a key double play before Edwin Díaz locked down the game. The vibes are great!
Sean Manaea has made 13 starts this year tossing 65 2/3 innings with a 4.11 ERA, 3.78 FIP, 1.325 WHIP and a 93 ERA+. He is looking to build off of his last start where he held the Padres to to run over five innings while striking out seven batters. In the previous two starts he allowed a total of 12 runs over 9 1/3 innings. The Rangers have the following career numbers against Manaea:
- Adolis García 2-6, 2B, HR, 3 K
- Robbie Grossman 5-12, BB, 4 K
- Travis Jankowski 0-2
- Nathaniel Lowe 1-6, HR, 2 K
- Corey Seager 3-6, HR
- Marcus Semien 0-3, K
- Leody Taveras 1-3, K
Andrew Heaney has pitched in 14 games (13 starts) totaling 66 2/3 innings this season with a 4.19 ERA, 4.19 FIP, 1.320 WHIP and a 94 ERA+. He hasn’t been great over over his last two starts, allowing six runs from 11 hits and four walks over 10 1/3 innings. Heaney had a very good start against the Mets in 2023 where he held the Mets to five runs and no runs over 5 1/3 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against Heaney:
- Pete Alonso 0-4, BB, 4 K
- Francisco Alvarez 0-2, K
- José Iglesias 2-7, K
- Francisco Lindor 2-8, 2B, K
- Starling Marte 2-3, HR
- J.D. Martinez 4-11, 2 HR, 4 BB, 3 K
- Jeff McNeil 3-5, K
- Brandon Nimmo 3-6, K
- DJ Stewart 1-1
- Tyrone Taylor 0-6, 3 K
- Luis Torrens 1-6, BB, K
- Mark Vientos 1-2, K
Three Things To Watch For:
- The next generation. Twice in Tuesday’s game Mark Vientos and Francisco Alvarez had back-to-back hits. In his last two games Vientos has gone 6-for-10 with five runs scored. Francisco Alvarez has gone 6-for-9 in his last two games, including a game tying double Tuesday night. It’s one thing to have the top of the lineup clicking, but now back of the lineup is in overdrive at the same time. The Mets booth multiple said multiple times during Tuesday’s broadcast that there is no place to breath as a pitcher right now against the Mets.
- Pete Alonso – RBI machine. Pete Alonso has gone 7-for-14 at the plate over his last three games with eight RBI’s. His seven hits include a double and homerun. You’ve probably have noticed that multiple Mets over the last several days have had absurd times on base to runs scored ratios, and Pete (among others) has been a massive reason why.
- A different Adam Ottavino. Adam Ottavino last pitched on Monday, so he could pitch today. His role has shifted a bit in his last two outings where he has pitched multiple innings. In those outings he has allowed one hit and nothing else over 3 2/3 innings while striking out five batters. This is something to keep an eye on.
Let’s Go Mets!
