Two of the hottest teams in baseball meet for a weekend clash in Queens!
The Mets have won 15 of their last 19 games and back at .500 for the first time since mid-May. Going into play today they are only one game out of the last wild card spot. The Houston Astros were similarly cast off at the beginning of June have won their last seven games in a row, returning to .500 and are 3.5 games out of the last American League wild card spot. Both teams need to win this weekend. Both teams were not expecting the other team to be hot going into this weekend. It’s Grimace vs whatever the Whataburger mascot is!
Jose Quintana has made 15 starts totaling 78 2/3 innings with a 4.58 ERA, 4.89 FIP, 1.322 WHIP and an 84 ERA+. In his last two starts though he has allowed only two runs, one earned, over 12 1/3 innings from six hits and three walks while striking out 14. Before June 15th the most amount of batters he struck out in one game was four. In his last two games he has struck out six then eight (that’s the Francisco Alvarez effect!). In his first 13 starts of the season opponents had a .811 OPS against him, in his last two starts it has been .479. The Astros have the following career numbers against Quintana:
- José Altuve 5-27, 8 K
- Yordan Alvarez 1-4, 2B
- Alex Bregman 1-2, K
- Jon Singleton 1-2, K
Ronel Blanco has been a massive bright spot for the Astros this season, even during their toughest days. Over 14 starts he has pitched 84 2/3 innings with a 2.34 ERA, 4.07 FIP, 0.969 WHIP and a 169 ERA+. In his last three starts he has allowed only two runs from seven hits and seven walks over 20 innings while striking out 20. Blanco’s two weaknesses this year have been walks (3.6 BB/9) and homers (1.1 HR/9) the reason that hasn’t hurt him though is he’s leading the league with a 5.1 H/9. The only player on the Mets who has faced Ronel in an official game is J.D. Martinez (0-for-2, BB).
Three Things To Watch For:
- Francisco Alvarez. Alvarez has been tremendous for pitchers this season, with most, if not all of them performing better with him behind the dish. Quintana’s numbers spike with Francisco calling the game. Further he’s just having a tremendous year with the bat. On Wednesday he went 3-for-3 with a double and a homer. In his last five games he has gone 8-for-14 with three doubles, three homers and is slashing .571/.714/.1.429 (2.143 OPS). Extend him already!
- Francisco Lindor – Leadoff Double Machine. Lindor had a leadoff double again on Wednesday, and then followed that up with another double later in the game. Throughout the Mets hot streak, Lindor has been getting himself on base, and the Mets have followed through and brough him home to score. Lindor has now put himself in a position to eclipse his season high in doubles (44, currently has 23) and score more than 100 runs for a second straight season.
- Harrison Bader is getting streaky again! Harrison Bader has two hits in three consecutive games now. Overall he has gone 6-for-12 with three doubles and two homers. With Marte injured and the Mets playing 17 games on consecutive days starting tonight, the Mets need Bader to ride this hot streak as long as he can.
Let’s Go Mets!
