The Mets got look to rebound after a disappointing series in DC. After taking the first two games in extra innings, the Mets struggled on Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday they blew a five-run lead. Thursday the Mets failed to score at all and lost to the Nationals 1-0 in an early game.
Now the Mets will look to find their bats as they go right through the heart of the young Pittsburgh rotation.
Luis Severino has made 16 starts this season tossing 97 1/3 innings with a 3.42 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 1.161 WHIP and a 112 ERA+. Severino allowed four runs over seven innings in his last start against the Astros. It was a start that if the bullpen was in a better place, Severino would have probably been pulled in the fifth inning after allowing his third and fourth run of the day, but he pushed through and gave the Mets another two scoreless innings. He pitched at least six innings in each start of June, which is exactly what the Mets need. Against the Pirates earlier this season he allowed one unearned run and nothing else over six innings. The Pirates have the following career numbers against him:
- Oneil Cruz 3-6, BB
- Yasmani Grandal 1-5, BB
- Ke’Bryan Hayes 1-4, 2 K
- Connor Joe 0-2
- Edward Olivares 0-2, BB, K
- Bryan Reynolds 3-7, 2B, BB, K
- Jack Suwinksi 0-8, 2 K
- Michael A. Taylor 202, HR
- Rowdy Tellez 1-7, 3 K
- Jared Triolo 0-2, K
The Mets bats will go against one of the more exciting pitching prospects in game tonight, Paul Skenes. Skenes has made nine starts this season totaling 52 1/3 innings with a 2.06 ERA, 2.61 FIP, 1.032 WHIP and a 199 ERA+. In his last four starts he has allowed only three runs from 23 hits and four walks over 25 1/3 innings while striking out an absurd 32 batters. The blight on his game so far has been homers. He’s allowed six so far, which is good for one home run every nine innings. He also gives up quite a few hits (7.6 H/9), but because he strikes out the world, he can work around this. Tonight will be Skenes’ first start against the New York Mets.
Three Things To Watch For:
- Skenes’ Heater: Paul Skenes’ four seam fastball averages 99 mph and hits 102 on a regular basis. He is in the 99th percentile for fastball speed this season. It is the type of fastball that turns heads and should have everyone’s attention today at the ballpark. Look to see how the Mets approach Skenes the first time through the order and then what adjustments they make the second time around.
- Let’s get some hits. The Mets only had one hit Thursday, a single from Jeff McNeil. Every single starter in the Mets lineup had one strikeout except for Tyrone Taylor who had two. The only Met who worked a walk was DJ Stewart. The offense has been carrying the club for the last month and it was due for a bad day. It’s going to be tough to bounce back against one of the better talents in the game. During this hot stretch though the Mets have consistently risen to the challenge, hopefully it happens again today.
- Taking the season series. The last time the Mets and Pirates faced in April, the Mets were surging after a terrible start to the season. The Mets ended up sweeping the Pirates and in the process finally got a winning record on the season. Currently the Pirates are chasing the Mets in the wild card standings. If the Mets beat the Pirates tonight, they will win the season series, thus clinching a tie-breaker scenario at the end of the season if it comes to that.
Let’s Go Mets!
