The Mets open up a big series in Arizona against the Diamondbacks tonight. The Diamondbacks, Mets, Padres and Braves are all chasing three wild card spots. The Mets are coming off of a four game split with the Padres, where the Padres walked-off against the Mets on Sunday afternoon. The Mets trail the Braves by three games for the last wild card spot and the Diamondbacks seven games for the first spot.
Sean Manaea has pitched 137 innings over 25 starts with a 3.48 ERA, 3.77 FIP, 1.168 WHIP and a 113 ERA+. He has allowed exactly three runs over seven innings in his last two starts and has pitched seven innings in four of his last five starts. Over those five starts he has a 2.61 ERA and a 2.39 FIP, striking out 37 batters in 31 innings. Manaea pitched against the Diamondbacks on June 1st, allowing six runs, five earned, from six hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings. He did strikeout 10 batters which was a season high at the time. The Mets have the following career numbers against Manaea:
- Josh Bell 2-6, 2B
- Corbin Carroll 0-5, BB, 2 K
- Randal Grichuk 6-16, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 2 BB, K
- Luis Guillorme 0-4, 2 BB, 2 K
- Lourdes Guirriel Jr. 0-4, K
- Jake McCarthy 2-7, 2B, K
- Kevin Newman 1-1, BB
- Geraldo Perdomo 1-6, 2 BB
- Pavin Smith 0-3, 2 K
- Eugenio Suarez 1-6, BB, K
The Mets bats will get a look at Eduardo Rodríguez tonight. Rodríguez started the season on the injured list with a lat muscle injury and made his 2024 debut in early August. Over three starts this season he has pitched 16 innings with a 3.94 ERA, 4.17 FIP, 1.250 WHIP and a 106 ERA+. He’s coming off of his best start so far where he held the Marlins to one run over 5 1/3 innings, scattering six hits and a walk. The Mets have the following career numbers against Rodríguez:
- Pete Alonso 0-4, BB, 3 K
- Francisco Alvarez 0-2
- Harrison Bader 0-1, 2 BB
- José Iglesias 5-12, 2 2B, HR, K
- Francisco Lindor 3-16, 2B, BB, 2 K
- Starling Marte 1-5, BB, K
- J.D. Martinez 3-5, 2 HR, 2 BB
- Jeff McNeil 0-3, K
- Brandon Nimmo 1-6, 3 K
- Luis Torrens 1-3, K
Three Things To Watch For:
- A chance to breath. The Mets are coming off of a disappointing loss on Sunday where where they held the lead pretty much the entire game and gave up runs in the 8th and 9th inning. The main issue was the bats not providing really any support. It had been a grueling stretch for the Mets in the midst of another west coast road trip with barely any off days. Hopefully the Mets were able to get some rest, clear their heads. We’ll see if this is true tonight in their approach to at-bats.
- Mark Vientos. Vientos was one of the few effective hitters Sunday afternoon going 2-for-4 at the plate with his 21st homer of the season. He’s up to a 148 OPS+ on the season and is hitting .277/.334/.551. Not sure where the Mets would be without Vientos this season.
- Luis Guillorme. The Met legend has gone on a tour of the major leagues this year. In January he signed with the Braves. The Braves traded him to the Angels in May. He was released by the Angels about two weeks ago and then signed by the Diamondbacks. Luis had a dreadful time with the Braves but looked more like himself as an Angel hitting .231/.302/.298. He has gone 3-for-12 as a Diamondback working five walks.
Let’s Go Mets!
