The Mets look to take a critically important series tonight against the Diamondbacks. On Tuesday the Mets opened the series with an impressive 8-3 win that included a six run fifth inning where the Mets had five extra-base hits, including four doubles. The Padres and the Braves also won, so the Mets remain three games out of the last wild card spot. Since the Diamondbacks hold the first wild card spot, the Mets at least succeeded in collapsing the space between all four teams.
Luis Severino has tossed 147 2/3 innings over 25 games with a 3.84 ERA, 4.27 FIP, 1.239 WHIP and a 103 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed only one run over 14 innings, scattering nine hits and five walks while striking out 13. This includes a complete game shutout and a slightly shorter start against the Padres due to walking four batters. Severino struggled in his earlier start against the Diamondbacks this season where he allowed five runs, four earned, over 5 1/3 innings. The Diamondbacks have the following career numbers against him:
- Josh Bell 1-8, BB, K
- Corbin Carroll 2-3
- Randal Grichuk 2-6, HR
- Luis Guillorme 1-3
- Lordes Gurriel Jr. 2-13, 5 K
- Jake McCarthy 0-2
- Kevin Newman 1-4, 2 K
- Joc Pederson 1-2, K
- Eugenio Suarez 2-5, 2B, HR, BB
The Mets bats will finally get a look at Eduardo Rodríguez tonight who was originally set to start the first game of the series. 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:
- We are here for a Brandon Nimmo hot streak. Brandon Nimmo opened August with a 3-for-5 performance against the Angels. In the 18 games after that he struggled, hitting .164/.260/.343. Tuesday night he went 3-for-5 with a double. The last time he had multiple hits in back-to-back games was June 30th and July 2nd. The Mets need that Nimmo back!
- J.D. Martinez. Is he getting Dad strength? Martinez has gone 4-for-8 in his last two games with a homer, a walk and three runs scored. He’s also going to be a Dad real soon with his wife due next week. Congrats J.D.!
- Mark Vientos. Vientos might as well be the player to watch for the series. He recorded his second straight multi-hit game on Tuesday. Since August 15th Vientos has 16 hits with seven of them being for extra-bases. He’s slashed .314/.352/.608 over this stretch. He’s had multiple hits in six of the twelve games since the 15th.
Let’s Go Mets!
