The Mets will try to put a frustrating, chaotic Friday night behind them as they continue to play for a wild card spot. The Mets played their first game in several days on Friday night and looked a bit rusty. On top of that, they got some unlucky breaks (hard hit balls right at players, balls taking favorable bounces) and they got some truly terrible calls by the home plate umpire.
With the Diamondbacks loss last night, all three teams chasing the last two wild card spots are tied – the Mets magic number is effectively three. It all starts with them winning a game.
It has been a minute since Jose Quintana pitched. Quintana’s last start was on September 18th where he held the Nationals scoreless over seven innings. Over 30 starts this season he has pitched 166 innings with a 3.74 ERA, 4.67 FIP, 1.241 WHIP and a 106 ERA+. In his last five starts he has allowed only two runs, one earned, over 32 innings. His first start of the season was against the Brewers where he allowed two runs from six hits over 4 2/3 innings. The Brewers have the following career numbers against Quintana:
- Willy Adames 4-12, 2 2B, HR, BB, 3 K
- Jake Bauers 1-1
- Jackson Chourio 1-2, BB
- William Contreras 3-6, 2B, HR, 2 K
- Eric Haase 1-2
- Rhys Hoskins 3-14, HR, 5 BB, 3 K
- Joey Ortiz 1-2, K
- Blake Perkins 1-2, K
- Gary Sánchez 0-5, BB, K
The Mets bats will get Jared Koenig tonight who has pitched in 54 games, five starts this season with a 2.51 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 1.246 WHIP and a 168 ERA+. He is definitely more of an opener type, only going more than two innings once this season. Since September 3rd he has allowed six runs, four earned, over nine innings. The Mets have had limited exposure to Koenig over his short career:
- Pete Alonso 1-1, 2B
- Francisco Lindor 1-1
- J.D. Martinez 1-2, HR, BB, K
- Brandon Nimmo 1-1
- Mark Vientos 0-1
Three Things To Watch For:
- Mark Vientos. Vientos started the Mets offense Friday night. With them down 5-0, he hit a two run homer, the second consecutive game where he has homered, scoring the first runs for the Mets. He also had three strikeouts Friday night. The Mets offense needs their x-factor if they are going to push their way into the playoffs.
- Stolen bases. The Brewers were annoying Friday night, running all over the Mets. In total they stole six bases which just added to the frustration boiling over from all of the other things happening during the game. How will the Mets adjust?
- Scoreboard Watching. Five minutes after the Mets game gets started, the Braves will get started against Seth Lugo and the Royals. With the Twins loss last night, the Royals clinched their ticket to the post season and are now just playing for seeding. The Braves are reactivating Reynaldo López from the inured list. At 8:10 the Padres and the Diamondbacks will kick off with Eduardo Rodriguez (5.56 ERA) taking on Randy Vásquez (5.18 ERA).
Let’s Go Mets!
