The Mets survived Zack Wheeler’s start on Saturday and came roaring back in the 8th inning to take the first game of the series 6-2. The Mets fully have the momentum now, a win today will set up a clinching scenario at home in New York.
There was clear game script for the Mets on Saturday with the bullpen with Senga followed by Peterson. Garrett, Maton and Stanek were able to close the door behind the tandem of starters, preserving the Mets big guns for today.
Luis Severino was a hero in game one, staying in the game despite early troubles and locking down the Brewers lineup once the Mets got the lead in the 5th inning. Luis Severino pitched 182 innings in the regular season with a 3.91 ERA, 4.21 FIP, 1.242 WHIP and a 101 ERA+. He faced the Phillies in back-to-back starts at the end of September allowing exactly three runs over six innings in each of them. The Mets won the start in Queens while the Phillies won the one in Philadelphia. The Phillies have the following career numbers against Severino:
- Alec Bohm 0-3, 2 K
- Nick Castellanos 7-21, BB, 4 K
- Kody Clemens 0-4, K
- Bryce Harper 2-5, 2 HR, BB, K
- Austin Hays 0-4, 2 BB, K
- Brandon Marsh 1-4, K
- J.T. Realmuto 0-3, BB, K
- Kyle Schwarber 3-10, 2 2B, 3 K
- Bryson Stott 1-5, K
- Trea Turner 1-5, HR, BB, 2 K
Cristopher Sánchez has pitched 181 2/3 innings with a 3.32 ERA, 3.00 FIP, 1.244 WHIP and a 122 ERA+. In his last start of the season he allowed four runs, three earned over 4 2/3 innings against the Cubs. Before that he made back to back starts against the Mets where he allowed three runs from nine hits and six walks over 12 innings. The better start was in Philly where he kept the Mets to one run over seven. The next time the Mets saw him they worked him for five walks. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:
- Luisangel Acuña 0-4
- Pete Alonso 4-18, 2B, HR, 7 K
- Francisco Alvarez 0-4, 2 K
- Harrison Bader 2-6, 2 BB, K
- Jose Iglesias 3-6, 2B, HR, K
- Francisco Lindor 3-9, 2 BB
- Starling Marte 4-11, 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
- J.D. Martinez 2-7, 2 2B, 2 BB, 2 K
- Brandon Nimmo 4-13, BB, 3 K
- Tyrone Taylor 1-5, HR, K
- Luis Torrens 0-4, BB, K
- Mark Vientos 0-7, 2 BB, 6 K
- Jesse Winker 0-6, 2 K
Three Things To Watch For:
- Momentum. The Mets enter play with momentum. On Saturday the Phillies started things off with a dominating inning from Wheeler and Schwarber bomb to take a 1-0 lead. The Mets took the energy out of the building with their rally in the 8th inning. If the Mets can score fast, they can let that pressure build up on the Phillies. If the Phillies strike first they can swing that momentum pendulum back to their side. One thing is for sure, the Mets have shown over this week that it doesn’t matter when they lose the momentum, they will find a way to get it back.
- Homeruns. The Mets in 2024 are a homerun hitting club. Pete Alonso hit the biggest homer of his career on Thursday night. Lindor hit a season-defining homer on Monday in Atlanta. The Mets didn’t homer at all in Saturday’s game against the Phillies. The Mets homered in each of Sánchez’s starts in September. Sánchez has allowed 11 home runs this season and seven of them happened in his last eight games pitched (50 1/3 innings).
- Mets hit leaders. Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo each went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Saturday’s game. Vientos had one critical RBI and Nimmo had two. Both hitters are also leading the Mets with five hits a piece. They are also in four way tie for runs scored at three. Vientos carried the Mets in the second half of the season. Nimmo carried them in the first. Things go well when they both hit at the same time.
Let’s Go Mets!
