Are you sick of seeing the Marlins yet? After playing the Marlins six times in spring training, and three times in the first week of the season – the schedule gods have dictated another Marlins vs Mets series.
The Mets are coming off of a three game sweep of the Blue Jays. Since playing the Mets, the Marlins split a two game set with the Braves, with the rubber game getting washed out yesterday. Sandy Alcantara was supposed to pitch in Sunday’s game and will miss tonight’s game as he and his wife prepare to welcome a baby girl (congrats Sandy!). Can the Mets bats breakout of their funk against a spot starter?
Kodai Senga faced the Marlins in his first start of the season where he allowed two runs, four earned, over five innings from three hits and a walk while striking out eight batters. The under-the-hood numbers for Senga were a mixed bag in his first start. On the positive side he had a 41% Whiff% and a 63.6 GB%. He also had a 54.5% Hard-Hit rate. Senga used his four seamer 28.6% of the time while the ghost fork made up 26.0% of pitches thrown. Will he attack the Marlins the same way tonight? The Marlins have the following career numbers against him:
- Jonah Bride 0-1, BB, K
- Griffin Conine 0-2
- Xavier Edwards 1-7, 2B, 2 K
- Nick Fortes 0-4, 2 K
- Otto López 0-2
- Matt Mervis 0-4, BB, 2 K
- Dane Myers 0-2, K
- Graham Pauley 1-2, 2B, K
- Kyle Stowers 1-3, HR, 2 K
The Marlins are leaning on Valente Bellozo as a spot starter tonight. On March 29th, Bellozo pitched 4 1/3 innings against the Pirates, holding them to one run from four hits and two walks while striking out four batters. They then sent him down to the minors where he pitched two innings on Friday, allowing one run from two hits and a walk while striking out three batters. It is unclear how deep Bellozo will be able to go in today’s game. The Marlins bullpen had yesterday off to rest, but the Mets have an opportunity now to make them work extra at the start of this series if they can knock Bellozo out fast.
Bellozo made one start against the Mets last season, allowing two runs form seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:
- Pete Alonso 1-3
- Francisco Lindor 1-3
- Starling Marte 1-3, K
- Brandon Nimmo 1-2, HR, BB
- Tyrone Taylor 0-2, K
- Luis Torrens 0-2, K
- Mark Vientos 1-3, K
- Jesse Winker 1-2
Three Things To Watch For:
- Score Runs! The Mets bullpen has been brilliant to start the year, keeping the Mets in every game. They have been carrying the Mets over their four game winning streak while the bats for the most part have gone silent. Yesterday the Mets turned three walks and seven hits into only two runs going 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position leaving seven batters on base.
- Back half of the lineup. A big reason the Mets left so many runners on base yesterday was because of the back half of the lineup. The Mets 1-4 batters yesterday combine to go 5-for-13 with two strikeouts. The rest of the Mets lineup went 2-for-15 with seven strikeouts.
- Mets bullpen. The Mets bullpen held the Blue Jays scoreless for 4 1/3 innings on Sunday, allowing one hit and striking out five batters. Overall against Toronto the bullpen allowed only one run in 13 innings. Between playing close games, early exits by starters, and an offense that is struggling, the Mets have really leaned heavily on the bullpen the last few days. Senga was limited to only 77 pitches in his first start, so it could be another bullpen intensive night.
Let’s Go Mets!
