Tuesday night started off strong for the Mets looking to win their fifth game in their last sixth. Megill was dealing early and Vientos ripped a two-run double in the bottom of the second. Things started to fall apart for the Mets about midway through the game though as the Marlins were able to create a “blow-up” inning against Megill and the Mets bats just couldn’t get anything else going against the Marlins bullpen.
The Mets tailspin in May was fueled by dropping a series against the Marlins in Miami, can the Mets recover tonight?
David Peterson makes his third start of the season tonight. He has allowed five runs, four earned, over 11 2/3 innings this season while striking out five batters. Peterson had a rough 2023 but not against the Miami Marlins. Over two starts he held them to only one run despite allowing 12 hits and five walks over 12 innings. He also struck out 13 fish in that stretch. The Marlins have the following numbers against him:
- Tim Anderson 0-0, BB
- Josh Bell 3-10, K
- Jake Burger 0-3, 2 K
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. 0-7, BB, 2 K
- Bryan De La Cruz 2-9, 2 BB, 4 K
- Nick Fortes 3-10, 2 K
- Jesús Sánchez 0-3, K
The Mets bats look to shake off Monday night against Braxton Garrett tonight. Over five starts (26 1/3 innings) this season, Garrett has a 5.81 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 1.215 WHIP and a 74 ERA+. Braxton’s season has been truly bizarre. Over his first two starts he allowed 11 runs over 9 2/3 innings (including six runs over 4 1/3 against the Mets). Then in his next two starts he allowed one run over 14 innings, including a complete game shutout against the Diamondbacks. His last time out he allowed five runs over 2 2/3 against the Rays. Will the Mets get Braxton at his worst or his best tonight? So far there hasn’t been an in between. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:
- Pete Alonso 7-18, 2 HR, 2 BB, 4 K
- Francisco Alvarez 1-6, BB, 3 K
- Harrison Bader 0-2, 2 K
- José Iglesias 1-3, K
- Francisco Lindor 5-16, 2B, 3 HR, 4 K
- Starling Marte 4-7, 2 2B, K
- J.D. Martinez 1-6, 4 K
- Jeff McNeil 4-10, 2B, BB
- Brandon Nimmo 1-13, BB
- DJ Stewart 0-2, K
- Tyrone Taylor 0-4, K
- Mark Vientos 2-5, 2B, BB, K
Three Things To Watch For:
- Mets defense. Before Tuesday’s game, we were praising the Mets defense because of Sunday’s game. The Mets turned three double plays in the game including an incredible one to end the game. Last night the defense was the Mets kryptonite again committing two errors. (Although to be fair, the error on Vientos really could have been ruled as a hit as he had to make an amazing play to just get to the ball). The Mets bullpen is tired, fielding well today can make a world of difference for the Mets.
- Starling Marte is getting hits in bunches. Marte went 2-for-4 Tuesday night at the plate, recording his sixth multi-hit game in his last eight games played. Since May 29th Marte has gone 14-for-30 at the plate with a double and two triples hitting .467/.515/.633. He has raised his season OBP from .302 all the way up to .332 over this stretch.
- Brandon Nimmo is getting strikeouts in bunches. Nimmo went 0-for-4 at the plate Tuesday night with three strikeouts. It was his second straight game with three strikeouts. Over his last four games he has gone 3-for-18 with no walks and nine strikeouts. He went through a similar stretch at the start of the season. While his stats overall have taken a hit since he has dropped to the third hole, maybe it’s a product of the Mets schedule? The off-days and rainouts at the start of the season created a similar chaotic schedule to the last week.
Let’s Go Mets!
