The Mets took a weird path back to the win column but they finally did that on Monday evening in DC. The Mets went down early but clawed back and took a 3-2 lead. The Nationals came back sending the game to extra innings. The Mets exploded for six runs in the top of the tenth which ended up being critical as the Nationals scored four of their own before the Mets were finally able to close the door. Now the Mets look to make it two games in a row tonight!
Sean Manaea has made 15 starts totaling 76 1/3 innings this season with a 3.89 ERA, 3.81 FIP, 1.297 WHIP and a 99 ERA+. He is coming off of a strong start against against the Yankees where he held the Bronx Bombers to only two hits and no runs over five innings, despite walking five batters. It was his third straight start going at least five innings, a stretch where he has allowed four runs over 15 2/3 innings while striking out 16 batters.
In two games (8 1/3 innings) against the Nationals in 2023, Manaea allowed 12 runs, eight earned, from 14 hits. The Nationals have the following career numbers against him:
- CJ Abrams 1-6, K
- Luis García Jr. 2-5, 2 K
- Joey Meneses 1-7, BB
- Harold Ramirez 2-3
- Keibert Ruiz 2-3
- Lane Thomas 2-8, 2B, 3 K
- Ildemaro Vargas 1-6, 3B, K
- Jesse Winker 0-1, K
The Mets bats will get a look at rookie DJ Herz tonight. Over his first five major league games he has pitched 21 1/3 innings with a 5.48 ERA, 4.80 FIP, 1.500 WHIP and a 72 ERA+. He made his major league debut against the Mets on June 4th allowing four runs from seven hits and two walks over four innings. He would later have a tremendous start against the Marlins where he held them to only one hit and no runs while striking out 13 batters. Since that start he has allowed eight runs, seven earned, in seven innings of work. The Mets have the following numbers against Herz:
- Pete Alonso 1-3, K
- Harrison Bader 1-2, HR
- José Iglesias 1-2, 2B, K
- Francisco Lindor 2-3, 2B
- J.D. Martinez 0-2, K
- Brandon Nimmo 1-2, BB
- Mark Vientos 0-2
Three Things To Watch For:
- A second start against the Mets. The Mets will be the first team in DJ Herz’s young MLB career that he faces twice. With the exception of two starts this season, Herz has struggled at the major league level. This time though he knows what the Mets hitters look like, will that change his approach? He’s also a known quantity now to the Mets, who did a good job against him the first time around, how will the Mets sharper their approach?
- Brandon Nimmo. Nimmo had a health scare Monday at the hotel. He fell and passed out and spent a good amount of the day at the hospital. Before Monday’s game he indicated that he intends to play tonight. Nimmo twice tied the game on Sunday. He went 3-for-4 with a double, a homer and three RBI’s. Since June 14th Nimmo is hitting .382/.485/.782 with six home runs. Sunday was the first time over this stretch where Nimmo has homered and the Mets lost the game. Keep riding this hot streak Nimmo!
- Martinez is back! J.D. Martinez spent most of the weekend in a slump, but broke out of it in a big way Monday night with a three run homer in the top of the tenth. After an extra-inning beat down on Sunday, it was nice for the Mets to be on the offensive side on Monday night.
Let’s Go Mets!
