Monday Game Chat: Pirates vs Mets, 12:35 PM

Monday, July 8, 2024 • 12:35 PM
PNC Park • Pittsburgh, PA
RHP Christian Scott (0-2, 4.32) vs. RHP Mitch Keller (9-5, 3.48)
SNY

The Mets look to take the series against the Pirates this afternoon and extend their winning streak to three games as they take on Pittsburgh for the final time in the regular season. Yesterday, the Pirates took the lead from the Mets late in the game, but some heroics by Iglesias and Lindor snatched that lead right back in the ninth inning. Let’s keep riding that momentum!

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor, SS
2. Brandon Nimmo, LF
3. Francisco Alvarez, DH
4. Pete Alonso, 1B
5. Mark Vientos, 3B
6. Luis Torrens, C
7. Jose Iglesias, 2B
8. Jeff McNeil, RF
9. Harrison Bader, CF

Christian Scott has pitched 33 1/3 innings for the Mets over six games with a 4.32 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 1.140 WHIP and a 90 ERA+. His last start was his first back with the Mets since rejoining the Major League roster. Scott cruised through the first four innings, and the wheels fell off in the fifth and sixth innings. His final line was 5 2/3 innings with four runs allowed on six hits. Today will be Scott’s first start against the Pirates.

Opposing Lineup

1. Andrew McCutchen, DH
2. Bryan Reynolds, LF
3. Oneil Cruz, SS
4. Rowdy Tellez, 1B
5. Nick Gonzales, 2B
6. Joshua Palacios, RF
7. Jack Suwinski, CF
8. Joey Bart, C
9. Jared Triolo, 3B

Mitch Keller has made 17 starts this season, totaling 103 1/3 innings with a 3.48 ERA, 3.64 FIP, 1.248 WHIP and 117 ERA+. He has been at his personal best for most of the season except for the last couple of weeks. In his prior four starts, he has allowed 14 runs, 12 earned, over 23 2/3 innings, leading to a 4.56 ERA and 4.65 FIP. This stretch even includes a dazzling seven-inning, no-run performance, so it speaks to the struggles in the other three starts. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 0-5, K
• Francisco Alvarez 0-3, K
• Harrison Bader 0-7, BB, K
• José Iglesias 3-10, HR, 3 K
• Francisco Lindor 2-7, 5 BB, 2 K
• J.D. Martinez 0-3, 2 BB, K
• Jeff McNeil 1-9, HR, K
• Brandon Nimmo 1-8, 3 K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-4 K
• Mark Vientos 0-2, K

Three Things To Watch For

1. Francisco Lindor. The Mets were led to victory Sunday afternoon by their best player, Francisco Lindor, who is producing another All-Star quality season despite being snubbed again on the initial roster release on Sunday night. He was the hero on Sunday, going 3-for-4 with a double and a walk. He now has 26 doubles the season, which is on pace to break his personal best, and has an OPS+ of 120 (his third season in a row of 120+ OPS+).
2. Adrian Houser. Today feels like an Adrian Houser day. He last pitched for the Mets on Thursday when he tossed 15 pitches. Three pitchers in the Mets bullpen have been used on back-to-back days this weekend. Since May 26, Houser has pitched 23 2/3 innings out of pen over ten games with a 1.52 ERA and 2.04 FIP. At the end of his last start, he had a 7.88 ERA and 5.24 FIP but has lowered those stats to 5.43 and 4.39, respectively.
3. Doubles. If you feel like the Mets have been on a doubles tear lately, you are on to something! The Mets had three doubles in Sunday’s game (Lindor, Alvarez and Nimmo) and have 164 as a team this season, which is good for fourth in Major League Baseball behind the Twins (181), Dodgers (169) and Braves (167). They are ahead of the Orioles (161) and Diamondbacks (159).

Let’s go Mets!

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