Monday, April 29, 2024 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Jameson Taillon (2-0, 1.69) vs. RHP Luis Severino (2-2, 2.67)
SNY

The Mets started the season 0-5, then flipped the script after a walk-off win against the Tigers, ushering in about two weeks of winning. Going into Sunday’s game, the Mets lost four of their last five games and were trying to avoid getting swept for a second series in a row.

The loss felt inevitable after the 10th inning when the Mets failed to move a runner in scoring position across the plate for what felt like the 30th time. Then the Cardinals scored to open up the 11th. But Mark Vientos said not today and smacked a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th. The vibes instantly improved.

The Mets will need the vibes as they welcome the 17-11 Cubs to Citi Field tonight. Can the Mets stop their roll?

Photo by Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Mets Lineup

  1. Brandon Nimmo, LF
  2. Francisco Lindor, SS
  3. Pete Alonso, 1B
  4. J.D. Martinez, DH
  5. Jeff McNeil, 2B
  6. Tyrone Taylor, RF
  7. Mark Vientos, 3B
  8. Harrison Bader, CF
  9. Tomás Nido, C

Luis Severino has pitched 27 innings this season over five starts with a 2.67 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 1.259 WHIP and a 150 ERA+. He allowed three runs over six innings against the Giants his last time out, his second quality start in a row for the Mets. More importantly, he didn’t walk a single batter in his last start. The Cubs have the following career numbers against Severino:

Opposing Lineup

  1. Nico Hoerner, 2B
  2. Mike Tauchman, RF
  3. Ian Happ, LF
  4. Christopher Morel, 3B
  5. Michael Busch, 1B
  6. Dansby Swanson, SS
  7. Matt Mervis, DH
  8. Yan Gomes, C
  9. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF

The Mets bats will catch Jameson Taillon making his third start of the season tonight. Over his first two starts, he has allowed three runs, two earned, over 10 2/3 innings while striking out eight. Last season, over 154 2/3 innings, he had a 4.84 ERA, 4.61 FIP, 1.276 WHIP and a 93 ERA+. His one start against the Mets was a good one, where he held the Mets to two runs and three hits over seven innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

  • Pete Alonso 1-3, HR
  • Harrison Bader 2-12, BB, 2 K
  • Francisco Lindor 2-7, 2 K
  • J.D. Martinez 4-18, 2B, HR, BB, 6 K
  • Jeff McNeil 1-3, K
  • Omar Narváez 1-3, 2B, 2 BB
  • Brandon Nimmo 0-3
  • DJ Stewart 0-2, BB, K
  • Tyrone Taylor 1-5, 2B, 2 K
  • Mark Vientos 0-2, K
  • Joey Wendle 0-3, 2 K

Game Notes

  • Entering today’s game, Reed Garrett is tied for first in wins in the league with five. Other pitchers with five wins? Tyler Glasnow, Ranger Suárez and AJ Minter.
  • Kodai Senga threw his first live BP since landing on the IL in February with a shoulder capsule strain.
  • Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns spoke with the media on Monday before the game on a range of topics.
  • Dom Hamel was named International League Pitcher of the Week after throwing five ⅓ shutout innings and striking out eight batters.
  • The Mets promoted pitching prospect Jonah Tong from Low-A St. Lucie to High-A Brooklyn following his massive start.
  • Former Mets first-round pick Pete Crow-Armstrong, who the team traded for Javier Báez and Trevor Williams in 2021, makes his Citi Field debut with the Cubs.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Is Harrison Bader back? From April 9 to the 14, Bader had an absurd 14 hits in 33 trips to the plate, batting .452/.485/.613. In the five games between then and Sunday’s game, Bader went 1-for-18 at the plate, hitting .056/.056/.056. Yesterday, Bader went 2-for-5 and scored a run; is the pendulum swinging back to racking up hits mode?
  2. Mark Vientos is seizing his opportunity. Since his call-up, Mark Vientos has gone 3-for-4 at the plate with a walk-off home run. Not sure how the Mets will find playing time for all of J.D. Martinez, DJ Stewart, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos once Starling Marte returns (assuming that Vientos stays up with the team).
  3. Mets need another quality start. In Sunday’s game preview, we talked about how the Mets were tied with several other teams for the fewest total quality starts of the season at five. The Mets got a magnificent start from Quintana yesterday but still needed their bullpen to pitch three innings due to the game going into extras. Another quality start from Severino will go a long way for a bullpen recently battered by injuries (Brooks Raley, Drew Smith).

Let’s go Mets!