Wednesday, June 5, 2024 • 4:05 PM
Nationals Park • Washington, DC
RHP Luis Severino (3-2, 3.52) vs. LHP Patrick Corbin (1-6, 5.83)
SNY

The Mets have finally done it! They won a baseball series!

It has been about a month since the Mets last won a series and now they have the opportunity to sweep the Nationals before going into a long, two-day travel period heading over to London. The Mets looked loose last night and scored six or more runs for the second game in a row. Further, the bullpen was able to close the door in the ninth inning (although it still wasn’t pretty).

Pete Alonso. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Mets Lineup

  1. Francisco Lindor – SS
  2. Pete Alonso – 1B
  3. Brandon Nimmo – LF
  4. J.D. Martinez – DH
  5. Mark Vientos – 3B
  6. Tyrone Taylor – RF
  7. Harrison Bader – CF
  8. Jose Iglesias – 2B
  9. Luis Torrens – C

Luis Severino has made 11 starts (64 innings) this season with a 3.52 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 1.172 WHIP, and 108 ERA+. His last start wasn’t the best, allowing four runs over 5 1/3 innings. He said after the game he wasn’t feeling well at the beginning of the game, and then ate some energy gummies and then felt better later in his start. He is in the midst of a pattern right now alternating good starts and bad starts. He’s allowed two earned runs or less in three of his last six and four earned runs or more in the other. The Nationals have the following career numbers against him:

Opposing Lineup

  1. CJ Abrams – SS
  2. Lane Thomas – DH
  3. Luis García Jr. – 2B
  4. Eddie Rosario – RF
  5. Keibert Ruiz – C
  6. Jesse Winker – LF
  7. Ildemaro Vargas – 3B
  8. Joey Gallo – 1B
  9. Jacob Young – CF

The Mets leave DC facing long-time National Patrick Corbin. Corbin, who led the league in losses for three consecutive seasons from 2021-2023 is having another Corbin-like year. Over 12 starts and 66 1/3 innings, he has a 5.83 ERA, 4.84 FIP, 1.673 WHIP and a 68 ERA+. He is currently leading the league in hits allowed at 85, a stat he has led the league in for three of the last five seasons. That being said, Corbin has been largely successful in his last month of work. He’s allowed 19 earned runs over six starts, but eight of those runs came in one start. He has allowed only five earned runs over his last 12 innings from 10 hits.

The Mets faced Corbin three times in 2023 recording 14 runs from 21 hits over 15 2/3 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

  • Pete Alonso 14-44, 2 2B, 5 HR, 9 BB, 12 K (1.130 OPS)
  • Harrison Bader 3-12, 2B, HR, BB, 9 K
  • José Iglesias 5-11, 2 2B
  • Francisco Lindor 12-38, 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 K
  • Starling Marte 13-42, 2 2B, HR, 2 BB, 10 K
  • J.D. Martinez 1-1, 2B, 2 BB
  • Jeff McNeil 10-37, 2B, 2 BB, 5 K
  • Tomás Nido 3-10, 5 K
  • Brandon Nimmo 10-37, HR, 2 BB, 12 K
  • Tyrone Taylor 0-4, K
  • Mark Vientos 2-3, 2B, 3B

Game Notes

Before the game, the Mets released catcher Omar Narváez and right-handed pitcher Jorge López. They also moved Shintatro Fujinami to the 60-day injured list and purchased the contract of catcher Joe Hudson from Triple-A. Hudson is not on the active roster just yet, but is one of three players the Mets are flying to London. Infielder Brett Baty and right-handed pitcher Cole Sulser are the other two.

Only a position player can be added as the 27th player.

Edwin Díaz will begin this rehab assignment on Thursday, throwing one inning for the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones. Francisco Alvarez is with the Cyclones currently and caught a no-hitter on Tuesday.

Starling Marte was scratched from the lineup with right knee soreness. He received treatment and the Mets are being cautious.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Pete Alonso’s bat is waking up! Alonso hit his 14th homer of the season on Tuesday, his second over four games in June. On May 30th Alonso came into a game as a pinch hitter and ripped a double. Since then he has gone 7-for-24 with three doubles and two homers slashing .292/.320/.667. He has a 1.130 OPS against Patrick Corbin. Let’s leave in America on a high note Pete!
  2. Nimmo is finding his bat again! Nimmo has had three multi-hit games in his last five played, which is generally a sign that he is about to heat up. Since May 31st he has gone 7-for-21 with two doubles and triple slashing .333/.364/.524. Lindor has been hot. Pete is getting hot. Vientos has provided a spark. If Nimmo comes along to the offense will really be clicking in London over the weekend.
  3. The Mets bullpen has been incrementally better. The Mets bullpen survived on Saturday, blew the game on Sunday and survived again on Monday night. Tuesday the bullpen didn’t completely fall apart with Reed Garrett making it interesting in the ninth inning, allowing a run to score on a hit and two walks. Until the bullpen consistently starts showing more success, we will be wary going into the late innings with any lead.

Let’s go Mets!