Friday, August 16, 2024 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
LHP Roddery Muñoz (2-6, 5.67) vs. LHP Sean Manaea (8-5, 3.44)
SNY

The Mets look to rebound against the Miami Marlins after being swept by the Seattle Mariners and losing a series to the Oakland Athletics at home. The Mets’ bats have been in a bit of a rut, though they’ve posted 15 runs over the last two games. It was the pitching staff who let the Mets down in the series finale yesterday, as they allowed 11 walks in a 7-6 loss.

The Atlanta Braves also lost to the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, so the Mets are still only two games out of the final Wild Card spot in the National League.

Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Mets Lineup

  1. Francisco Lindor – SS
  2. Mark Vientos – 3B
  3. Brandon Nimmo – LF
  4. J.D. Martinez – DH
  5. Pete Alonso – 1B
  6. Jesse Winker – RF
  7. Francisco Alvarez – C
  8. Jeff McNeil – 2B
  9. Harrison Bader – CF

Sean Manaea has a 3.44 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 1.228 WHIP and a 115 ERA+ over 123 innings and 23 starts this season. He had a disappointing outing last weekend, allowing three runs on four hits and five walks over three innings in a game the Mets eventually lost 4-0 to the Mariners. Before that, he allowed no runs over his prior 14 innings while striking out 21 batters during that stretch.

Manaea’s first start against the Marlins back in April was solid, as he allowed two runs over five innings. In July, he allowed five runs over five innings on eight hits against them.

Miami holds the following career numbers against Manaea:

Opposing Lineup

  1. Xavier Edwards – SS
  2. Jake Burger – 1B
  3. Jonah Bride – DH
  4. Jesús Sánchez – RF
  5. Derek Hill – CF
  6. Otto López – 2B
  7. Emmanuel Rivera – 3B
  8. David Hensley – LF
  9. Ali Sánchez – C

Roddery Muñoz has tossed 74 2/3 innings with a 5.67 ERA, 6.74 FIP, 1.433 WHIP and a 79 ERA+ this year. So far in August, he has allowed seven earned runs over 8 2/3 innings on 13 hits and three walks (7.27 ERA, 6.41 FIP). Since July 11, he’s posted a 5.93 ERA and 5.68 FIP with opponents hitting .261/.331/.496 against him. His only good start since that date was against New York, where he held them to one run over five innings.

This season, Muñoz has only allowed one run over 11 innings against the Mets, who have the following career numbers against him:

  • Pete Alonso 1-4, 2B, 2 K
  • Francisco Alvarez 0-2
  • Harrison Bader 1-2, K
  • Jose Iglesias 0-2, K
  • Francisco Lindor 1-4, BB
  • J.D. Martinez 0-5, K
  • Jeff McNeil 0-4, K
  • Brandon Nimmo 0-4, BB, 2 K
  • Luis Torrens 0-2
  • Mark Vientos 0-3, K

Game Notes

Right-handed reliever Dedniel Núñez, who landed on the injured list on July 26, threw 20 pitches during a live bullpen session on Friday as he works his way back from a pronator strain. A rehab assignment is next up on the docket for Núñez, which could potentially begin as early as Tuesday with Triple-A Syracuse according to manager Carlos Mendoza.

Amongst other injury news, Mendoza told reporters that Starling Marte is slated to play nine innings for Syracuse tonight with the hope that he can be activated by Sunday. He has been on the injured list since June 25 with a right knee injury. Additionally, president of baseball operations David Stearns stated that Kodai Senga may start throwing again over the next seven to 10 days, which would help provide a timeline regarding his availability in October should New York reach the postseason. Senga hit the injured list on July 27 after suffering a calf strain in his first start of the season against the Braves.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. OPS of the Mets Lineup. The Mets’ offense, for the most part over the last two weeks, has struggled. The last two games, though, were a different story. On Thursday, the Mets had four players in their starting lineup finish the game with a season-long OPS above .800. Lindor (.800), Vientos (.890), Iglesias (.860) and Alonso (.802) make up that group
  2. Mark Vientos. Speaking of Vientos, what will he do today after yesterday’s standout performance? He went 2-for-5 with two homers, reaching a total of 19 long balls on the year. Over his last six contests, five of his six hits have gone for extra bases (two doubles, three homers, .273/.360/.773).
  3. Jake Burger. The Marlins held on to Burger through the trade deadline, and contenders who needed a bat might be kicking themselves right now. Since August 7, he has gone 13-for-28 with six homers (.464/.546/1.143). Burger is just on another planet right now after scuffling to open the season. Will the Mets give him the Aaron Judge treatment this weekend?

Let’s go Mets!