Sunday, March 31, 2024 • 1:40 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Colin Rea (0-0, -.–) vs. RHP Tylor Megill (0-0, -.–)
SNY

The New York Mets (0-2) will try to avoid being swept this afternoon as they take on the Milwaukee Brewers (2-0) for the third and final game of the series. The Mets’ offense woke up yesterday and scored six runs thanks to three homers (Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, and Pete Alonso). However, it wasn’t enough to overcome the seven runs the Brewers piled on throughout the game.

Despite the outcome, there is a lot to positive about from yesterday’s game. Edwin Díaz saw his first game action of the year and allowed a hit and nothing else over one inning of work. He also on tossed 18 pitches in his outing. Alvarez had just a tremendous game going 3-for-4 at the plate. The Starling Marte party continued with him getting on base three times and scoring twice.

The Rhys Hoskins situation only got worse for the Mets yesterday as he responded to Friday’s scuffle with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with four RBIs. The Mets also saw their reliever get tossed after a sinker got away from Yohan Ramírez and went behind Hoskins late in the game.

Mets Lineup

  1. Brandon Nimmo LF
  2. Francisco Lindor SS
  3. Pete Alonso 1B
  4. Jeff McNeil 2B
  5. Starling Marte RF
  6. Francisco Alvarez DH
  7. Brett Baty 3B
  8. Tyrone Taylor CF
  9. Omar Narváez

Tylor Megill looks to right the ship today for the Mets as he debut’s his “American spork” for the first time in an actual, major-league baseball game. Over 25 starts last year he tossed 126 1/3 innings with a 4.70 ERA, 4.96 FIP, 1.575 WHIP, and a 90 ERA+. By ERA+, it was his best season in the majors.

The Mets rotation is the weakest part of the team going into the season and desperately needs players to step up, can Megill be the person?

The Brewers have the following career numbers against Megill:

Tylor Megill. John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Brewers Lineup

  1. Sal Frelick CF
  2. William Contreras C
  3. Christian Yelich LF
  4. Willy Adames SS
  5. Oliver Dunn DH
  6. Rhys Hoskins 1B
  7. Joey Ortiz 3B
  8. Brice Turang 2B
  9. Jackson Chourio CF

The Mets’ bats will look to keep yesterday’s hit parade going against Colin Rea this afternoon. Rea pitched in 26 games last year including 22 starts totaling 124 1/3 innings with a 4.55 ERA, 4.90 FIP, 1.187 WHIP, and a 95 ERA+.

This includes one start against the Mets where he held the Mets to one run via three hits over 6 1/3 innings while striking out three. The Mets have the following career numbers against Rea:

  • Pete Alonso, 0-3
  • Francisco Alvarez, 0-2
  • Harrison Bader, 0-1
  • Brett Baty, 1-1, BB
  • Francisco Lindor, 1-3, K
  • Starling Marte, 1-6, K
  • Jeff McNeil, 0-2
  • Omar Narváez, 0-2
  • Brandon Nimmo, 0-3, K

Game Notes

The Mets have lost the first two games of the season for the first time since 2014, when they lost three straight to start the year.

The Mets are 16-23 when playing on Easter Sunday.

Prior to today’s game, Francisco Lindor will receive his 2023 Louisville Silver Slugger Award.

Yohan Ramírez and manager Carlos Mendoza were suspended for the wild pitch that went behind Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Rhys Hoskins on Saturday. Ramírez is being suspended three games and Mendoza one. Major League Baseball is ruling that pitch that Ramírez threw was intentional. Ramírez is appealing his three-game suspension.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. 500 Career RBIs for Pete Alonso. Yesterday, Pete Alonso hit a solo home run in the ninth inning to bring the Mets within one. That RBI was No. 499 in his career. In terms of career Mets numbers, Alonso is tenth on the list. Cleon Jones and José Reyes are tied for eight at 521.
  2. Brooks Raley will probably get work today. Brooks Raley is the only pitcher in the Mets’ bullpen who has not been used in a game yet this season, and it seems like right now that manager Carlos Mendoza is trying to make sure that everyone gets some time on the field this weekend. Michael Tonkin has thrown the most pitches at 33 followed by Adam Ottavino at 24. Everyone else has thrown less than 20 pitches.
  3. Cutting back on strikeouts. The Mets had 10 strikeouts and one hit in their first game of the season. Yesterday, they had six strikeouts and 12 hits. Brandon Nimmo and DJ Stewart both have the same alarming statistic jumping off box scores. They both have four strikeouts over the first two games, two in each game so far. Hopefully, they break this trend today.