Thursday, April 28, 2024 • 10:10 PM
Dodger Stadium • Los Angeles, CA
LHP Sean Manaea (1-1, 4.30) vs. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-1, 4.50)
SNY • MLBN

The red-hot Mets face a World Series contender for the second time in the last two weeks tonight! They have won both their last four games and series in addition to emerging victorious in 10 of their last 13 contests. This includes a series win on the road against one of the favorites to win the National League pennant – the Atlanta Braves.

Now, the Mets face the other favorite to win the pennant – the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers started off the season 10-4 but have since won just two of their last seven games while dropping back-to-back series against the San Diego Padres and the Washington Nationals.

Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Mets Lineup

  1. Brandon Nimmo – LF
  2. Starling Marte – RF
  3. Francisco Lindor – SS
  4. Pete Alonso – 1B
  5. DJ Stewart – DH
  6. Francisco Álvarez – C
  7. Jeff McNeil – 2B
  8. Harrison Bader – CF
  9. Joey Wendle – 3B

Sean Manaea gets the nod for the Mets tonight as he looks to rebound after a tough start last Saturday in Queens. Over three starts (14 2/3 innings) this season, he owns a 4.30 ERA, 3.47 FIP, 1.364 WHIP and a 96 ERA+. This is strikingly close to his career line of 4.10 ERA, 4.04 FIP, 1.225 WHIP and a 100 ERA+. Almost all of the damage was done his last start against the Kansas City Royals where he allowed eight runs, six of which were earned, on nine hits and three walks over 3 2/3 innings in a loss.

In two games (one start) against the Dodgers last season, Manaea pitched 10 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out eight. Los Angeles has the following career numbers against him:

Opposing Lineup

  1. Mookie Betts – SS
  2. Shohei Ohtani – DH
  3. Freddie Freeman – 1B
  4. Will Smith – C
  5. Teoscar Hernández – RF
  6. Kiké Hernández – 2B
  7. Andy Pages – CF
  8. Miguel Rojas – 3B
  9. Chris Taylor – LF

It is just so poetic that the first pitcher for the Dodgers this series is the marquee player the Mets tried and failed to sign this offseason. The club made a strong push for Yoshinobu Yamamoto this winter with a lucrative offer, but ultimately Yamamoto wanted to be a Dodger. Over four starts this year, he has a 4.50 ERA, 3.14 FIP, 1.063 WHIP and a 95 ERA+ over 16 innings while also striking out 21 batters. Yamamoto’s major league debut was against the Padres during the two-game Seoul Series in South Korea that occurred during spring training. If you remove that start from his season, he has a 1.80 ERA and a 3.00 FIP. Opponents on the whole have a .167 BA against him. If you take the Padres completely out of his season, he possesses a 0.00 ERA.

Game Notes

Carlos Mendoza told reporters that David Peterson is nearing a minor league rehab assignment that should come sometime over the next week. Peterson underwent surgery in November for a torn labrum in his left hip that has kept him sidelined up to this point in the season.

Mendoza also revealed that Kodai Senga threw a 26-pitch bullpen today, marking his second session in recent days, as he continues to work back from a strained posterior capsule in his right shoulder. He is eligible to be activated off the injured list on May 27.

Brett Baty partook in pregame defensive drills and batting practice as he fights a tight left hamstring that forced him to exit Tuesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He remains day-to-day while the team is optimistic that he will ultimately avoid an IL stint.

The Mets released their City Connect uniforms this morning, which will be primarily worn during Saturday home games throughout the season, with Darryl Strawberry’s jersey retirement ceremony on June 1 acting as the exception.

On the latest episode of MMO Weekly, Sal Manzo sat down with Max Wiener, otherwise known as the “Rally Pimp”, for a deep dive into his fandom while learning how his newfound persona came about.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. The Dodgers’ Big Three. The Dodgers have a stacked lineup at the top anchored by Betts (213 OPS+), Freeman (116 OPS+) and Ohtani (184 OPS+). How Mets pitchers navigate the “big three” will dictate how the weekend goes for the team. There are also several starting players for the Dodgers that are also struggling right now and have yet to get going, meaning the Mets cannot allow them to heat up. That group includes Gavin Lux (6 OPS+), Taylor (-41 OPS+) and Outman (74 OPS+).
  2. The Mets’ pitching staff has been rolling. The Mets have won 10 of their last 13 primarily because of the pitching staff. The team ERA stands at 3.15, ranking sixth overall in baseball and first in the National League. The unit has struck out 176 batters, which is also tied for sixth overall and second in the NL. Furthermore, they have allowed 133 hits, the lowest total in the league. The Dodgers will be a big test for the staff this weekend as they look to keep things rolling.
  3. Harrison Bader. This season, Bader is hitting .288/.327/.365 with a 98 OPS+, which is about on par with his career slash line of .244/.311/.395. Right now, he is on a hot streak that has helped fuel the Mets offense, particularly in the later innings. He has reached base safely in seven consecutive games, going 10-for-26 with a double and a homer, which represent his only extra-base hits of the year, over that stretch.

Let’s go Mets!