Game Chat: Mets vs. Reds, 1:40 P.M.

Sunday, April 7, 2024 • 1:40 PM
Great American Ballpark • Cincinnati, OH
LHP Sean Manaea (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Andrew Abbott (0-0, 3.38)
SNY

The good thing about winning ball games is it makes it easier to forget mistakes. The New York Mets sure need a win today to forget about yesterday’s mistakes. The Mets went down early but then rallied and took a 5-2 lead. Then, over the course of two innings, New York just had an awful combination of bad fundamentals and odd situations resulting in the Reds scoring seven runs.

Wins help a lot. The Mets still have a chance to take their first series of the year this afternoon and head to Atlanta winning three of their last four games.

Sean Manaea. Photo by Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Mets Lineup

Sean Manaea looks to build on off his first start of the season and get the Mets back on the winning track. In his Mets debut, Manaea allowed only one hit and two walks while striking out eight over six innings of work.

He faced the Reds once last year in relief where he allowed three runs (two earned) over 2 1/3 innings from two hits and a walk.

The Reds have the following career numbers against Manaea:

Will Benson 0-1
Jeimer Candelario 3-13, HR, 2 BB, 4 K
Elly De La Cruz 1-1
Jake Fraley 0-2, 3 BB
Jonathan India 0-1
Luke Maile 0-2
Spencer Steer 0-1, K
Tyler Stephenson 1-2, BB

Red Lineup

Jonathan India DH
Spencer Steer LF
Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B
Jeimer Candelario 3B
Stuart Fairchild RF
Elly De La Cruz SS
Santiago Espinal 2B
Luke Maile C
Bubba Thompson CF

The Mets scored runs yesterday and they look to keep that going today against Andrew Abbott. In Abbott’s first start of the season he allowed two runs from three hits and walked two over 5 1/3 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Last year was his rookie season and made 21 starts and pitched 109 1/3 innings for the Reds. He had a 3.87 ERA, 4.20 FIP, 1.317 WHIP, and a 118 ERA+.

This includes a start in Queens in September where the Mets scored two runs from six hits and three walks over 3 2/3 innings.

The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

Pete Alonso 0-1, BB
Francisco Alvarez 1-3, 2B, K
Francisco Lindor 1-1, BB
Jeff McNeil 0-1, BB
Brandon Nimmo 0-3, K
DJ Stewart 0-2, 2 K
Tyrone Taylor 0-2, K

Game Notes

J.D. Martinez will not be joining the Mets in Atlanta for the team’s next series. He went 1-for-4 for the St. Lucie Mets yesterday. Carlos Mendoza said he will have the next couple days off.

The Mets starting staff has posted a 2.18 ERA with 19 walks and 42 strikeouts. Their 2.18 ERA is the best in the National League and third-best in the majors.

Brett Baty has reached base safely in all but one game this season. He is batting 8-for-27 (.296) with one home run, five RBIs, three walks, and a .367 OBP.

Three Things To Watch For

The bullpen is a tired mess. Players health, energy, and game readiness was going to be a challenge this week with the Mets playing 15 games in 14 days, starting with a doubleheader. However, it became the star of the show yesterday when the Mets needed Yohan Ramírez to throw two innings yesterday. His first inning was fine, his second was a disaster, but the Mets didn’t really have any other options. Overall, he tossed 53 pitches for the Mets. The root problem yesterday was four pitchers on Friday night pitched in back-to-back days. The Mets need Manaea to go deep in today’s game to give the bullpen their strength back.
Collecting hits. Getting hits has been a problem for the Mets this season and yesterday was a breath of fresh air. The Mets collected 11 total hits including Nimmo, Baty, and Marte each having two hits as well as Omar Narváez getting three.
Stealing bases. Starling Marte stole two bases yesterday, which brought the Mets season total to five. This ties them for 11th in the league. The Reds are tied with the Rays for leading the league in stolen bases with 14. This became a focal point in yesterday’s game. How the Mets handle the Reds stealing bases could become a storyline in today’s game.