Wednesday, September 4, 2024 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Tanner Houck (8-9, 3.12) vs. RHP Tylor Megill (3-5, 4.82)
SNY

The Mets go for their second consecutive sweep this evening! For most of Tuesday night, the difference between the Red Sox and the Mets was a Francisco Lindor two-run homer (it literally was the Mets’ only hit for a while). Then, the Mets broke the game open in the eighth inning as they rolled by the Red Sox. The Diamondbacks and Braves both won their games and the Padres didn’t play – so no significant change in the standings.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Mets Lineup

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

The Mets hope Tylor Megill can make it two successful starts in a row. Over 11 games, he has pitched 52 1/3 innings with a 4.82 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 1.395 WHIP, and an 83 ERA+. Last time out against the White Sox, he allowed only one run over 5 1/3 innings, scattering five hits and a walk. The only member of the Red Sox who has seen Megill in a major league before is Tyler O’Neill (1-for-2, 2B, K).

Opposing Lineup

  1. Jarren Duran – CF
  2. Rafael Devers – 3B
  3. Wilyer Abreu – RF
  4. Tyler O’Neill – LF
  5. Masataka Yoshida – DH
  6. Triston Casas – 1B
  7. Connor Wong – C
  8. Enmanuel Valdez – 2B
  9. Nick Sogard – SS

Tanner Houck is on the mound to stop the Mets’ sweep. Over 27 games and 164 2/3 innings, Houck has a 3.12 ERA, 3.34 FIP, 1.166 WHIP, and 139 ERA+. He has thrown at least six innings in five consecutive starts and is coming off a solid start against the Tigers, where he allowed no runs over six innings. He hasn’t been as effective since the All-Star break, posting a 4.53 ERA and 4.94 FIP over 47 2/3 innings spread over eight starts. Only a few Mets have seen Houck in a major league game:

Game Notes

Paul Blackburn pitched 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball for Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday. He’s expected to rejoin the Mets sometime during the Blue Jays series to start next week.

Kodai Senga threw about 25 pitches off a mound on Wednesday. Mendoza said Senga “looked good” and will need a few more bullpens before he can take the next step.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Tylor Megill pitch selection. According to Baseball Savant, Megill has thrown eight (EIGHT!) different pitches this year, including a fastball (49% of the time), cutter, slider, split-finger, curveball, sinker, sweeper, and changeup. He threw all eight pitches at least once in his last start but had a different game plan. He tossed his sinker 20.6% of the time. Overall this season (including data from his last start), he tossed it only 5% of the time.
  2. Francisco Lindor. Lindor went 2-for-4 last night with a two-run homer early in the game and an RBI double to kickstart the inning where the roof fell in on the Red Sox. As he stood on second base the fans at Citi Field started a booming M-V-P chant. During his 14-game hitting streak, he has gone 21-for-58 with seven doubles and six home runs, slashing .382/.403/.793. I’m writing this game chat before fWAR rolled up last night’s game, and Lindor has 7.2 fWAR. What a season for Lindor!
  3. Spreading the power around. The strength of the New York Mets is how many players can muscle the ball out of the park. The Mets are sitting on 178 team home runs, 6th in the league and one behind the Athletics. Lindor hit his 30th homer of the season Tuesday night. Alonso his 31st. Mark Vientos continued his amazing season with his 22nd.

Let’s go Mets!