Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, May 15, 2021 • 1:10 P.M.
Tropicana Field • St. Petersburg, FL
RHP Drew Smith (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Shane McClanahan (0-0, 3.75)
WPIX • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM

All streaks come to an end and the Mets winning streak ended in the bottom of the ninth on Friday.

David Peterson and Tyler Glasnow were locked in a pitching duel, where the difference until the eighth inning was a two-run homer by Jonathan Villar. The Rays were able to tie it in the eighth and score one more in the ninth to win. Sometimes you win games you should lose and sometimes you lose games you should win.

Mets Lineup

  1. Kevin Pillar – CF
  2. Francisco Lindor – SS
  3. Michael Conforto -RF
  4. Pete Alonso – 1B
  5. Dominic Smith – LF
  6. James McCann – DH
  7. Jonathan Villar – 3B
  8. Tomas Nido – C
  9. Jose Peraza – 2B

Rays Lineup

  1. Randy Arozarena – DH
  2. Brandon Lowe – LF
  3. Yandy Diaz – 1B
  4. Joey Wendle – 3B
  5. Manuel Margot – RF
  6. Willy Adames – SS
  7. Mike Zunino – C
  8. Brett Phillips – CF
  9. Mike Brosseau – 2B

The Mets will look to start a new streak tonight! They’ll be going with a bullpen game, starting with Drew Smith. Joey Lucchesi is scheduled to get a good chunk of work and may come in after Smith. Last time through the rotation the Mets had success throwing Tommy Hunter as the opener and following up with Lucchesi.

Lucchesi has pitched 14.0 innings over five games with a 7.71 ERA, 4.11 FIP, 1.429 WHIP and a 50 ERA+. In his last bulk outing he pitched 3 1/3 innings allowing one unearned run from two hits and a walk while striking out three. A few Rays have seen Joey in major league action before:

  • Austin Meadows 0-1, BB, K
  • Willy Adames 0-2, 2 K
  • Mike Zunino 0-3, K
  • Mike Brosseau 0-2, K

The Mets bats will get a look at rookie Shane McClanahan. The 24 year old made his major league debut this year and was drafted by the Rays in the first round (31st Pick) in 2018. However, the Mets actually drafted him of Cape Coral High School in the 26th round back in 2015. That’s a fun fact. In three starts this season he has pitched 12.0 innings with a 3.75 ERA, 2.69 FIP, 1.250 WHIP and a 104 ERA+. Each start he has pitched exactly 4.0 innings, however his last start was the first time he touched 80 pitches thrown as he allowed three runs from four hits and two walks to Oakland.

Let’s Go Mets!