Monday. September 23, 2019 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
LHP Caleb Smith (9-10, 4.24) vs. LHP Steven Matz (10-9, 4.16)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050 AM
The Mets won yesterday, but so did the Brewers therefore the Mets’ elimination number dropped down to 3. The Mets window is continuing to shrink but if they win tonight, a new opportunity could open – while the Brewers have gone a 4 game winning streak, winning 8-2 of their last 10, the Nationals have gone 5-5 in their last ten. The Nationals have played two less games than the Brewers and if they lose today, they become the team that the Mets end up chasing.
Mets Lineup
- Amed Rosario – SS
- Jeff McNeil – 2B
- Pete Alonso – 1B
- J.D. Davis – LF
- Wilson Ramos – C
- Todd Frazier – 3B
- Michael Conforto – RF
- Juan Lagares – CF
- Steven Matz – LHP
Marlins Lineup
- Jon Berti – CF
- Miguel Rojas – SS
- Starlin Castro – 3B
- Jorge Alfaro – C
- Harold Ramirez – LF
- Isan Diaz – 2B
- Austin Dean – 1B
- Lewis Brinson – RF
- Caleb Smith – LHP
None of this matters if the Mets don’t win though. Steven Matz takes the mound tonight and he is 10-9 over 30 games and 28 starts with 149.1 innings and a 4.16 ERA, 4.55 FIP, 1.333 WHIP and a 98 ERA+. He’s coming off a rough start against the Rockies where he allowed 7 runs from 6 hits and 2 walks (and 2 homers) in 4.0 innings. He has a 2.87 ERA in three starts and 15.2 innings against the Marlins allowing 7 runs, 5 earned over 15.2 innings from 18 hits and 4 walks. The Marlins have the following stat lines against him:
- Starlin Castro 6-22, 2B, HR, 6 K
- Miguel Rojas 3-20, 2B, BB, 3 K
- Martin Prado 6-15, 2 BB, K
- Lewis Brinson 2-11, BB, 4 K
- Jorge Alfaro 4-9, BB, 2 K
- Garrett Cooper 0-4, BB
The Mets bats will get a look at Caleb Smith who is 9-10 over 26 starts and 144.1 innings with a 4.24 ERA, 4.86 FIP, 1.164 WHIP and a 100 ERA+. September hasn’t been the kindest month to Caleb – he’s allowed 14 runs, 13 earned, over 22.0 innings (5.32 ERA) in 4 starts and that includes a start where he tossed 6.0 scoreless innings. In two starts against the Mets he allowed 4 runs from 7 hits and 6 walks in 11.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
- Michael Conforto 3-10, BB, 5 K
- Amed Rosario 2-9, 2B, 4 K
- Robinson Cano 1-7, K
- Pete Alonso 0-5, BB, 4 K
- Joe Panik 2-6
- J.D. Davis 1-3, 2B, 2 BB
- Todd Frazier 0-4, BB, K
- Jeff McNeil 2-4, 2B, BB, K
- Wilson Ramos 2-4, BB
- Brandon Nimmo 0-3, 2 K
Game Notes
Pete Alonso is on the verge of another Mets record. He currently scored 98 runs and drove home 115…He is looking to become the eighth player in franchise history with a 100+ run/100+ RBI season. It would be the 12th time in franchise history and the first since Davis Wright (115 R & 124 RBI) and Carlos Beltrán (112 R & 116
RBI) did so in 2008. He would be the first Mets rookie to record a 100+ run and 100+ RBI season.
The Mets pitching staff has struck out 1,442 batters this season. That is the second-highest total in franchise history. The 2018 Mets set the record with 1,446 punch outs.
Alonso has 115 RBI, the third-most by a National League rookie. Albert Pujols owns the record with 130 in 2001, while Wually Berger is second with 119 in 1930.
Let’s Go Mets!
