Wednesday, September 13, 2023 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, New York
RHP Zac Gallen (15-7, 3.31) vs. LHP Joey Lucchesi (2-0, 3.54)
SNY

The Mets and Diamondbacks will try to squeeze a game in today’s rainy weather this evening at Citi Field. The Diamondbacks won the first game of the series. The Mets were able to muscle up last night and win thanks to multiple homeruns. With the loss the last night, the Diamondbacks lead on the last Wild Card spot has shrank to just one game.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Mets Lineup

The Mets are mixing in a sixth starter to the rotation tonight,  bringing back Joey Lucchesi to Citi Field on Wednesday night. In six major-league starts this season, he has pitched 28 innings with a 3.54 ERA, 4.26 FIP, 1.286 WHIP and a 120 ERA+. His last start on August 18th was a great one where he held the Cardinals scoreless over 5 2/3 innings. Since that start in the majors, things haven’t been so great in Syracuse for the left-hander as he has allowed 13 runs runs over 14 innings. The Diamondbacks have the following career numbers against him:

Diamondbacks Lineup

The Diamondbacks back of the rotation is being held together by magic and sheer will — but the front of the rotation is held together by Zac Gallen. The 2023 All-Star has made 30 starts this season tossing 187 2/3 innings with a 3.31 ERA, 3.25 FIP, 1.082 WHIP and a 132 ERA+. He bounced back in his last start, pitching a complete game shutout against the Cubs, holding them to only three hits. Before that start, he allowed 11 runs over 10 2/3 innings against the Dodgers and the Orioles. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

Game Notes

Ronny Mauricio is out for the Mets on Wednesday due to an illness, according to Buck Showalter. The rookie hit his first major-league home run on Tuesday night in the victory.

In order to make room for Joey Lucchesi, the Mets optioned reliever Sam Coonrod to Triple-A Syracuse ahead of Wednesday’s game.

A few injured Mets not named Edwin Díaz are working on making a comeback before the end of the season. Utility infielder Luis Guillorme started for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies on Tuesday night in a rehab assignment, while outfielder Starling Marte went through the “full gamut of baseball activities” on Wednesday, according to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. DiComo reports that Marte said he could return to the Mets during the team’s next homestand, which begins on Sept. 25.

After another strong start on Tuesday night, Mets’ prospect José Butto is making his case to be a part of the Mets’ 2024 rotation.

Former Met Max Scherzer is out for the rest of the season after suffering a shoulder injury. Should the Rangers make the playoffs, Rangers GM Chris Young said that a Scherzer return was “unlikely.”

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Ronny Mauricio is a power hitter now. Well, Ronny Mauricio’s calling card all season has been the pop in his bat. He had a double in his first game and then didn’t hit another double until Monday night. Yesterday, he finally hit his first major league home run which traveled 440+feet into the second deck. Although he’s out of the lineup on Wednesday, his performance last night was still extremely impressive.
  2. Pete is inching closer to 50 homers. Pete Alonso hit his 44th home run of the season last night, getting ever so closer to 50 on the season. Matt Olson’s recent homerun tear, putting him at 51 home runs probably puts the season title out of reach for Alonso. Alonso getting to 50 homers on the season and Francisco Lindor achieving a 30-30 season are two big season milestones we’ll keep following the rest of this month.
  3. Branon Nimmo’s extra-base hit spree. Brandon Nimmo had three hits last night — two doubles and a triple. Since September 3rd, he has gone 12-for-34 with three doubles, a triple and three homers leading to a .353/.405/.765 batting line.

Let’s go Mets!