Tuesday, September 19, 2023 • 6:40 PM
loanDepot Park • Miami, Florida
LHP Joey Lucchesi (3-0, 2.83) vs. LHP Braxton Garrett (9-6, 3.67)
SNY

The Mets are hunting the teams they helped during the trade deadline. First, they took a series from the Diamondbacks (who have since won three games straight and now have the second wild card spot). Now it’s the Marlins.

The Mets were able to squeak by the Marlins last night thanks to a go-ahead solo shot from Jeff McNeil in the ninth inning. Now the Marlins are half a game out of the last wild card spot chasing the Reds and the sinking Cubs.

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Mets Lineup

Joey Lucchesi gets another turn in the rotation as the Mets continue to audition internal options for starter spots next season.

Over seven starts and 35 innings, Lucchesi has a 2.83 ERA, 4.49 FIP, 1.257 WHIP and a 150 ERA+. He’s coming off of a phenomenal start, where he held the Diamondbacks to one unearned run and five hits over seven innings of work. He’s now gone two straight starts without allowing an earned run.

The Marlins have the following career numbers against him:

Opposing Lineup

The Mets bats draw Braxton Garrett tonight.

Over 29 games (28 starts) this year, he has thrown 149 2/3 innings with a 3.67 ERA, 3.62 FIP, 1.156 WHIP and a 121 ERA+. In his last three starts, he has allowed only two runs from 10 hits and six walks over 15 2/3 innings (1.15 ERA, 3.26 FIP) while striking out 12 batters. Braxton’s first two starts this season were against the Mets, where he allowed four runs from 15 hits and a walk over 7 2/3 innings.

The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

Game Notes

Just as the Mets get their game going, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies start their playoff series against the Somerset Patriots.

Buck Showalter said Starling Marte will play simulated games in Port St. Lucie soon. He also said Brett Baty will return to the lineup on Wednesday.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Jeff McNeil. McNeil went 2-for-4 last night at the plate with the game-winning run a solo shot in the ninth inning. In his last 14 games, he has gone 13-for-54 at the plate with a double and four homers. While his OBP was down during this stretch (.293) his slugging was up to .482 (season OBP of .330, SLG .372). McNeil has now hit double digit homers for just the second time in his career. The only other time he did this was during his absurd 2019 campaign where he had 23 home runs and a 143 OPS+.
  2. Adam Ottavino. Ottavino just pitched last night, so we doubt he’ll pitch again tonight, but we wanted to highlight the streak he’s been on recently. In his last five games, he has pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and nothing else while striking out 10 batters. In his last 13 games, he has pitched 13 2/3 innings allowing only one run from four hits while striking out 17 batters (0.66 ERA). Something has clicked for him late this season.
  3. Milestone Tracker. There was a little movement last night on the milestones we are watching for the rest of the season as Lindor stole a base. He is now sitting at 26 homers and 27 stolen bases on the season as time ticks down to reach 30-30. Pete Alonso has five more home runs to go until 50 and just one more to tie Howard Johnson for fourth all-time with the Mets. Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Álvarez each have two more home runs to go for 25 on the season.

Let’s go Mets!