Friday, June 2, 2023 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, New York
RHP Chris Bassitt (5-4, 3.80) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (2-2, 4.80)
SNY

The Mets are coming off a three-game sweep of the Phillies and look to extend their winning streak to four games tonight as they take on the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Mets starting pitching rotation had a major turnover this past off-season, with three major pitchers (deGrom, Walker and Bassitt) leaving the team as free agents. The Mets faced off against Taijuan Walker yesterday, and tonight they draw Chris Bassitt as he makes his Citi Field return.

Mets Lineup

Justin Verlander looks to move beyond his last start, where he allowed six runs over five innings. It was the second time in three starts that he allowed six runs over five innings of work. Both of these terrible starts were preceded by a start where Verlander allowed exactly one run over at least seven innings. If the pattern continues, Verlander should have a good start today. Overall this season, he has a 4.80 ERA, 4.59 FIP, 1.100 WHIP, and 87 ERA+ over 30 innings. Verlander faced the Blue Jays last April and allowed three runs from four hits and a walk over six innings of work. The Blue Jays have the following career numbers against him:

Opposing Lineup

Chris Bassitt has pitched 66 1/3 innings with a 3.80 ERA, 5.22 FIP, 1.146 WHIP, and a 109 ERA+ this season. Bassitt has already had three different seasons in 2023. After allowing nine runs in his first start, he settled in for a good April, where he had a 3.03 ERA, 4.20 FIP over 29 2/3 innings and five games. Then Bassitt became the best pitcher in baseball for three consecutive starts, allowing no runs from nine hits and seven walks over 23 innings while striking out 20 (2.86 FIP). In his last two starts, he has allowed 13 runs, nine earned. It is a fair question to ask – which Bassitt do the Mets see tonight? The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

Game Notes

The Mets announced that Kodai Senga will start on Sunday.

Tim Locastro had surgery on his right thumb and was given a 6-8 week timetable for his return.

Check out our Series Preview!

Tonight, the New York Mets will host Lou Gehrig Day at Citi Field. New York City native Sarah Langs, who shared her ALS diagnosis last year, will participate in a special pre-game ceremony. During the ceremony, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation will present Project ALS with a $10,000 grant for research in honor of Langs. Langs, raised on the Upper East Side, grew up attending Mets games with her family at Shea Stadium. In addition, each broadcast booth across the league will hang an illuminated star named “A Langs Star,” courtesy of Project ALS. Fans will also be able to purchase A Langs Star for $50 at starsforsarah.org.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Mark Canha Szn. Mark Canha has turned a corner in the last week and is entering a hot streak. Over his last seven games, he has gone 7-for-19 at the plate with two homers and five walks, hitting .368/.520/.684. He’s now homered in back-to-back games and has six RBIs in the last two games. The Mets have only scored eight runs in those games!
  2. The Mets bullpen is bouncing back. Last weekend was a rough one for the Mets bullpen. Due to the Mets game script, the Mets’ top relievers were also left out of a bunch of the games. The Mets needed to rely heavily on Ottavino and Robertson for the first two games in the Phillies series, which meant that the rest of the Mets bullpen needed to get the job done yesterday in a close game. To quote the SNY broadcast, the law firm of Brigham, Raley, and Smith were able to get the final six outs and allowed only one hit.
  3. Starling Marte could set a personal record for stolen bases. In 2016 and 2021, Starling Marte recorded 47 stolen bases. Yesterday he stole his 16th stolen base on the season. This would put him right around 45 for the season if he continues at his current pace. There is no one else close to Marte right now. Pham is second on the team with five stolen bases and is only in second because he stole two bases in one game recently.

Let’s go Mets!