Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Monday, May 19, 2023 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, New York
RHP Cal Quantrill (2-2, 3.97) vs. RHP Carlos Carrasco (0-2, 8.56)
SNY

For the first time in a month, the Mets won a series! And it was against one of the best teams in baseball! Now the Mets look to take that same momentum into their weekend series against the Cleveland Guardians, who are in the midst of a similar free fall like the Mets.

The Mets have made a few roster moves today to get ready for tonight’s game to activate tonight’s starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco and to add Gary Sánchez to the active roster. The vibes have been good the last two days with the Mets, let’s go for three straight!

Mets Lineup

Carlos Carrasco will face his former club tonight in what should be a high-energy night for him. Carrasco had a rough start to the season for the Mets, allowing 13 runs from 14 hits and eight walks over 13 2/3 innings. His velocity was down, and he didn’t look right. After a stint on the injured list he’s had two good starts in Binghamton, allowing one run on five hits over seven innings while only walking two batters. The Mets’ weakness this year has been starting pitching, and if Carlos can give the Mets five good innings tonight, it will be a huge boon. The Guardians have the following career numbers against Carrasco:

  • Josh Bell 6-14, 2 2B, BB, 3 K
  • Mike Zunino 1-6, 2 K
  • Cam Gallagher 1-3

Opposing Lineup

The Mets bats will get a look at Cal Quantrill tonight! Over his eight starts (45 1/3 innings) this season, he has a 3.97 ERA, 4.84 FIP, 1.346 WHIP and 107 ERA+. Cal had a strong start to May, allowing two runs in 14 1/3 innings. He bounced back down to Earth in his last start allowing three runs from six hits and three walks over six innings his last time out. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

  • Eduardo Escobar 2-7, 2B, BB, 2 K
  • Starling Marte 1-6, BB, K
  • Mark Canha 0-4, BB
  • Tommy Pham 2-6, HR, 2 K
  • Pete Alonso 1-3
  • Jeff McNeil 1-2, 2B
  • Brandon Nimmo 0-1, BB

Game Notes

José Quintana received good news on his CT scan today and will throw off the mound for the first time tomorrow since his surgery.

Make sure to check out our Series Preview!

Read about how the blockbuster trade between the Mets and Guardians is working out.

The Mets made a ton of roster moves before the game: C Gary Sánchez has been called up from Triple-A Syracuse, C Tomás Nido is beginning a rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie, C Michael Pérez has been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, OF Tim Locastro has been transferred to the 60-Day IL with a UCL sprain in his right thumb.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Old Friends! The Mets and Guardians made a franchise-changing trade for both teams. The Mets got Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco. Lindor is a leader on the Mets for the foreseeable future and immediately became one of the best shortstops the Mets have ever signed. Amed Rosario enjoyed immediate success in Cleveland and became a 6.0 WAR player in the last three seasons. Andrés Giménez blossomed in Cleveland, putting together an All-Star season last season (7.4 WAR) and signed a massive extension recently. The trade was a rare massive win for both sides.
  2. Pete Alonso Still On Top! Pete Alonso homered in every game during the Rays series, bringing his season total to 16. He continues to hold the lead for homers in the majors and he leads the national league in RBIs (4th overall). Further, Pete is in the 99th percentile for xSLG and 97th in xwOBA. He’s the furnace of this club right now!
  3. The Bullpen did in fact bounce back. Yesterday we talked about how we were looking for the bullpen to bounce back after an uncharacteristically bad performance on Wednesday. Raley, Brigham and Robertson all pitched scoreless innings yesterday, scattering two hits and three strikeouts.

Let’s go Mets!