Series Preview: Mets Come Home to Face Red-Hot Royals

The New York Mets (5-7) entered this season with an offense that was expected to carry most of the team’s weight. It certainly did not start that way, as they scored three runs or less in five of their first six games. It was only a matter of time, however, as the lineup came alive in their road series against the Atlanta Braves. The Mets’ offense scored a remarkable 9.66 runs per game over a three-game stretch, including 16 runs in the series finale on Thursday. The quality of at-bats has improved, as has their record, going 4-2 over their six-game road trip.

Another test is on the horizon for the Mets as the Kansas City Royals (9-4) are in town this weekend for the first time since 2016. The American League Central is up for grabs with four teams potentially being in the mix for the division title. One of those is the Royals, who made big additions in the offseason, signing the likes of Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha and Hunter Renfroe. They have won seven straight games, including a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros. Their leader is Bobby Witt Jr., who signed a contract extension worth a base value of $288.7 million over 11 years this winter.

Friday, April 12, 2024: RHP Michael Wacha (1-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. RHP Luis Severino (0-1, 3.60 ERA)

Wacha struggled in his one and only season with the Mets in 2020, pitching to a 6.62 ERA across seven starts during the 60-game shortened season. The right-hander struggled with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021 as well, but he owned a 3.27 ERA over the following two years with the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres, ultimately helping him land a two-year deal with the Royals. He is 3-6 with a 4.89 ERA in nine career starts at Citi Field. Wacha will look to improve on that against his former team in the series opener.

Luis Severino has yet to earn his first victory with the Mets, but there is no denying that he deserved one his last outing. He gave up just two runs (one earned) across five innings in the team’s 9-6 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. The Mets led 5-2 when Severino left the game, but the Reds went on to score seven runs against the bullpen. The right-hander has held his own against the Royals in the past, going 3-1 with a 4.66 ERA in five starts. Severino last saw them as a member of the New York Yankees in July of 2023, throwing 5 2/3 innings.

Saturday, April 13, 2024: RHP Alec Marsh (1-0, 3.09 ERA) vs. LHP Sean Manaea (1-0, 0.82 ERA)

Alec Marsh did enough in spring training to earn the fifth spot in the Royals’ rotation coming out of camp. He rewarded the team with a dazzling performance in his first outing, allowing one run over seven innings back on April 2 against the Baltimore Orioles. Marsh threw a total of 74 1/3 innings as a rookie last season, though only eight of his 17 appearances were starts. It will be interesting to see if his role changes as the season goes on given his lack of longevity at the big-league level. Marsh threw a scoreless inning in relief against the Mets in early August last season.

Sean Manaea could not have imagined a better start to his time with the Mets, allowing one run over his first 11 innings. He may not throw his four-seam fastball with the same kind of velocity as other starters across baseball, but opponents are hitting .091 against the pitch. For the sixth time in his career, Manaea will face off against the team that originally drafted him all the way back in 2013. In his previous five outings against Kansas City, the left-hander has pitched to a 2-1 record with a 4.61 ERA across 27 1/3 innings.

Sunday, April 14, 2024: LHP Cole Ragans (0-1, 2.60 ERA) vs. RHP José Buttó (0-0, 3.60 ERA)

Cole Ragans was the key piece in the return for Aroldis Chapman, whom the Royals traded to the Texas Rangers in June of 2023. He has impressed in his last 15 starts, pitching to an impressive 2.63 ERA since the deal was completed. Ragans is getting his first extended run as a starter at age of 26 and he has yet to disappoint. The left-hander was a bit fortunate to allow three runs in his last appearance against the Astros, allowing 10 hits in five innings. Ragans will look to be more efficient in his second career start against the Mets.

This would have been Julio Teherán’s spot in the rotation, but the Mets elected to designate him for assignment after his poor performance against the Braves on Monday. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets are planning on calling up José Buttó to fill the vacancy, as his last appearance at any level was in the second game of the team’s doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers on April 4. He has impressed when given the opportunity to pitch for the big-league ball club, owning a 3.38 ERA over his last 10 outings. Buttó is 1-3 with a 3.33 ERA in five career appearances at Citi Field.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Pete Alonso (NYM)

The three-time All-Star recently endured a four-game stretch in which he recorded no hits, including all three games against the Reds last weekend. But, Pete Alonso finished the series against the Braves on a high note, collecting four hits, one home run and three runs batted in over the last two games. He has done remarkably well against the Royals in the past, slashing .400/.444/.720/1.164 with two home runs, six runs batted in and two walks in 27 plate appearances.

MJ Melendez (KCR)

MJ Melendez was once the No. 2 prospect in the Royals system and was considered to be an elite defender at the catcher position. But with Salvador Pérez under contract through the 2026 season, the opportunity to become the primary backstop has yet to come to fruition. Melendez’s role as a defender has been up in the air since he was called up, but so far, he is enjoying his best season offensively. The 25-year-old has at least one hit in 11 of his first 12 games and is riding an eight-game streak. Melendez owns a 1.101 OPS through 47 plate appearances thus far.