The New York Mets (64-75) are coming off a two-game split with the Washington Nationals following a series victory against the Seattle Mariners over the weekend. They finish off their road trip with a three-game series versus the Minnesota Twins (73-67), who lead the AL Central race by 6.5 games over the Cleveland Guardians. It will be interesting to see how the Mets fair against the Twins, who last faced off in 2019.

Of course, this is the first time Carlos Correa will play against the Mets after almost joining the team during the offseason. Correa has struggled offensively this season, with only a 93 wRC+ in 126 games. Earlier today, we discussed how both teams have fared since the Correa madness.

Let’s take a look at some important notes for each of the three pitching matchups.

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Friday, September 8, 2023: RHP Kodai Senga (10-7, 3.08 ERA) vs. LHP Dallas Keuchel (1-5, 5.06 ERA)

Kodai Senga has performed like the ace of the Mets rotation for a large part of this season, exceeding the fanbase’s expectations. Most players experience bumps in the road over the course of their rookie season, but to his credit, the right-hander has avoided a lot of adversity. Senga was impressive at the Seattle Mariners on Sep. 1, giving up one run on five hits while striking out 12 in seven innings. He has surrendered two earned runs or less in 10 of his last 12 starts, dating all the way back to June 23. Senga will look to continue his strong campaign in his 12th road start, going 5-4 with a 3.82 ERA in his previous 11 outings.

Dallas Keuchel signed a three-year, $55.5 million with the Chicago White Sox before the 2020 season. Since then, the veteran left-hander has bounced around the league, pitching for four different teams during that stretch. Keuchel debuted for the Twins on Aug. 6, making five major league appearances over the last month. While he is not the same pitcher he was with the Houston Astros, he is a serviceable backend starter. Keuchel has impressed in his limited opportunities at Target Field, owning a 1-0 with a 0.55 ERA with 16 1/3 innings.

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Saturday, September 9, 2023: LHP David Peterson (3-7, 5.40 ERA) vs. Kenta Maeda (3-7, 4.73 ERA)

David Peterson has adjusted very well in his return to the starting rotation, making a strong case to be a key part of the staff in 2024. August was a strong stretch for the left-hander, as he pitched to a 3.27 ERA across 22 innings of work. While Peterson has been much better in recent weeks, the one thing that has held him back is his inability to pitch deep into games. He has thrown under five innings in five of his last six starts. Peterson will look to improve on his road numbers in Minnesota, going 1-5 with a 7.74 ERA in 11 outings away from Citi Field.

Like Keuchel, Kenta Maeda has been entrusted as one of the veteran pieces in Minnesota’s starting rotation. The former Los Angeles Dodger has made 17 major league starts after missing all of the 2022 season through injury. Maeda was impressive in June and July, but the month of August was a difficult one for the right-hander. He was 1-1 with a 5.04 ERA in 25 innings of work. Maeda has fascinating home/road splits, as he is 2-2 with a 6.44 ERA at home and 1-5 with a 3.42 ERA on the road. The 35-year-old is making his fifth career appearance against the Mets, going 1-2 with a 5.25 ERA in the previous four.

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Sunday, September 10, 2023: RHP Tylor Megill (8-7, 5.28 ERA) vs. RHP Pablo López (10-7, 3.64 ERA)

Tylor Megill reintegrated himself into the starting rotation recently, although he has performed inconsistently since the All-Star break. He is 2-3 with a 5.52 ERA over his last 31 innings, surrendering seven home runs during that stretch. The right-hander threw 5 1/3 innings against the Mariners on Sep. 3, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out six. Megill will be making his 11th road start of the season against the Twins, going 2-5 with a 7.93 ERA over the previous 42 innings.
Pablo López has performed well in his first season in Minnesota, as he is on pace to set a new career-high in innings pitched (threw 180 innings for the Miami Marlins last season). The right-hander has led the rotation alongside Sonny Gray, helping the Twins stick at the top of their division. López is pitching like an All-Star in the second half, owning a 5-2 record with a 3.17 ERA over his last 10 starts. He will look to perform better at home over the final weeks of the season, as he is 4-3 with a 4.61 ERA at Target Field.