MMO Game Thread: Marlins vs. Mets, 1:40 P.M.

Sunday, April 9, 2023 • 1:40 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, New York
LHP Braxton Garrett (0-0, 6.00) vs. RHP Carlos Carrasco (0-1, 11.25)
SNY

The New York Mets (5-4) look to close out the weekend with a win and a sweep this afternoon at Citi Field. Yesterday, the Mets rolled through the Miami Marlins (3-6) thanks to an excellent start from Kodai Senga and a fourth home run of the season in only three games from Pete Alonso.

This afternoon though all eyes are on Francisco Álvarez as the Mets’ top prospect gets his first start in 2023.

Mets Lineup:

Sunday funday. #LGM

Miami
@Cookie_Carrasco
@SNYtv
@wcbs880 pic.twitter.com/VclN81fW4C

— New York Mets (@Mets) April 9, 2023

Carlos Carrasco looks to bounce back for a disastrous first game of the season where he allowed five runs via four hits in four innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. Carrasco allowed a home run, a calling card that he’s in trouble, and his velocity vanished about midway through the start. The whole game made for a disturbing start of the series for the Mets.

Hopefully, the Mets get a more familiar version of Carrasco this afternoon. Carrasco faced the Marlins five times last season allowing 10 runs from 29 hits and seven walks in 28 2/3 innings (3.14 ERA) while striking out 27 batters. The Marlins have the following career numbers against him:

• Avisaíl García, 12-for-45, 2B, HR, BB, 13 K
• Jean Segura, 7-for-18, 2B, 3 HR, 3 K
• Bryan De La Cruz, 4-for-16, 2B, HR, 5 K
• Yuli Gurriel, 5-for-15, 2 2B, 3 K
• Jon Berti, 3-for-12, 2 2B, 2 K
• Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2-for-11, 2B, BB, 4 K
• Jacob Stallings, 1-for-11, 3 K
• Garrett Cooper, 4-for-10, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Jesús Sánchez, 1-for-10, BB, 3 K
• Jorge Soler, 1-for-7, 2 BB, 4 K
• Nick Fortes, 3-for-5, K
• Luis Arraez, 0-for-5, 2 K ,

Marlins Lineup:

#Marlins lineup on this Easter Sunday vs the Mets and Carlos Carrasco. Cooper at DH. Gurriel at 1B. Fortes catching Braxton Garrett. pic.twitter.com/zkohgrnXuT

— Jordan McPherson (@J_McPherson1126) April 9, 2023

Braxton Garrett will make his first start of the season today. So far, he has pitched in one game as a reliever, tossing three innings against the Mets. In those three innings, he allowed two runs from six hits, including a home run.

Garrett made 17 starts last season totaling 88 innings with a 3.58 ERA, 3.56 FIP, 1.250 WHIP and a 114 ERA+. This includes two starts against the Mets who racked up six runs on eight hits and three walks over 9 2/3 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Tommy Pham, 4-for-10, 3 K
• Pete Alonso, 2-for-7, HR, 2 BB
• Brandon Nimmo, 0-for-7
• Mark Canha, 2-for-5, HR, BB, K
• Eduardo Escobar, 0-for-6, K
• Francisco Lindor, 3-for-6, 2B, 2 HR, K
• Starling Marte, 2-for-4, 2B, K
• Jeff McNeil, 1-for-3

Game Notes

Brett Baty is back in Triple-A Syracuse’s lineup. He’s scheduled to play third base and bat second. Baty missed a couple games due to thumb soreness.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Francisco Álvarez: The Mets’ top prospect was playing in Syracuse (Triple-A) to start the season, 5 1/2 years younger than the average player. In four games and 19 plate appearances, he has collected four hits including a double and two home runs. Last season, he had a .885 OPS between Binghamton (Double-A) and Syracuse (Triple-A) before the Mets called him up.
2. Four in Three Games? Pete Alonso is tied for the league lead in home runs with five after hitting his fourth in three games during Saturday’s game. Alonso only has eight hits so far this season, but, he is making the most of them. Here’s hoping he continues to ride this hot streak (and his very early, way to small sample size .706 slugging percentage).
3. See you later Marlins! The Mets faced the Marlins six times during spring training. Then, New York played the Marlins seven times over the first ten games of the season (including today). The Mets and Marlins won’t see each other again until late September when they will do play another two series against each other over a week and a half. The Mets certainly will be happy to get a break from Luis Arráez. See you in the fall Marlins!

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