MMO Game Thread: Mets vs. Pirates, 1:35 P.M.
Carlos Carrasco. Photo Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski of USA Today
Sunday, June 11, 2023 • 1:35 PM
PNC Park • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
RHP Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 5.94 ERA) vs. RHP Mitch Keller (7-2, 3.60 ERA)
SNY
The New York Mets did it! They snapped their losing streak.
The Mets beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 yesterday thanks to another home run from Francisco Álvarez and a three-RBI day from Mark Canha. Kodai Senga gave the Mets their first quality start in a while, going seven innings allowing one unearned run. Then, David Robertson and Adam Ottavino shut the door in the eighth and ninth innings.
This is exactly what the Mets look like, despite the defensive miscues, when they are at their best. Now, New York looks to repeat that same magic today and take the series.
Mets’ Lineup
Series finale starters. #LGM
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???? @wcbs880 pic.twitter.com/pZgk4qEr6H— New York Mets (@Mets) June 11, 2023
Carlos Carrasco looks to get back on the right track this afternoon as he makes his eighth start this season. In 36 1/3 innings he has a 5.94 ERA, 6.08 FIP, 1.404 WHIP, and a 69 ERA+. Carrasco had back-to-back great starts where he allowed two runs via 11 hits and three walks over 12 2/3 innings.
However, he faltered in his last start where he allowed four runs over five frames. His one start against Pittsburgh last season was a great one. He held the Pirates to one run via four hits and he struck out 11 batters over six innings (one of two double digit strikeout games he had in 2022).
The Pirates have the following career numbers against him:
- Ji Man Choi 3-12, 2 HR, 7 K
- Andrew McCutchen 2-7, 2 2B, BB, 2 K
- Bryan Reynolds 2-7, K
- Ke’Bryan Hayes 0-5, BB, K
- Rodolfo Castro 0-3, K
- Oneil Cruz 0-3, 2 K
- Connor Joe 1-3
- Jason Delay 0-2, K
- Jack Suwinski 0-2, 2 K
Pirates’ Lineup
Chasing history.
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???? 93.7 The Fan | The PRN #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/AAdNzANOHk— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 11, 2023
Mitch Keller makes the start today for the Pirates. He currently leads the league in winning percentage, .778, with his 7-2 and record this season. Over 80 innings he has a 3.60 ERA, 3.16 FIP, 1.163 WHIP, and a 122 ERA+.
Keller has not pitched like his season numbers though in his last three starts. Over 17 1/3 innings he’s allowed 15 runs (7.79 ERA, 4.95 ERA) via 25 hits and seven walks.
He faced the Mets twice last season in September. In the first game in Pittsburgh, he allowed no runs over six innings. Ten days later, he allowed three runs over six innings.
The Mets have the following career numbers against him:
- Francisco Lindor 2-5, 4 BB, K
- Tommy Pham 2-8, BB
- Omar Narváez 4-8
- Jeff McNeil 0-6, K
- Brandon Nimmo 1-5, K
- Daniel Vogelbach 1-4, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
- Mark Canha 1-4, K
- Eduardo Escobar 1-3, BB, K
- Luis Guillorme 1-3
- Starling Marte 0-2, K
Game Notes
The Mets stole two bases yesterday. As a team, the New York has stole 20 consecutive bases without being caught.
Over his last 30 games, Starling Marte is batting .305 (32-105) with 15 runs, one double, one triple, two home runs, 10 RBIs, and three walks with a .342 OBP.
The Mets have homered in six straight games, blasting 13 home runs over that span. New York have also homered in 21 of their last 23 games, socking 37 bombs over that span. The Mets rank fifth in the National League with 78 blasts this season.
Three Things To Watch For
- Tommy Pham has arrived. Yesterday, Tommy Pham went 2-for-4 at the plate scoring twice, including his seventh double of the season. In his last nine games he has gone 10-for-25 at the plate with four doubles, a triple, and three homers leading to a .400/.467/1.000 batting line. As Vogelbach’s struggles continue, Pham is starting to heat up. With Pete Alonso down for the next three to four weeks, Pham should see an increase in playing time. This is the contribution the Mets need to find in a couple of more bats in their lineup if they are going to go on a little run now.
- Is it Canha Season again? Outside of Pham and Mark Vientos, the other player who is going to become more important with Alonso’s injury is Mark Canha. Canha had a four-game hitting streak between May 31 and June 3. Then, he went cold going 0-for-7 in his next two starts. This weekend he has gone 3-for-8 with two doubles and drove the Mets’ offense yesterday.
- Will the Mets field like the Mets today? Brandon Nimmo made a Gold Glove caliber catch yesterday. According to Baseball Savant, he is in the 82nd percentile in outs above average. Álvarez also made a tremendous throw yesterday and caught a runner stealing. Though, in the game, they were also credited with a few errors (umpire aided or not). Their error total is now at six in their last three games. Hopefully their defense starts to reflect how it did earlier in the season.
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