Series Preview: Mets Open the 2024 Season with the Brewers
The 2024 Major League Baseball season has officially arrived! An offseason of changes, both on and off the field, makes this season an interesting one for the New York Mets. Led by first-time manager Carlos Mendoza, their first test will come against another team in transition, the Milwaukee Brewers. Craig Counsell managed the club for nine years but decided to take on a new challenge with the Chicago Cubs. Former bench coach Pat Murphy will look to lead the Brewers to their third division title in the last four years.
Let’s take a look at some important notes for the three pitching matchups!
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Friday, March 29, 2023: RHP Freddy Peralta (2023 Statsistics: 12-10, 3.86 ERA) vs. LHP José Quintana (2023 Statistics: 3-6, 3.57 ERA)
Corbin Burnes is now in Baltimore and Brandon Woodruff is out with a shoulder injury that could force him to miss the entire season, so Freddy Peralta is the Brewers’ ace for the time being. The right-hander threw a career-high 165 2/3 innings in 2023, making a total of 30 starts along the way. If the Brewers are going to accomplish anything significant this season, Peralta will likely need to be in the mix for a Cy Young. The 28-year-old will look to improve on his numbers from spring training, where he recorded a 7.20 ERA while allowing five home runs in 15 innings. Peralta has won each of his two previous starts against the Mets, most recently facing them in April of 2023.
Last season, José Quintana did not make his debut until late July due to a rib injury that required surgery. Eight months later, and he is starting on Opening Day for the first time since 2017, back when he was a member of the Chicago White Sox. Much like Peralta, the left-hander struggled down in Port St. Lucie, pitching to a 6.19 ERA in 16 innings (five starts). Quintana was at his best when pitching at Citi Field in 2023, going 1-2 with a 2.76 ERA in six home starts. More of the same would put him in position for a bounce back year.
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Saturday, March 30, 2023: LHP DL Hall (2023 Statistics: 3-0, 3.26 ERA) vs. RHP Luis Severino (2023 Statistics: 4-8, 6.65 ERA)
DL Hall made his Major League debut in August of 2022, throwing 3 2/3 innings in a start against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Orioles would then decide to place him in their bullpen, so each of his next 28 appearances came as a reliever. It appears the Brewers are going to give Hall the chance to earn his place in the rotation, at least to begin the year. 81 of his 96 appearances in the minor leagues came as a starter, including 11 in Triple-A Norfolk. It will be interesting to see how many innings Hall can throw on Saturday.
No starter for the Mets had a better spring training than former New York Yankee Luis Severino. Injuries and a lack of command have hurt the right-hander over the last four years, but a fresh start may be all it takes for him to get back on track. Severino was superb in 14 innings (four spring training appearances), pitching to a 1.29 ERA in addition to 12 strikeouts and just one walk. If the Mets are going to stay afloat without Kodai Senga, the 30-year-old needs to sharp. Severino is 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA in three career starts at Citi Field.
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Sunday, March 31, 2023: RHP Colin Rea (2023 Statistics: 6-6, 4.55 ERA) vs. RHP Tylor Megill (2023 Statistics: 9-8, 4.70 ERA)
Colin Rea may not be a “big name” for some, but his impact within the Brewers rotation went under the radar last season. Burnes and Peralta were the only starters to throw more innings as he accounted for a career-high 124 2/3 innings. The right-hander is in position to be right in the middle of their rotation in his second full season with the organization. Rea made one start against the Mets last season, and it could not have gone any better. He threw 6 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits in a 2-1 win on June 26.
Tylor Megill and José Butto were in contention for the fifth and final spot in the rotation, but the Mets opted for the former. He will be tested from the start, as the Brewers have given him quite a bit of trouble in the past. Megill is 0-1 with a 6.91 ERA in six appearances against the team throughout his career, including three starts. The right-hander will be pleased to get his first start at Citi Field, where he owned a 3.19 ERA in 13 outings last season. He made six appearances in spring training, pitching to a 3.92 ERA in 20 2/3 innings.
Players to Watch
Starling Marte (NYM):
The Mets have a handful of position players who will be considered as “x-factors” going into this season, one of which is Starling Marte. Injuries limited him to just 341 plate appearances in 2023 as he was never able to fully recover from a groin problem. If he can play in 125-130 games this season, the Mets’ lineup should be in much better shape.
Marte is hoping to get off to a strong start against an opponent he has had success against in the past. In 122 games against the Brewers, the 35-year-old is slashing .287/.326/.466 with 16 home runs and 58 runs batted in throughout his career. The Mets could really use a big season out of the veteran outfielder.
Willy Adames (MIL):
The Brewers were in the middle of the pack in terms of runs scored per game last season. Having a lack of run producers proved to be an issue, especially when Willy Adames had such a down year. The shortstop hit a career-high low .217 with a 95 OPS+ in 149 games. Adames still went on to mash 24 home runs, so while his average took a major hit, the power still appeared to be there. Christian Yelich, William Contreras and Rhys Hoskins will occupy the middle of the order, but they will need more from Adames to win the NL Central.
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