Doubleheader Game Chat: Tigers vs Mets, Game 1
Game One • Thursday, April 28, 2024 • 12:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Casey Mize (0-0, -.–) vs. RHP Adrian Houser (0-0, -.–)
SNY
Baseball in Queens! Finally!
The tri-state has had an incredibly rainy start of the week, and the last two Mets games were postponed and pushed to today. This creates a new challenge for the Mets, who will play 15 games over the next 14 days.
The Mets are calling up Jose Buttó to be the 27th man and starting pitcher for the second game, which should prevent one of the current Mets starters from pitching on short rest down the road. Further, the Mets signed Julio Teherán to a major league contract, and Julio will slot into the rotation for an injured Tylor Megill.
The Mets officially are having one of their roughest starts to the season ever. They are now 0-4, which has happened only four other times (1962, 1963, 1964 and 2005). Monday night, the Mets got amazing pitching for the first nine innings of the game but could not turn any of their hits into runs.
Credit: Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Mets Lineup
- Brandon Nimmo LF
- Francisco Lindor SS
- Pete Alonso 1B
- Francisco Alvarez C
- Brett Baty 3B
- Starling Marte RF
- Jeff McNeil 2B
- Tyrone Taylor CF
- DJ Stewart DH
Adrian Houser will make his Mets debut tonight. Last season, he pitched 111 1/3 innings over 23 games (21 starts) with a 4.12 ERA, 3.99 FIP, 1.392 WHIP, and a 105 ERA+.
According to Baseball Savant, while Houser left a lot to be desired last season in terms of missing bats (xBA 25th percentile, Chase % 20th percentile, Hard-Hit % 5th percentile) he produced a lot of ground balls (73rd percentile). If the defense is strong behind him, he can be quite effective. The Tigers have the following career numbers against him:
- Javier Báez 2-10 2B, BB, 2 K
- Mark Canha 0-2, K
- Jack Flaherty 0-2
- Carson Kelly 0-1, K
Opposing Lineup
- Parker Meadows CF
- Spencer Torkelson 1B
- Kerry Carpenter DH
- Riley Greene LF
- Matt Vierling RF
- Colt Keith 2B
- Carson Kelly C
- Gio Urshela 3B
- Zach McKinstry SS
Casey Mize makes his return to the mound for his first start since Tommy John surgery, which has sidelined the former number 1 overall pick since 2022 (where he made only two starts).
In his only full season, 2021, he made 30 starts totaling 150 1/3 innings with a 3.71 ERA, 4.71 FIP, 1.137 WHIP and a 114 ERA+. If the Tigers are going to make a surprise run for the post-season this year, they need Casey Mize to make a triumphant return. A few Mets players have seen Mize in previous games:
- Harrison Bader 0-2
- Francisco Lindor 0-2, BB
- DJ Stewart 1-4, BB, 2 K
- Joey Wendle 1-2
Game Notes
J.D. Martinez could join a Mets affiliate on Friday. All four of the Mets’ full-season affiliates will be in action for the first time this year. The Triple-A Syracuse Mets began their season last week, but have been postponed two days in a row.
Three Things To Watch For
- The top of the lineup sets the tone. In Monday night’s game, the top of the lineup (Nimmo, Lindor, Alonso) went 0-for-11 with two walks. Nimmo and Lindor are off to cold starts this season and Alonso had his first rough game of the season. When the top of the lineup fully turns around, the whole team will follow.
- Reed Garrett: Reed Garrett was recalled before the start of Monday’s game, with Tylor Megill landing on the injured list. Over nine games last season, Garrett pitched 17 innings with a 5.82 ERA, 4.90 FIP, 1.235 WHIP, and a 74 ERA+. In one game this season, he pitched two innings for Syracuse, allowing a hit and nothing else while striking out four batters. If there is an extended delay in the middle of today’s game or a doubleheader later this week, the Mets are going to need Garrett to eat some innings save the bullpen.
- Roster Management: Today is going to be an early test of Carlos Mendoza and David Stearns’ roster management. The Mets are about to embark on a 15-game, 14-day quest. Only one starting pitcher for the Mets, Sean Manaea, has thrown a pitch in the sixth inning this year.
Let’s go Mets!
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