Game Chat: Mets vs. Pirates, 6:40 p.m.

Friday, July 28, 2024 • 6:40 PM
PNC Park • Pittsburgh, PA
RHP Luis Severino (5-2, 3.24) vs. RHP Paul Skenes (4-0, 2.06)
SNY

The Mets look to rebound after a disappointing finish to their four-game series against the Washington Nationals in D.C. After taking the first two games in extra innings, the Mets struggled to close the deal after blowing a five-run lead on Wednesday and failing to score at all on Thursday.

Now, the Mets will look to reignite their bats as they go right through the heart of the young Pittsburgh rotation.

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Brandon Nimmo – LF
3. J.D. Martinez – DH
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. DJ Stewart – RF
6. Francisco Alvarez – C
7. Jose Iglesias – 3B
8. Jeff McNeil – 2B
9. Harrison Bader – RF

Luis Severino has made 16 starts this season, tossing a total of 97 1/3 innings with a 3.42 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 1.161 WHIP and a 112 ERA+. Severino allowed four runs over seven innings his last time out against the Houston Astros. It was an outing where if the bullpen was in a better place, Severino would have probably been pulled in the fifth inning after allowing his third and fourth runs of the day. Regardless, he pushed through and gave the Mets another two scoreless innings. He completed at least six innings in each start he made during June, which is exactly what the Mets need. Against the Pirates earlier this season, he allowed one unearned run and nothing else over six innings of work.

The Pirates have the following career numbers against him:

• Oneil Cruz 3-6, BB
• Yasmani Grandal 1-5, BB
• Ke’Bryan Hayes 1-4, 2 K
• Connor Joe 0-2
• Edward Olivares 0-2, BB, K
• Bryan Reynolds 3-7, 2B, BB, K
• Jack Suwinksi 0-8, 2 K
• Michael A. Taylor 2-2, HR
• Rowdy Tellez 1-7, 3 K
• Jared Triolo 0-2, K

Opposing Lineup

1. Joshua Palacios – RF
2. Bryan Reynolds – DH
3. Oneil Cruz – SS
4. Rowdy Tellez – 1B
5. Nick Gonzales – 2B
6. Jack Suwinski – LF
7. Ke’Bryan Hayes – 3B
8. Yasmani Grandal – C
9. Michael A. Taylor – CF

The Mets’ bats will go against one of the more exciting young pitchers in the game tonight in Paul Skenes. Skenes has made nine starts this season totalling 52 1/3 innings with a 2.06 ERA, 2.61 FIP, 1.032 WHIP and a 199 ERA+. Across his last four starts, he has allowed only three runs on 23 hits and four walks over 25 1/3 innings while striking out an absurd 32 batters. One of the only blights on his game so far has been homers as he’s allowed six so far, which is good for just over one home run every nine innings. He also gives up quite a few hits (7.6 H/9), but because he strikes out the world, he can work around this. Tonight will be Skenes’ first start against the Mets.

Game Notes

Reliever Matt Festa, who was designated for assignment on Wednesday, has officially elected free agency after making just one appearance for the Mets. The 31-year-old right-hander posted a 1.76 ERA over 11 appearances with Triple-A Syracuse before allowing five runs against the Astros in extra innings last Sunday.

Bader returns to the starting lineup tonight after missing the past two games with an injury he suffered while colliding with the center field fence on Tuesday. Martinez is also starting and batting third after being omitted from the lineup for two of the Mets’ past three games with a sore ankle.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Skenes’ Heater: Paul Skenes’ four seam fastball averages 99 miles per hour and reaches 102 on a regular basis. As a result, he is in the 99th percentile for fastball speed this season according to Baseball Savant. It is the type of pitch that turns heads and should have everyone’s attention today at the ballpark. Keep an eye on how the Mets approach Skenes the first time through the order and what adjustments they make the second time around.
2. Let’s get some hits. The Mets only had one hit Thursday, which came on a single from McNeil. Every single starter in the Mets lineup struck out at least once while Stewart was the only hitter to draw a walk. The offense has been carrying the club for the last month and was due for a bad day, but it’s going to be tough to bounce back against one of the better talents in the game. During this hot stretch, though, the Mets have consistently risen to the challenge, and hopefully that happens again today.
3. Taking the season series. The first time these two clubs faced one another in April, the Mets were surging after a terrible start to the season. They ended up sweeping the Pirates and in the process earned a winning record for the first time all season. Currently, Pittsburgh is chasing the Mets in the Wild Card standings and sit just a game-and-a-half back of them. If New York beats the Pirates tonight, they will win the season series, thus clinching a tie-breaker scenario that could come in handy at the end of the season.

Let’s go Mets!

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