Game Chat: Mets vs Rangers, 8:05 PM

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 • 8:05 PM
Globe Life Field • Arlington, TX
LHP Sean Manaea (4-3, 4.11) vs. LHP Andrew Heaney (2-8, 4.19)
SNY

The Grimace-era Mets go for their 8th win in a row and their second consecutive series sweep tonight in Texas!

The key aspect of the 2022 Mets that made them feel so invincible was this inevitability about them, a never-say-die attitude. That can only happen if the offense clicks! After the Mets took a 2-1 lead on Tuesday night, the Rangers roared back with a five-run inning, taking a 6-2 lead. The Mets then proceeded to score in five consecutive innings to eventually take the lead. In the ninth inning, after a bloop hit, José Iglesias took a massive hit turning a key double play before Edwin Díaz locked down the game. The vibes are great!

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Brandon Nimmo – LF
3. J.D. Martinez– DH
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Starling Marte – RF
6. Mark Vientos – 3B
7. Francisco Alvarez – C
8. Jose Iglesias – 2B
9. Harrison Bader – CF

Sean Manaea has made 13 starts this year tossing 65 2/3 innings with a 4.11 ERA, 3.78 FIP, 1.325 WHIP, and a 93 ERA+. He is looking to build off of his last start where he held the Padres to to run over five innings while striking out seven batters. In the previous two starts, he allowed a total of 12 runs over 9 1/3 innings. The Rangers have the following career numbers against Manaea:

• Adolis García 2-6, 2B, HR, 3 K
• Robbie Grossman 5-12, BB, 4 K
• Travis Jankowski 0-2
• Nathaniel Lowe 1-6, HR, 2 K
• Corey Seager 3-6, HR
• Marcus Semien 0-3, K
• Leody Taveras 1-3, K

Opposing Lineup

1. Marcus Semien – 2B
2. Corey Seager – SS
3. Robbie Grossman – LF
4. Adolis García – RF
5. Josh Smith – DH
6. Wyatt Langford – CF
7. Nathaniel Lowe – 1B
8. Jonah Heim – C
9. Ezequiel Duran – 3B

Andrew Heaney has pitched in 14 games (13 starts) totaling 66 2/3 innings this season with a 4.19 ERA, 4.19 FIP, 1.320 WHIP, and a 94 ERA+. He hasn’t been great over his last two starts, allowing six runs from 11 hits and four walks over 10 1/3 innings. Heaney had a very good start against the Mets in 2023 where he held the Mets to five runs and no runs over 5 1/3 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against Heaney:

• Pete Alonso 0-4, BB, 4 K
• Francisco Alvarez 0-2, K
• Jose Iglesias 2-7, K
• Francisco Lindor 2-8, 2B, K
• Starling Marte 2-3, HR
• J.D. Martinez 4-11, 2 HR, 4 BB, 3 K
• Jeff McNeil 3-5, K
• Brandon Nimmo 3-6, K
• DJ Stewart 1-1
• Tyrone Taylor 0-6, 3 K
• Luis Torrens 1-6, BB, K
• Mark Vientos 1-2, K

Game Notes

• MLB is mourning the passing of Hall-of-Famer Willie Mays, who passed away on Tuesday at 93. Mays made his name with the New York and San Francisco Giants, clubbing 646 homers, winning two MVPs, Rookie of the Year, and 12 gold gloves with the Franchise. Mays, however, ended his career with the Mets, recording his last at-bat with the Amazins’ in the 1973 World Series. The Mets retired Mays’ No. 24 back in 2022.
• Francisco Alvarez hit a clutch two-run double in the eighth inning on Tuesday, helping solidify the Mets’ 7-6 comeback win. Alvarez carried his clutchness into 2024, driving in six of his fourteen runs in the seventh inning or later, and 13 of 14 with runners in scoring position. If you go back to last season, Alvarez had 98 at-bats with runners in scoring position and slashed .245/.312/.500 with seven home runs.
• Edwin Díaz locked down his second save on Tuesday since coming back from a stint on the IL. Díaz has flashed his old ways in his three outings so far, striking out three batters in three innings, while also hitting triple digits with his fastball.

Three Things To Watch For

1. The next generation. Twice in Tuesday’s game Mark Vientos and Francisco Alvarez had back-to-back hits. In his last two games, Vientos has gone 6-for-10 with five runs scored. Francisco Alvarez has gone 6-for-9 in his last two games, including a game-tying double Tuesday night. It’s one thing to have the top of the lineup clicking, but now the back of the lineup is in overdrive at the same time. The Mets booth said multiple times during Tuesday’s broadcast that there is no place to breathe as a pitcher right now against the Mets.
2. Pete Alonso – RBI machine. Pete Alonso has gone 7-for-14 at the plate over his last three games with eight RBIs. His seven hits include a double and a home run. You’ve probably noticed that multiple Mets over the last several days have had absurd times on base to runs-scored ratios, and Pete (among others) has been a massive reason why.
3. A different Adam Ottavino. Adam Ottavino last pitched on Monday, so he could pitch today. His role has shifted a bit in his last two outings where he has pitched multiple innings. In those outings, he has allowed one hit and nothing else over 3 2/3 innings while striking out five batters. This is something to keep an eye on.

Let’s go Mets!

The post Game Chat: Mets vs Rangers, 8:05 PM appeared first on Metsmerized Online.