Game Chat: Reds vs Mets, 7:10 p.m.

Friday, September 6, 2024 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Fernando Cruz (3-8, 4.99) vs. LHP Sean Manaea (11-5, 3.35)
SNY

It’s a brand new September! The Mets extended their winning streak to seven games on Wednesday night with a sweep of the Boston Red Sox, and every team they are chasing in the National League Wild Card race lost on Thursday. The Mets are now tied with the Atlanta Braves for the last spot and only three games behind the San Diego Padres for the top spot. It’s going to be a wild rest of the month!

Mets Lineup

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

Sean Manaea has pitched 150 2/3 innings over 27 games with a 3.35 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 1.115 WHIP and a 118 ERA+. Manaea is coming off of a great start against the Chicago White Sox, shutting them out over seven innings. Over his last seven outings, he has recorded a 2.42 ERA and 2.72 FIP across 44 2/3 innings while striking out 53 batters. He has completed seven innings in five of his last seven starts. Manaea’s second start of the season was against the Cincinnati Reds, where he allowed one run over five innings.

The Reds have the following career numbers against Manaea:

• Will Benson 0-1
• Elly De La Cruz 1-2, K
• Santiago Espinal 0-1, K
• Jake Fraley 0-2, 3 BB
• Ty France 2-10, 2 K
• TJ Friedl 1-2, K
• Jonathan India 0-3
• Luke Maile 0-3, BB, K
• Amed Rosario 4-8, 2B
• Spencer Steer 0-4, 2 K
• Tyler Stephenson 1-2, BB

Opposing Lineup

1. Jonathan India – 2B
2. Elly De La Cruz – SS
3. Tyler Stephenson – C
4. Spencer Steer – LF
5. Ty France – 1B
6. TJ Friedl – CF
7. Santiago Espinal – 3B
8. Amed Rosario – DH
9. Jake Fraley – RF

Fernando Cruz makes only his third start of the season tonight as an opener after spending a majority of his time in the bullpen. Over 63 games, he has pitched 57 2/3 innings with a 4.99 ERA, 3.26 FIP, 1.353 WHIP and an 86 ERA+. Over his last two outings, both of which were starts, he has pitched a combined five innings while allowing one run and three hits to go with 11 strikeouts. He tossed 42 pitches both times, which is a season-high. He had one appearance against the Mets earlier this season where he allowed an unearned run in one inning of work while giving up no hits and three walks.

The Mets have the following career numbers against Cruz:

• Pete Alonso 0-2
• Francisco Alvarez 0-2, K
• Harrison Bader 0-0, BB
• Francisco Lindor 0-1, BB
• J.D. Martinez 0-2
• Jeff McNeil 0-2, K
• Mark Vientos 0-1
• Jesse Winker 0-2, K

Game Notes

Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that Paul Blackburn will start against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. The right-hander went on the injured list with a hand contusion on Aug. 25 after he was hit by a line drive against the San Diego Padres. He completed a rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, pitching 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts.

Kodai Senga will throw a bullpen session tomorrow as he works his way back from a calf strain in hopes of returning before the end of the year. He was placed on the IL on July 27 after making his season debut against the Braves a day prior.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Reds Bullpen Usage. Four relievers in the Reds’ bullpen haven’t pitched since Monday (Justin Wilson, Sam Moll, Emilio Pagán, Carson Spiers). If Cruz matches the pitch total from his prior starts, they can expect two to four innings out of him. The Reds will then have to dig into their bullpen relatively early in the game after he is pulled. One pitcher to watch in particular is Spiers, who threw 65 pitches on Monday over 2 1/3 innings.
2. Francisco Lindor. It’s a game in 2024, so of course we are watching Lindor. In his last three games, he has gone 6-for-12 with two doubles and a homer, scoring four runs. Over his 15-game hitting streak, he is 23-for-63 with eight doubles and six homers. He’s slashing .365/.403/.778 over that span while his fWAR sits at 7.3 fWAR.
3. Jesse Winker. On August 31, Winker went 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs in a game the Mets won 5-3. His next hit came on Wednesday, where he hit a grand slam in his first at-bat during the first inning. It’s stretch-run Winker season!

Let’s go Mets!

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