Doubleheader Game Chat: Mets vs Braves, Game 2, 4:50 PM

Monday, September 30, 2024 • 4:50 PM
Truist Park • Atlanta, GA • Game 2 (DH)
LHP Joey Lucchesi (0-1, 10.38) vs. RHP Grant Holmes (2-1, 3.78)
SNY • ESPN2

How we feeling, Mets fans?! After their 8-7 wild, wild win in game one of the doubleheader, the Mets officially punched their ticket to October. The only thing at stake for the Mets in game two is what seed they land. If they sweep the Braves, they will play the Padres in the Wild Card round. However, if the Braves win, the Mets will head back to Milwaukee for another series there for their postseason play.

The Mets will call upon Churve legend Joey Lucchesi for game two. He’s only made one start for the Mets in 2024, and it didn’t go ideally, but with the team having clinched a spot, they’ll want to save their arms. A corresponding move will have to be made in order to accommodate Lucchesi who is not on the 40-man roster. The Mets also currently have the maximum 14 pitchers on their squad already, so one will have to be cut prior to the game.

LHP Chris Sale was expected to get the ball in a game two scenario if the Braves lost game one, however, he’s been scratched with back spasms, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Instead, reliever Grant Holmes will get the nod for Atlanta, most likely acting as an opener or chewing up a couple innings.

Mets Lineup

1. Luisangel Acuña, SS
2. Jose Iglesias, 3B
3. Brandon Nimmo, LF
4. Pete Alonso, 1B
5. Starling Marte, DH
6. Tyrone Taylor, RF
7. Harrison Bader, CF
8. Luis Torrens, C
9. Eddy Alvarez, 2B

Opposing Lineup

1. Michael Harris II, CF
2. Ozzie Albies, 2B
3. Marcell Ozuna, DH
4. Matt Olson, 1B
5. Jorge Soler, RF
6. Ramón Laureano, LF
7. Gio Urshela, 3B
8. Sean Murphy, C
9. Orlando Arcia, SS

 

Monday, September 30, 2024 • 1:10 PM
Truist Park • Atlanta, GA
RHP Tylor Megill (4-5, 3.98) vs. RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (8-7, 3.47)
SNY • ESPN2

The entire 2024 season comes down to a doubleheader in Atlanta today. The Mets and Diamondbacks both won on Sunday, while the Braves lost, setting up a doubleheader on Monday, where both games need to be played. The name of the game is simple: win and you’re in. That’s all the Mets and the Braves have to do. If they each win one game, they both celebrate before taking flights to San Diego and Milwaukee.

If either team gets swept, then the Diamondbacks play October baseball. The stage is set. Can the Grimace Mets find just a bit more magic?

Mets Lineup

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

The Mets are sending out Tylor Megill who hasn’t faced the Braves yet this season for game one. Over 15 games this season and 72 1/3 innings, Megill has a 3.98 ERA, 3.36 FIP, 1.272 WHIP and a 99 ERA+ (all career bests except for his WHIP). Since returning to the rotation, he has pitched 25 1/3 innings with a 1.78 ERA, and 2.02 FIP while striking out 28 batters. The Braves have the following career numbers against him:

• Ozzie Albies 5-18, HR, 5 K
• Orlando Arcia 2-9, 2B, BB, K
• Travis d’Arnaud 2-9, 2B, K
• Adam Duvall 2-5
• Michael Harris II 1-5, 2 K
• Jarred Kelenic 0-3, 2 K
• Whit Merrifield 0-3
• Sean Murphy 2-3, 3 BB
• Matt Olson 3-14, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
• Marcell Ozuna 6-12, 2B, 2 HR, 3 K
• Jorge Soler 0-5, K
• Gio Urshela 0-2, K

Opposing Lineup

1. Michael Harris II, CF
2. Ozzie Albies, 2B
3. Marcell Ozuna, DH
4. Matt Olson, 1B
5. Jorge Soler, RF
6. Ramón Laureano, LF
7. Travis d’Arnaud, C
8. Gio Urshela, 3B
9. Orlando Arcia, SS

The Braves will find out this afternoon if the Mets can adjust to Spencer Schwellenbach. Schwellenbach pitched the first game of the Mets vs. Braves series on Tuesday, holding the Mets to just a solo homer from Mark Vientos over seven innings. In his last three starts, he has allowed only four runs over 19 innings. The solo dinger that Mark Vientos had on Tuesday night was their only run scored against Schwellenbach this entire season (14 innings). The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Luisangel Acuña 0-2
• Pete Alonso 1-5, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Francisco Alvarez 0-3, K
• Jose Iglesias 1-5, K
• Francisco Lindor 0-3
• Starling Marte 0-3
• J.D. Martinez 0-3, 3 K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-6, K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-3, K
• Luis Torrens 0-2, 2 2K
• Mark Vientos 2-5, HR, 3 K
• Jesse Winker 0-6, K

Game Notes

• Jose Iglesias enters the day with a career-best 20-game hit streak.
• Although Edwin Díaz threw 26 pitches on Sunday, he said he would be available for both games if needed.
• MLB.com‘s Anthony DiComo reports the Mets are being coy with their pitching strategy for the doubleheader. Carlos Mendoza indicated the Mets have extra players in Atlanta for between-game roster moves (which are allowed, just no additional player because rosters were already expanded in September). The Mets currently have a maximum of 14 pitchers on their roster. This means, that if they were to bring in a new pitcher today, they would have to cut an arm today to make the swap. If the Mets were to make the playoffs, they would need to trim their rotation from 28 to 26. They would begin that process today. So, whichever arm they would want to replace today, they wouldn’t take with them to the playoffs. LHP Joey Lucchesi makes the most sense for a game two scenario if the Mets win game one. Some possible names that could be cut are LHP Alex Young, RHP Huascar Brazobán and RHP Adam Ottavino.
• MLB advised the Mets and Braves that whoever wins game one should not do the usual celebratory champagne celebration at the conclusion of game one. So, it’s possible there will be dual celebrations going after both games end.
• For a more in-depth breakdown of clinching scenarios for Monday, read Metsmerized’s latest article here.

Three Things To Watch For

1. How do the Mets come out in the top of the first? On Tuesday night in Atlanta, the Mets looked pressed from the start, and it was a feeling that followed them through the first two games in Milwaukee. On Sunday afternoon, the Mets came out aggressive and fired up, starting with Lindor getting on base and immediately stealing a base. The Mets would have 12 hits, including multi-hit days from Lindor, Iglesias, Vientos, J.D. Martinez and Francisco Alvarez. The Mets need the same energy today so they don’t fall into the same game script story vs. Schwellenbach.
2. Jose Iglesias. Iglesias kept hitting even when the rest of the team went silent over the last week. He has a 20-game hitting streak, slashing .416/.451/.507 over those games. He has at least two hits in six of of his last eight games. The difference for the Mets is Iglesias hasn’t scored since September 21. He also hasn’t had an RBI since the 21. He’s getting on base, but can the Mets take advantage today?
3. Mets Bullpen Usage. The first game Monday will have “Game 7” vibes with both managers doing everything they can to put their teams into the postseason. The Mets used Díaz yesterday, he had to use 26 pitches to get through the inning but it was his first time pitching in a week, he says he’s good to go today. The only pitcher probably not available is Phil Maton who pitched in back-to-back games Saturday and Sunday. There’s also a second game today. If things are going left, for the Mets, will we see Mendoza pivot to put all the effort in game two?

Let’s go Mets!

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