Game Chat: Mets vs Guardians, 1:10 PM

Wednesday, May 22, 2024 • 1:10 PM
Progressive Field • Cleveland, OH
LHP Jose Quintana (1-4, 5.21) vs. RHP Triston McKenzie (2-3, 3.23)
SNY • MLBN

Tuesday night was a weird game for the Mets. They fell behind early but rallied to cut the Guardians’ lead to one. The Guardians scored more, and the Mets rallied again to cut the lead to one. Then the game was over.

It felt like the Mets had fought but also didn’t have a fight. It was a weird game in the midst of a bad few weeks for the Mets. When the Mets went on a winning streak in early April, they got their swagger back and looked like they were having fun. This team desperately needs a winning streak.

Mets Lineup

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

Jose Quintana has pitched 46 2/3 innings over nine starts this season with a 5.21 ERA, 4.67 FIP, 1.457 WHIP and a 74 ERA+. He’s coming off of his first solid start in May where he held the Phillies to only two runs over 5 1/3 innings. It was also his first start all season where he walked zero batters. Quintana’s statcast numbers so far leave a lot to be desired. He has an xERA of 5.76 (8th percentile) and an xBA of .308 (4th percentile). Only two Guardians members have seen Quintana in a major league game: Austin Hedges (4-for-8, BB, 2 K) and José Ramírez (9-for-29, 3 2B, BB, 3 K).

Opposing Lineup

1. Tyler Freeman – CF
2. Andrés Giménez – 2B
3. José Ramírez – DH
4. David Fry – 1B
5. Gabriel Arias – 3B
6. Johnathan Rodriguez – RF
7. Estevan Florial – LF
8. Austin Hedges – C
9. Brayan Rocchio – SS

Triston McKenzie is having a bounce-back season after an injury-mired 2023 campaign. Over nine starts and 47 1/3 innings, McKenzie has a 3.23 ERA, 4.88 FIP, 1.310 WHIP, and a 119 ERA+. He does lead the league in walks at 28 (5.3 BB/9). Since April 19th, he has pitched 34 1/3 innings with a 2.10 ERA and 16 BB and 35 K’s. Only a few Mets have faced McKenzie before:

• Harrison Bader 1-2
• Starling Marte 0-3, K
• J.D. Martinez 0-3

Game Notes

Francisco Alvarez is expected to take batting practice this weekend. He is still on course for a mid-to-late June return from ligament surgery in his left thumb.

Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat and José Buttó all pitched gems in the Mets minors on Tuesday.

Vientos is getting another start against a righty on Wednesday after hitting a dinger on Tuesday off a right-hander.

We will chat tonight at 6:00 p.m. for Nolan McLean making his pitching debut with the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in his hitting debut on Tuesday.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Power Burst? The Mets had a burst of power in Tuesday’s game, with Vientos, McNeil, and Marte all hitting homers. It ultimately wasn’t enough, but it did contribute to Tuesday’s weird overall vibe. There were times when it felt like the Mets were just going through the motions, and then other times when they were smashing the ball. Let’s hope that’s momentum going into this afternoon’s game.
2. Does Lindor build on his solid day at the plate? Lindor went 2-for-5 Tuesday night with an RBI. The Mets need Lindor to get hot right now. He is the heart and soul of the team. We’ve seen in the past that when he gets hot, good things follow for other hitters in the lineup and the Mets overall.
3. Edwin Díaz. Díaz hasn’t pitched since Saturday, which means he has had three off-days in a row. With the Mets having an off-day tomorrow, it feels like no matter what Díaz should get into today’s game. There was a moment Tuesday night when he started to go through the early warm-up process, but as the game script changed, he sat back down. If he comes in today, here’s hoping he regains his confidence.

Let’s go Mets!

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