Game Chat: Mets vs Rangers, 8:05 P.M.

Monday, June 17, 2024 • 8:05 PM
Globe Life Field • Arlington, TX
LHP David Peterson (2-0, 4.32) vs. RHP Jon Gray (2-2, 2.17)
SNY

This is Texas (woo), ain’t no subway (hey)
So bring your Grimace down, down, down down

The Mets head down to Arlington on Monday, riding a five-game win streak. Going into play today, the Mets are one of seven* teams within 1.5 games of the third wild card spot in the National League (* depending on how you count the Padres and Nationals being tied, could be eight teams). The vibes on the Mets are so good right now that an 8th inning blow-up on Sunday fired up the offense to pile on insurance runs.

The Mets will play a struggling Texas team who have lost three games in a row but have one of their better pitchers this season on the mound. Let’s stick around, ’round, ’round, ’round for Mets baseball!

Mets Lineup

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

David Peterson has pitched 16 2/3 innings over three games this season with a 4.32 ERA, 4.47 FIP, 1.500 WHIP and a 90 ERA+. Peterson is coming off a start where he allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings of work. His sample sizes are small this season, but players have been hitting his slider and four-seamer. His slider has a .412 BA and .364 XBA compared to a .314 and .303 rate last year. Hitters are getting at his four-seamer with a .444 BA and .450 XBA compared to .288 and .286 in 2023. The Rangers have the following career numbers against Peterson:

• Adolis García 0-3, K
• Robbie Grossman 0-2, K
• Nathaniel Lowe 1-2, HR
• Corey Seager 0-3
• Marcus Semien 2-3, HR, K
• Josh Smith 0-2, K
• Leody Tavaras 0-2, 2 K

Opposing Lineup

1. Marcus Semien, 2B
2. Corey Seager, SS
3. Robbie Grossman, DH
4. Adolis García, RF
5. Wyatt Langford, LF
6. Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
7. Ezequiel Duran, 3B
8. Sam Huff, C
9. Leody Taveras, CF

Jon Gray has pitched in 13 games, making 11 starts tossing 62 1/3 innings in 2024. So far this season, he has a 2.17 ERA, 2.67 FIP, 1.203 WHIP and 182 ERA. It’s a drastic improvement from his career line of a 4.33 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 1.302 WHIP and 108 ERA+. His success has come from keeping the ball in the ballpark. He has a 0.4 HR/9 rate. From 2018 through 2023, his rate ranged from 1.1 to 1.4.

Jon Gray was activated off the injured list on June 8 and pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. A couple of days later, he allowed one run over three innings. Today will be his first start on regular rest since landing on the injured list on May 21. The Mets have the following career numbers against Gray:

• Pete Alonso 0-8, BB, 4 K
• Harrison Bader 1-7, 2 K
• José Iglesias 1-2
• Francisco Lindor 0-6, 2 K
• Starling Marte 5-18, 2 HR, BB, 3 K
• J.D. Martinez 2-7, 2 HR, 2 K
• Jeff McNeil 2-9, 2B, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 1-5, HR, BB, 2 K
• DJ Stewart 1-2, HR, K
• Luis Torrens 0-2, 2 K
• Mark Vientos 0-1, K

Game Notes

• J.D. Martinez was named National League Player of the Week for the 12th time in his career.
• The Mets announced that Tomás Nido was officially released, ending his 12-year tenure with the club.

Three Things To Watch For

1. There’s a heatwave (there’s a heatwave) coming at us. Nimmo is continuing to heat up! On Sunday, he went 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Overall, in the series against the Padres, he went 7-for-13 with four runs scored. Getting on base seven times and scoring four times is a recipe for the Mets’ success.
2. Too hot to think straight. There is no Met hotter than J.D. Martinez right now. In the series against the Padres, Martinez went 6-for-9 at the plate with three runs scored, two doubles, two homers and five walks. He hit .667/.786/1.556 with six RBIs. Since May 30, he is hitting .333/.449/.702, raising his season OPS from .730 to .881.
3. Too cold to panic. There was a moment Sunday where I’ll admit, I almost stopped believing. Diekman and Drew Smith allowed two walks and two hits, leading to three runs. The Padres were able to bring it within one. Thankfully, the Mets bats scored more runs, and Reid-Foley, with ice waters in his veins, pitched a clean ninth to finish the game. The good news is Edwin Díaz and Adam Ottavino come into today’s game with two days rest, and Reed Garrett has only tossed eight pitches in the last four calendar days.

Let’s go Mets!

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