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

Friday, June 28, 2024 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Ronel Blanco (8-2, 2.34) vs. LHP Jose Quintana (3-5, 4.58)
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Two of the hottest teams in baseball meet for a weekend clash in Queens!

The Mets have won 15 of their last 19 games and are back at .500 for the first time since mid-May. Coming into play today, they sit only one game out of the last Wild Card spot behind the St. Louis Cardinals. The Houston Astros were similarly cast off at the beginning of June but are now riding a seven-game winning streak, returning to .500 in the process while finding themselves three-and-a-half games out of the last American League Wild Card spot. Both teams need to keep building momentum this weekend as they battle to improve their standing in the playoff race. It’s Grimace vs. whatever the Whataburger mascot is!

Mets Lineup

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

Jose Quintana has made 15 starts this season totaling 78 2/3 innings with a 4.58 ERA, 4.89 FIP, 1.322 WHIP and an 84 ERA+. In his last two starts, though, he has allowed only two runs (one earned) over 12 1/3 innings on six hits and three walks while striking out 14 batters. Before June 15, his highest single-game strikeout total on the year was four. He has eclipsed that number in each of his last two outings with Alvarez behind the plate, showing the total effect he has on the pitching staff. Furthermore, across his first 13 starts of the season, opponents had a .811 OPS against him. Over his last two, it has dropped to .479.

The Astros have the following career numbers against Quintana:

• Jose Altuve 5-27, 8 K
• Yordan Alvarez 1-4, 2B
• Alex Bregman 1-2, K
• Jon Singleton 1-2, K

Opposing Lineup

1. Jose Altuve – 2B
2. Alex Bregman – 3B
3. Yordan Alvarez – DH
4. Yainer Diaz – C
5. Jake Meyers – CF
6. Jeremy Peña – SS
7. Mauricio Dubón – 1B
8. Chas McCormick – RF
9. Joey Loperfido – LF

Ronel Blanco has been a massive bright spot for the Astros this season, even during their toughest days this season. Over 14 starts he has pitched 84 2/3 innings with a 2.34 ERA, 4.07 FIP, 0.969 WHIP and a 169 ERA+. In his last three starts, he has allowed a combined two runs on seven hits and seven walks over 20 innings while striking out 20 batters. Blanco’s two weaknesses this year have been walks (3.6 BB/9) and homers (1.1 HR/9). The reason those shortcomings haven’t hurt him, though, is due to the fact that among qualified pitchers, he’s leading the league with 5.1 H/9 allowed.

The only player on the Mets who has faced Blanco in an official game prior to tonight is Martinez (0-for-2, BB).

Game Notes

Ahead of Friday’s game, Drew Smith told reporters that he had imaging done on his right arm after coming out of Sunday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs, which revealed a substantial amount of damage that may require surgery. He is currently awaiting a second opinion before all parties decide on the next steps.

Manager Carlos Mendoza provided an update on Kodai Senga, stating that he threw a live bullpen session on Thursday and that the plan moving forward is to have him throw another bullpen session before departing on a rehab assignment next week. Senga has yet to appear in a game this season after suffering a right posterior capsule strain during spring training.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Francisco Alvarez. Alvarez has been a tremendous resource for pitchers this season with most, if not all of them, performing better with him behind the dish. Furthermore, he’s just having a tremendous year with the bat. On Wednesday against the New York Yankees, he went 3-for-3 with a double and a homer. Over his last five games, he has gone 8-for-14 with three doubles and three homers while slashing .571/.714/.1.429 (2.143 OPS). Extend him already!
2. Francisco Lindor – Leadoff Double Machine. Lindor came through with a leadoff double on Wednesday, the third time he had done so over a five-game span, and then followed that up with another later in the game. Throughout the Mets’ hot streak, Lindor has been getting on base consistently, allowing the rest of the order to follow through and bring him around to score. He has now put himself in a position to eclipse his career high in doubles (44, currently has 23) and score more than 100 runs for a second-straight season.
3. Harrison Bader is getting streaky again! Bader has two hits in three consecutive games and overall has gone 6-for-12 with three doubles and two homers during that timeframe. With Starling Marte out for the foreseeable future and the Mets set to play 17 games in a row starting tonight, the Mets need Bader to ride this streak as long as he can.

Let’s go Mets!

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