Game Chat: Astros vs. Mets, 1:40 P.M.

Sunday, June 30, 2024 • 1:40 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Shawn Dubin (1-1, 5.64) vs. RHP Luis Severino (5-2, 3.29)
WPIX

The New York Mets look to comeback from Saturday’s disappointing loss this afternoon in Queens. The Mets had a huge second inning in Saturday’s game to go up 5-1 but the Houston Astros were able to take advantage of Tylor Megill and then the Mets’ overtaxed bullpen to comeback and win the game 9-6.

A win today gives the Mets a winning record again, another winning series against a good team, and closes out a great month for the Mets.

Mets Lineup

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

Luis Severino has pitched 90 1/3 innings over 15 starts for the Mets with a 3.29 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 1.151 WHIP, and a 117 ERA+. Severino is coming off of a strong start against the Chicago Cubs where held Chicago scoreless over six innings and struck out a season-high 10 batters. In four of his last six starts, he has allowed one run or less.

The Astros have the following career numbers against Severino:

• Jose Altuve 9-33, 2B, HR, 7 K
• Yordan Alvarez 3-11, HR, 2 BB, 4 K
• Alex Bregman 5-25, 2 2B, HR, 2 BB, 5 K
• Trey Cabbage 1-2, 2B, K
• Yainer Diaz 2-4, 2 HR, K
• Mauricio Dubón 0-4
• Chas McCormick 1-5, BB, K
• Jake Meyers 1-6, 2B, 4 K
• Jeremy Pena 2-6, BB, K

Astros Lineup

1. José Altuve, 2B
2. Alex Bregman, 3B
3. Yordan Alvarez, DH
4. Yainer Diaz, C
5. Jake Meyers, CF
6. Jon Singleton, 1B
7. Jeremy Pena, SS
8. Mauricio Dubon, LF
9. Trey Cabbage, RF

It’s a bullpen day for the Astros, starting with Shawn Dubin. Dubin has pitched 22 1/3 innings over 14 games this season with a 5.64 ERA, 2.52 FIP, 1.657 WHIP, and a 71 ERA+. He has the rare combination of a 10+ H/9 and a 10+ K/9 inning. Dubin can give the Astros some length as he has pitched three innings once this season and 2 1/3 innings four times. The most pitches has has thrown in an outing is 42, so that’s probably about his maximum.

Interesting to note, he has not allowed a home run this season. A few Mets have seen him in a major league game:

• Pete Alonso 1-1, 2B
• Francisco Alvarez 0-1, K
• Francisco Lindor 1-2, 2B, K
• Jeff McNeil 1-2
• Brandon Nimmo 0-2, K

Game Notes

The Mets made a plectra of roster moves prior to Sunday’s game:

• RHP Tylor Megill and LHP Danny Young optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
• LHP Tyler Jay and RHP Matt Festa have been selected from Triple-A Syracuse.
• LHP Brooks Raley has been transferred to the 60-day injured list.
• OF Duke Ellis has been designated for assignment.

Ben Gamel is slated to make his Mets debut. He has spent the season with Triple-A Syracuse posting a .314 average and .962 OPS. He owns a .716 OPS across a nine year major-league career.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Ben Gamel’s first start. Ben Gamel will finally see significant playing time this afternoon since joining the Mets. Over nine major league seasons, Gamel slashed .252/.332/.384. He last saw regular playing time at the major-league level in 2022 with the Pirates where he slashed .232/.324/.369 with a 97 OPS+. Gamel was hitting well in Syracuse before getting called up (.314/.423/.539) with seven homers.
2. Bullpen reinforcements. Tyler Jay was recalled to the major-league squad before today’s game and Matt Festa was called up to possible make his Mets debut. Jay made his major-league debut with the Mets earlier this season allowing one run from five hits and a walk over four innings of work. In Syracuse this season, he has a 2.00 ERA over 36 innings. Festa’s last full season was in 2022 with the Mariners where he had a 4.17 ERA, 4.26 FIP, 1.130 WHIP, and an 89 ERA+ over 54 innings. Across multiple minor league organizations this season, he has a 3.16 ERA, 1.245 WHIP over 31 1/3 innings.
3. Can Mendoza pick another three-hit second basemen? Jeff McNeil went 3-for-4 Friday night with a critical three-run home run that pulled the Mets far ahead of the Astros. He was past over for the start yesterday for José Iglesias. Iglesias made Mendoza look like a genius and got three hits to start the game. McNeil is back in the lineup today, does he go off and make Mendoza look clairvoyant?

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