Game Chat: Twins vs Mets, 7:10 PM

Tuesday, July 30, 2024 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP David Festa (1-1, 8.16) vs. LHP Sean Manaea (6-4, 3.74)
SNY

The Mets lost their offense over the weekend against the Braves and found it Monday night against the Twins. The bats exploded for 15 runs from 17 hits with every hitter in the game—including pinch hitters—recording at least one hit. The Mets just fired on all cylinders.

Thanks to how the other games around them ended up, the Mets finished the evening tied for the second wild card spot with the Padres and only a half-game back for the first wild card spot. On top of this, today is trade deadline day.

Mets Lineup

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

Sean Manaea has made 20 starts totaling 106 innings with a 3.74 ERA, 4.17 FIP, 1.255 WHIP and a 105 ERA+. His last three starts haven’t been the greatest, allowing 10 runs from 16 hits and six walks over 16 2/3 innings. Homers have hurt him, allowing five over his last three starts (he’s only allowed 12 this season). Before this stretch, he pitched five games in a row with a 1.57 ERA (3.40 FIP).

The Twins have the following career numbers against Sean:

• Byron Buxton 2-9, 2B, 2 BB, 3 K
• Willi Castro 3-6, 2B, 2 K
• Max Kepler 1-7, HR, BB, K
• Manuel Margot 2-8, 2 K
• Jose Miranda 1-3, HR, K
• Carlos Santana 4-12, 2B, 4 BB, 3 K
• Christian Vazquez 3-7, BB, 2 K

Opposing Lineup

1. Manuel Margot – RF
2. Byron Buxton – CF
3. Royce Lewis – DH
4. Jose Miranda – 3B
5. Carlos Santana – 1B
6. Willi Castro – 2B
7. Austin Martin – LF
8. Christian Vazquez – C
9. Brooks Lee – SS

David Festa will pitch in his fourth major league game this evening. So far this season, he has tossed 14 1/3 innings with a 8.16 ERA (6.23 FIP), 1.605 WHIP and a 52 ERA+. His last outing was by far his best of the season when he held the Phillies to one run over 4 1/3 innings while striking out seven. Before that, he allowed 12 runs over 10 innings across two starts. Festa had a 4.39 ERA in Double-A Wichita over 80 innings and a 2.92 ERA over 12 1/3 innings at Triple-A St. Paul.

No one on the Mets roster has faced Festa before in a major league game.

Game Notes

The Mets made many moves today at the deadline:

• Reliever Huascar Brazoban was acquired from the Marlins for Wilfredo Lara. (Probably the best deal of the day.)
• Paul Blackburn, a righty starter, came over from the A’s for Kade Morris.
• Reliever Tyler Zuber will join the team in a trade from the Rays. The Mets sent Paul Gervase back to Tampa Bay and designated Ty Adcock for assignment to make room for him.
• Josh Walker was dealt to the Pirates for 18-year-old pitcher Nicolas Carreno
• Reliever Shintaro Fujinami cleared waivers and was outrighted to Syracuse.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Letting the Twins work their way into trouble. The Twins were doomed by a few crazy innings for the Mets, who worked seven walks Monday night. The Twins now have an overworked bullpen and will have two games in the next 24 hours against the Mets. Hopefully the Mets can repeat their discipline from Monday night.
2. Hitting with runners in scoring position. When the Mets were terrible in May, they couldn’t buy a hit with runners in scoring position. When the Mets dominated June, they constantly kept the line moving. That’s what happened Monday night with the Mets going 8-for-17 with RISP after a terrible weekend.
3. The Mets bullpen got the night off. It’s not clear that Jose Buttó pitched three relief innings in Monday night’s game in order to stretch him out for a turn in the rotation. That remains to be seen. But the short term impact is no one else had to do anything last night. Edwin Díaz and Phil Maton both haven’t pitched since Thursday, and Danny Young hasn’t pitched since Saturday.

Let’s go Mets!

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