Series Preview: Road Trip Closes in Seattle

The New York Mets (61-54) will complete their four-city road trip with a three-game set in the Pacific Northwest. A tough test awaits as the Seattle Mariners (60-56) look to stay within striking distance of the Houston Astros in the AL West. After a series loss against the Los Angeles Angels, the Mets followed that up with a win against the St. Louis Cardinals and a series victory against the Colorado Rockies. Pete Alonso exploded for two home runs in Thursday’s win, giving the group some much-needed confidence. Entering action tonight, the Mets occupy the third Wild Card spot in the National League.

Let’s take a look at some notes ahead of the three pitching matchups.

Friday, August 9, 2024: LHP Jose Quintana (6-7, 3.95 ERA) vs. RHP Bryce Miller (8-7, 3.62 ERA)

Over his last nine starts, Jose Quintana is 5-2 with a 2.25 ERA in 52 innings. The only worrying sign during that period is that he has given up seven home runs, although he has gone two-straight outings without allowing one. Despite his good form, Quintana did take a loss last Sunday against the Angels. His command was off at times, walking four in just five innings. He gave up only three runs, but that was enough for the Angels to hold on in the end. Quintana is 2-1 with a 3.19 ERA in 12 career appearances (eight starts) against Seattle.

Bryce Miller is having a fantastic year in his age-25 season, giving the Mariners a plus arm at the backend of their rotation. The team is over .500 with him on the mound this season. Since the start of July, the right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA. He averages 95.1 MPH on his four-seam fastball, a pitch he throws 43.6 percent of the time. Watch out for his sinker and split-finger as well, the other two pitches he throws frequently. Miller has been sensational at home on the year, pitching to a 2.27 ERA in 12 starts.

Saturday, August 10, 2024: LHP Sean Manaea (8-4, 3.30 ERA) vs. RHP Logan Gilbert (6-8, 3.05 ERA) 

There aren’t enough good things to say about Sean Manaea at the moment. He has thrown back-to-back starts of seven shutout innings, striking out 21 hitters during those outings. The later of those two came in a win against the Cardinals on Monday. Manaea allowed six hits in that game but skated through trouble without allowing any damage. Walks were a problem for him early on in the season, but he has surrendered one free pass or less in four of his last five starts. Manaea is 8-7 with a 3.73 ERA in 16 starts against the Mariners.

A week-and-a-half ago, Logan Gilbert gave up seven runs on seven hits in a 14-7 loss against the Boston Red Sox. He rebounded a few days later, allowing one run on four hits in a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mariners have averaged 3.63 runs per game with Gilbert on the mound, which is one of the biggest factors as to why the team is 11-12 in contests that he starts. Don’t be fooled by his record, though, as Gilbert is an All-Star and already one of the best young pitchers in the game.

Sunday, August 11, 2024: RHP Luis Severino (7-5, 4.06 ERA) vs. RHP Luis Castillo (9-11, 3.48 ERA)

Luis Severino is up to 128 2/3 innings on the season. He hasn’t thrown that many since 2018, and it has shown in his recent performances. Severino has pitched to a 5.87 ERA over his last seven starts, and opponents have hit seven home runs against him during that stretch. The Mets may need to consider skipping his spot in rotation once just to give him some rest. Severino is 2-1 with a 3.44 ERA in three career starts against Seattle. He desperately needs to bounce back.

At his best, Luis Castillo is one of the most effective right-handed starters in the league. Early on in his career, he relied on his changeup a ton. But, as the years have gone on, he has used it less and less. In 2024, his four-seam fastball, slider and sinker have been his most utilized pitches. His changeup, used as much as 32.5 percent of the time in 2019, is now down to 15.5 percent this season. He is 1-1 against the Mets in his career, pitching to a 4.44 ERA in four starts. Castillo will provide a big test for the Mets’ lineup on Sunday Night Baseball.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Brandon Nimmo (NYM)

Nimmo has mightily struggled in recent weeks. Over his last 21 games, he is slashing .157/.276/.181. Nimmo has failed to record a hit in 10 of his last 17 starts, including three of his last four. After looking like an All-Star snub in early July, things have taken a turn for the worse. Nimmo has great career numbers against the Mariners, albeit in a limited sample size, as he has hit .375 with a 1.131 OPS in seven games against them. This weekend should provide a good opportunity for him to find his swing against their right-handers.

Víctor Robles (SEA)

Mets fans will be familiar with Robles, a former top prospect in the Washington Nationals’ system. Seattle signed the 27-year-old after his former employers designated him for assignment in late May. Robles has always been known for his glove, but his bat has played a lot better during his brief time with the Mariners. Across 109 plate appearances, he is slashing .320/.383/.474 with three home runs, six runs batted in and 10 stolen bases. Robles will continue to play a pivotal role with Julio Rodríguez currently on the injured list.

The post Series Preview: Road Trip Closes in Seattle appeared first on Metsmerized Online.