Game Chat: Mets vs. Padres, 9:40 p.m.

Friday, August 23, 2024 • 9:40 PM
Petco Park • San Diego, CA
RHP Paul Blackburn (5-3, 4.19) vs. RHP Joe Musgrove (3-4, 4.97)
SNY

The Mets started their West Coast road trip with a big win on Thursday, beating the San Diego Padres for the fourth-straight time to open the season series. Overall, the team recorded 17 hits and had a massive ninth inning where they scored five runs.

The Atlanta Braves defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, however, so the Mets stay a game-and-a-half out of the last Wild Card spot. Every game this series is huge, and hopefully the Mets can bring Thursday’s energy back to Petco Park tonight.

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor, SS
2. Mark Vientos, 3B
3. J.D. Martinez, DH
4. Pete Alonso, 1B
5. Starling Marte, RF
6. Jose Iglesias, 2B
7. Jeff McNeil, LF
8. Francisco Alvarez, C
9. Harrison Bader, CF

Paul Blackburn has started 13 games and thrown 73 innings this season with a 4.19 ERA, 4.34 FIP, 1.192 WHIP and a 95 ERA+. As a member of the Mets, he has completed 22 innings across four outings with a 3.68 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 1.273 WHIP and a 108 ERA+. In three of those four starts, Blackburn has allowed exactly one earned run.

The Padres have the following career numbers against Blackburn:

• Luis Arráez 1-3
• Xander Bogaerts 0-4, BB
• Manny Machado 2-4, 2B
• Jurickson Profar 1-3
• Donovan Solano 2-2
• Tyler Wade 1-4

Opposing Lineup

1. Luis Arráez, DH
2. Jurickson Profar, LF
3. Jake Cronenworth, 1B
4. Manny Machado, 3B
5. Xander Bogaerts, 2B
6. Jackson Merrill, CF
7. David Peralta, RF
8. Kyle Higashioka, C
9. Mason McCoy, SS

The Mets’ bats will get to face an old foe in Joe Musgrove tonight. Over 12 starts (58 innings) this year, he has a 4.97 ERA, 5.04 FIP, 1.397 WHIP and an 82 ERA+. Musgrove battled elbow and triceps injuries this season that knocked him out from the end of the May until mid-August. Since returning to the rotation, he has allowed one run on five hits and three walks over 8 2/3 innings.

The Mets have the following career numbers against Musgrove:

• Pete Alonso 4-13, HR, BB, 2 K
• Francisco Alvarez 0-2, K
• Harrison Bader 1-11, HR, 2 BB, 6 K
• Jose Iglesias 6-15, 2 2B, HR, 2 K
• Francisco Lindor 7-23, 2 2B, 2 HR, BB, 11 K
• Starling Marte 3-11, BB, K
• J.D. Martinez 1-3, HR, K
• Jeff McNeil 2-12, 2B, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-12, K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-3, K
• Jesse Winker 2-13, BB, 3 K

Game Notes

The Mets reinstated right-handed reliever Dedniel Núñez from the injured list on Friday and optioned Huascar Brazobán as the corresponding move. Brazobán, whom the team acquired at the trade deadline from the Miami Marlins, threw 36 pitches in Thursday’s win and has recorded a 6.30 ERA over nine appearances with New York.

Nimmo was not included in tonight’s starting lineup for the second time in the last four games after leaving Sunday afternoon’s contest against the Marlins with a shoulder injury.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Hit Parade. The Mets’ offense can be frustrating. The team has talent up and down the lineup, but they can struggle to get hits with runners in scoring position for weeks at a time. There are also nights like Thursday where they can put up 17 hits and go 6-for-14 with RISP. Five different Mets hit doubles on Thursday while seven had two hits. Alonso and McNeil led the way with three apiece.
2. Francisco Lindor. Lindor continued to make his MVP case on Thursday, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a lead-off double. Over his last three games, he has gone 6-for-12 with four runs scored, three two-baggers and a homer. He has hit .381/.427/.651 since August 7, raising his season line from .253/.329/.455 to .268/.341/.479. He has a 6.3 fWAR after yesterday’s contest, which is the best in the National League over the likes of Shohei Ohtani and Elly De La Cruz.
3. Mets Bullpen. The Mets were able to win Thursday night without using two of their best relievers in Edwin Díaz and Jose Buttó. Adam Ottavino has thrown only eight pitches in the last five calendar days while Ryne Stanek has tossed 16 over that same stretch.

Let’s go Mets!

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