Series Preview: Rays vs Mets
Sixty-eight games down, ninety-four to go.
The Tampa Bay Rays went into Boston and hit a brick wall as they’ve lost two in a row, losing the series. Now the Rays will look to resume their winning ways as they travel to Flushing where they’ll take on the team with the best record in baseball, the New York Mets.
The Mets enter play on Friday with a 45-24 record, in possession of first place in the National League East leading the Philadelphia Phillies by 5.5 games. The Rays meanwhile are 36-32 and sit in 3rd place in the American League East, 6.5 games back of the New York Yankees for the division lead.
The Rays are tied for the 2nd Wild Card spot with the Minnesota Twins with both teams sitting a half game up on the Cleveland Guardians.
The Mets made waves this offseason when they signed Juan Soto to a $765M deal. The 26-year old outfielder has rewarded the Mets thus far by hitting .253/.389/.469 with 13 HR (143 wRC+) and accruing 2.0 fWAR over 306 plate appearances. However, resigning first baseman Pete Alonso might have been the best move as he is having an incredible first half, hitting .298/.397/.585 with 17 HR (175 wRC+) and accruing 2.7 fWAR over 305 plate appearances. Then you have Francisco Lindor who leads the team in fWAR (2.9), hitting .279/.350/.480 with 14 HR over 306 plate appearances.
The entire team is seemingly without blemish as the starting pitching staff (considered a huge weak spot entering the season) has put up some of the best numbers in the game; the Mets pitching as a whole currently sport a 2.83 ERA, which is the best in baseball. Edwin Diaz is among the best closers in baseball and he is supported by former Ray Ryne Stanek and Reed Garrett, but really the entire bullpen could be counted upon for high leverage spots.
Frivolities
- The top players by career bWAR to have played for the Rays and Mets:
- Dwight Gooden
- Julio Franco
- Steve Trachsel
- Asdrubal Cabrera
- Jose Bautista
- The Rays best player offensively against the Mets all-time (min. 25 PA):
Joey Wendle: .448/.500/.793 with 2 HR over 32 PA.
The next four are Isaac Paredes, Willy Adames, Brandon Lowe, and Evan Longoria - The Rays most previous transacation with the Mets:
— 6/6/24: Rays trade Sean Harney to the New York Mets for cash considerations - The Rays first transaction with the Mets
— 7/28/00: Rays trade Bubba Trammell and Rick White to the New York Mets for Jason Tyner and Paul Wilson
Probable pitchers are projected by MLB.com
GAME ONE
Friday, June 13th
7:10 pm EDT
RHP Taj Bradley vs RHP Clay Holmes
GAME TWO
Saturday, June 14th
4:10 pm EDT
RHP Drew Rasmussen vs RHP Tylor Megill
GAME THREE
Sunday, June 15th
1:40 pm EDT
RHP Shane Baz vs RHP Griffin Canning