Game Chat: Angels vs Mets, 7:10 PM

Monday, July 21, 2025 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
LHP Tyler Anderson (2-6, 4.34) vs. RHP Kodai Senga (7-3, 1.39)
SNY

The Mets escaped the weekend with the Reds! The Mets were holding on to a tenuous 2-1 lead for the vast majority of Sunday’s game. The Reds were able to scratch out a run to tie the game, and the Mets responded by finding a run in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead for good. Now, the Mets welcome a similarly scrappy team – the Angels – to Citi Field.

Like the Reds, the Angels are also in fourth place in their division, hovering around .500, and are playing sort-of well lately. The Angels are 14th in runs scored (Mets are 16th) but are 26th in runs allowed (Mets are seventh). Here’s hoping the Mets can make it two wins in a row!

Mets Lineup

1. Brandon Nimmo, LF
2. Francisco Lindor, SS
3. Juan Soto, RF
4. Pete Alonso, 1B
5. Jeff McNeil, CF
6. Mark Vientos, DH
7. Brett Baty, 3B
8. Francisco Alvarez, C
9. Luisangel Acuña, 2B

Kodai Senga looked good last weekend in his first start back. Over four innings, he allowed four hits and walked two batters while shutting out the Royals and racking up four strikeouts. The Mets stretched him to 67 pitches. Over 14 starts this season, Kodai has pitched 77 2/3 innings with a 1.39 ERA, 3.17 FIP, 1.113 WHIP and a 276 ERA+. He pitched against the Angels back in 2023, allowing only two runs from four hits while striking out 10 batters. The Angels have the following career numbers against Senga:

• Travis d’Arnaud 1-2, K
• Kevin Newman 1-2
• Logan O’Hoppe 1-2, BB, K
• Luis Rengifo 1-3
• Nolan Schanuel 0-2, K
• Jorge Soler 3-8, 2B, BB, 3 K
• LaMonte Wade Jr. 1-3, HR, BB

Opposing Lineup

1. Zach Neto, SS
2. Nolan Schanuel, 1B
3. Mike Trout, DH
4. Taylor Ward, LF
5. Jo Adell, CF
6. Yoán Moncada, 3B
7. Logan O’Hoppe, C
8. LaMonte Wade Jr., RF
9. Luis Rengifo, 2B

The Mets’ bats will try to get going against Tyler Anderson tonight. Over 19 games (101 2/3 innings), Anderson has a 4.34 ERA, 4.89 FIP, 1.407 WHIP and a 98 ERA+. Teams have been scoring against him lately, tallying seven runs over 10 innings from 16 hits and four walks. The Mets hit him moderately well in 2024, scoring three runs over five innings of work. The Mets have the following career stats against Anderson:

• Pete Alonso 2-9, HR, BB, K
• Francisco Lindor 2-12, K
• Jeff McNeil 1-6
• Brandon Nimmo 8-15, HR, 3 K
• Juan Soto 3-20, 5 BB, 2 K
• Tyrone Taylor 1-6
• Luis Torrens 0-4
• Mark Vientos 1-3, K

Game Notes

• Before Monday’s game, the Mets officially recalled Francisco Alvarez from Triple-A Syracuse. In a corresponding move, the team optioned C Hayden Senger to Syracuse.
• The Mets also claimed RHP Rico Garcia off waivers from the Yankees. Garcia previously pitched in two games for the Mets this season, providing 4 ⅔ scoreless innings of work. New York transferred Dedniel Núñez to the 60-day IL (Tommy John surgery), and outrighted LHP Richard Lovelady to Syracuse. Meanwhile, RHP Paul Blackburn‘s rehab assignment will continue Tuesday in Syracuse.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Francisco Alvarez. Alvarez is back! The Mets sent him down to Syracuse on June 21. Since then, he played in 19 games and hit 11 home runs, going 20-for-67 at the plate, slashing .299/.397/.836 while striking out 21 times. He has been hitting absolute bombs, including one shot over the batter’s eye this past weekend. Alvarez struggled to get power going at the plate this season, slashing .236/.319/.333 over 35 games. He hit .237/.307/.403 in 2024 with his power taking a hit after his thumb injury.
2. Containing Taylor Ward. Taylor Ward has been a solid player stuck on a middling team for the last four seasons. He has a 9.2 bWAR from 2022 through 2025 and has had an OPS+ above 100 the previous five seasons. He had 23 and 25 home runs in 2022 and 2024, but this season he has taken off, already collecting 23 home runs. He’s coming off a five-hit series in Philly, hitting two home runs.
3. Francisco Lindor. Lindor is in a funk right now. In his last four games, he has gone 0-for-19 with six strikeouts. That being said, by the end of Sunday’s game, he was making solid contact and loud outs. Hopefully this is the start of Lindor turning the corner.

Let’s go Mets!

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