Here we go again with another series thread. The Mets continue their 8-game road trip, shifting to Pittsburgh today. The Mets split their previous series in Washington, D.C. (2-2) & are a game below .500 now at 42-43. The Bucs are also below .500 at 41-45. Both clubs are within striking distance of the final wildcard spot in the N.L. and are looking to bounce back from recent setbacks in this four-game set. Enjoy 😊!
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Mets @ Pirates: Game 1 –⚾Severino (R) vs. Skenes (R)⚾– 6:40 pm EDT
Starting Lineups for both clubs tonight.
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Probable Starting Pitcher Matchups for tonight & tomorrow in the ‘Burgh against the Bucs.
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#LFGM!
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Notes:
-Tonight’s game will be on SNY and so will tomorrow’s game.
-The weather for tonight's game at PNC Park is expected to be good; however, thunderstorms & showers are expected before briefly the game and possibly shortly after the game. The timing of the game is perfect as of now window-wise, but things could easily change. Click
HERE to keep updated and see the Hourly AccuWeather Reports from there.
-Tonight’s game is the last one in Edwin Diaz’s ten-game long suspension. The Mets have a record of 5-4 in the first nine games they’ve played during that time. They’re currently in 3rd place in the N.L. East, two games ahead of the 4th place Nationals (click
HERE to see). The Mets are also 2.5 games behind the Cardinals for the 3rd & final Wildcard spot in the National League, with a game in hand on them (click
HERE to see). The Pirates, at 41-45, are only 4 games out of that same final Wildcard spot, so this is a series between competitors for that final playoff spot.
-Click
HERE to see the list of Mets transactions so far for the month of July.
-Click
HERE to see the Mets' 26-man active roster (25-man roster now due to the Edwin Díaz suspension).
-The Mets' 4-man bench for tonight’s game will consist of
Torrens (R), Vientos (R), Taylor (R), & Gamel (L). 
kind of dont care too much, i dont mind the players getting extra rest and hopefully it gets them even more fired up for the 2nd half.
I think each team has at least one, so perhaps Abrams was deemed the best option for the Nats?
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defensive players this year regardless of position. that should basically invalidate anyone who plays a premium position unless they are far and away better offensively.
kind of dont care too much, i dont mind the players getting extra rest and hopefully it gets them even more fired up for the 2nd half.
I think each team has at least one, so perhaps Abrams was deemed the best option for the Nats?
They could have gone with Gore or Irvin as well but all close.
Alonso over Christian Walker is a joke though.
I wonder if Mets let Alonso go and sign Walker as his replacement even though he's older. Insane defensive 1B and his bat has really come along the last 2 years. He should be cheaper as well.
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defensive players this year regardless of position. that should basically invalidate anyone who plays a premium position unless they are far and away better offensively.
kind of dont care too much, i dont mind the players getting extra rest and hopefully it gets them even more fired up for the 2nd half.
I think each team has at least one, so perhaps Abrams was deemed the best option for the Nats?
that's probably it, though lindor should have been it for mets > alonso. christian walker has a better case for 1b than alonso.
Starting Lineups for both clubs today.
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Probable Starting Pitcher Matchups for today in the ‘Burgh against the Bucs & tomorrow in Flushing against the Nats.
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#LFGM!
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Notes:
-Today’s game will be on SNY as will tomorrow’s game.
-The weather for today's game at PNC Park is expected to be fine, with mid-day real feel heat being a factor again, even more so than yesterday afternoon’s game. Click HERE to keep updated and see the Hourly AccuWeather Reports from there.
-The Mets are back at .500 again (44-44) & came back to win yesterday for the 24th time this season, which is the second-most in MLB to date. They’re still 2.5 games behind the Cardinals for the 3rd & final Wildcard spot in the National League, with a game in hand on them (click HERE to see). The Mets are 2.5 games ahead of the Pirates in the N.L. standings in the race for that final playoff spot & are going for a series victory today. They’re 5-1 against them this season. They’ve already won the overall season series in what will be the final game of the season against them today. They’re 4-3 on this road trip so far & won’t be on the road again after today’s game until July 19th in Miami, in what’ll be the very first game back after the All-Star break.
-Click HERE to see the list of Mets transactions for July.
-Click HERE to see the Mets' 26-man active roster.
-The Mets' 4-man bench for today’s game will consist of Martinez (R), Taylor (R), Stewart (L), & Gamel (L).
Mets @ Pirates | 12:35 pm EDT start - July 8, 2024 – TV Broadcast: Mets' feed – SNY: Gary & Blevins (strfish.xyz)
Mets @ Pirates | 12:35 pm EDT start - July 8, 2024 – TV Broadcast: Pirates' feed – SportsNet-PIT (strfish.xyz)
MLB.com - Gameday: Pitch by Pitch – Mets @ Pirates – July 8, 2024 - 12:35 pm EDT start
Note: Keith & Ron aren’t calling the game today.
Enjoy today's game 😊
These early afternoon games often seem to be low scoring affairs/pitchers' games.
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Pitchers duel through first 3.
These early afternoon games often seem to be low scoring affairs/pitchers' games.
Monday 1230 is a weird one.
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In comment 16549748 GF1080 said:
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Pitchers duel through first 3.
These early afternoon games often seem to be low scoring affairs/pitchers' games.
Monday 1230 is a weird one.
Too much odd man, too much odd! It's hotter than a muhfugga too on the field and in the park there today as well. Poor kids, vacationers, and retirees in the stands.
@MBrownstein89 · 9m
Of Brandon Nimmo's 14 homers this season, 8 have tied the game or given the @Mets the lead.
@Metsmerized #Mets #LGM
Mendoza doesn't make "pitch count" decisions. Those sorts of decisions come from Hefner and Jagers.
A few complete bullpen meltdowns per week and the lineup cooling off and the Mets are looking like the .500 club that their record says.
-18th in fWAR
-15th in FIP
-15th in era
-2nd in K/9
-26th in BB/9
Gary made it seem like it was a pitch count thing but not sure if he knew that or was insinuating.
Just a general comment here and not directed at you but a terrible spot to give Orze his first game action. Mendoza is boxed in with the pen though. Only 1 outing but I'm not too impressed with Orze.
Link - ( New Window )
P.S. The more I see from Houser--even in a long relief role--the less I wanna see him at all. He's 31 and a free agent after the year (see contract details HERE). He's out of options too if I recall. I'd make some changes to the pen sooner rather than later. I'd move Megill to Houser's role very soon & bring up lefty Gage for Orze after today. Go after FA-to-be lefty reliever Tanner Scott from the Fish too soon.
Exit Velocity
65.8mph
I'm not defending Orze, or even suggesting he's a major piece of the future but I don't think that was a great spot for his debut and I think he had some bad "luck" go against him.
For sure. I am WFH today so was watching game. I just wan't impressed with his CU today and his numbers at AAA leave a lot to be desired. A low 90's FB with a CU in the mid 80's won't get it done in a MLB pen IMO. He was hitting 95 today but that doesn't seem like the norm. Hope I am wrong.
" Orze, at Syracuse, has a plus-plus changeup and struggles to throw strikes."
" Eric Orze sits 95 mph, has a plus changeup, and struggles to throw strikes. "
Mike Puma
@NYPost_Mets
Carlos Mendoza said it was decided before the game to keep Christian Scott to 75 pitches because he threw 99 last time and was on four days’ rest.
That's what I get for listening to the booth then. They said 95 was high for him he usually sits low 90s.
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isn't particularly unusual for Orze. When I've watched him in Syracuse he's 93-96 usually. Can't say I recall him throwing much harder than that but usually 93-95 with a plus CU with heavy drop to it.
That's what I get for listening to the booth then. They said 95 was high for him he usually sits low 90s.
I was curious what the statcast readings were so I looked... his last 5 outings coming into today were June 22nd, June 27th June 29th, July 2nd and July 5th. July 5th he threw 1 single FB (13 total pitches) (94.2) (not much help), July 2nd he thew 3 FB's (94, 94, 93.2) and June 29th 5 FB's ranging from 93.3 to 93.8, June 27th 2 FB's 94.2 and 94.3 and June 22nd 3 FB's 93.4, 93.6 and 95.2 and today FB ranged from 93.8-94.6, so yeah, he's not a huge velocity guy but 93-95 is his norm.
John Harper
@NYNJHarper
Mendoza said it was an organizational decision to limit to Scott to 75 pitches, had to pull him even though he was "in complete control." I get wanting to protect Scott but as so many pitchers have told me, non-stress innings make those pre-determined decisions too arbitrary.
and even with those 3 pitching it was hard to get those last 2 wins.
sucks and frustrating, but i think they know they need to keep fixing the bp.
-18th in fWAR
-15th in FIP
-15th in era
-2nd in K/9
-26th in BB/9
They walk a ton of batters. This is their biggest problem. This would actually be a pretty decent bullpen if it weren’t for the walks. The walks are just absolute killers for relief pitchers. They do strike out a ton of batters though.
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the Mets bullpen is nowhere near the worst in baseball. Coming into today they ranked
-18th in fWAR
-15th in FIP
-15th in era
-2nd in K/9
-26th in BB/9
They walk a ton of batters. This is their biggest problem. This would actually be a pretty decent bullpen if it weren’t for the walks. The walks are just absolute killers for relief pitchers. They do strike out a ton of batters though.
yeah and this was a flaw of construction. they saved money by signing guys like diekman and otto - who are good when they dont walk people but too often that's not the case. otto is actually slightly under his career rate (3 vs 4 per 9) but diekman is way over his (7 vs 5 per 9).
the younger/less proven guys in high leverage walking people is to be expected - thats why they should have signed at least 1 more guy with experience in high leverage.
and even with those 3 pitching it was hard to get those last 2 wins.
sucks and frustrating, but i think they know they need to keep fixing the bp.
this was my point yesterday.
in may they were the worst but in april they were one of the best. that averages out to their average but it wasnt by being steadily mediocre. it has been jekyl/hyde.
I think the Mets have had some “bad luck” in that many of the bullpens worst outings were in tied games or games where Mets had small leads. Seems like we saw a lot of games earlier in the year where the bullpen did something like 5ip 1ER and the Mets lose 7-3