Game chat: Mets vs Brewers, 8:10 p.m

Friday, September 27, 2024 • 8:10 PM
American Family Field • Milwaukee, WI
LHP Sean Manaea (12-5, 3.29) vs. RHP Frankie Montas (7-11, 4.85)
SNY

The Mets are gearing up for a wild weekend of baseball. They enter today’s game tied for the second Wild Card spot with the Arizona Diamondbacks while holding the tiebreaker and two games in hand. The Atlanta Braves are one game behind both clubs. Both the Mets and Braves are trying to clinch playoff spots this weekend to avoid their doubleheader on Monday. Every game is critical right now!

Brad Penner-Imagn images

Mets lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Mark Vientos – 3B
3. Brandon Nimmo – L.F
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Jose Iglesias – 2B
6. Jesse Winker – RF
7. JD Martinez – DH
8. Francisco Alvarez -C
9. Tyrone Taylor – C.F

Sean Manaea has a 3.29 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 1.056 WHIP and a 120 ERA+ over 178 innings this year. Since late July, he has a 2.63 ERA, 3.13 FIP over 72 innings with 82 strikeouts. Manaea has thrown at least 6 2/3 innings in eight consecutive starts.

Since dropping his arm angle, Manaea has developed into a top player, and the Mets need him more than ever tonight to lead the team.

The Brewers have the following career marks against him:

• Willy Adames 1-8, BB, 3 K
• William Contreras 1-5, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Erik Haase 2-4, 2B, HR, K
• Rhys Hoskins 1-4, HR, K
• Gary Sanchez 3-6, 2 2B, BB, K

Opposite arrangement

1. Brice Turang – 2B
2. Sal Frelick – RF
3. Jackson Chourio – L.F
4. Willem Contreras – C
5. Willy Adames – SS
6. Rhys Hoskins – 1B
7. Joey Ortiz – 3B
8. Gary Sánchez – DH
9. Blake Perkins – C.F

The Brewers will send out Frankie Montas tonight, who has thrown 146 2/3 innings this season between the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers with a 4.85 ERA, 4.66 FIP, 1.370 WHIP and an 89 ERA+. He has outperformed as a Brewer since reaching the trade deadline, pitching a 4.56 ERA, 4.20 FIP, 1.256 WHIP and a 93 ERA+ in 53 1/3 innings.

Montas is looking to pick up some positive momentum entering the postseason. In his last appearance, he allowed seven earned runs in 2 2/3 innings against the D-backs. Montas has retired 10 batters in two of his last four starts.

The Mets have the following career grades against him:

• Pete Alonso 1-3, K
• José Iglesias 1-7, 2 K
• Francisco Lindor 4-11, 2 2B, 3 BB, 3 K
• Starling Marte 5-8, K
• JD Martinez 2-9, 2B, BB, K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-3, K
• Luis Torrens 2-8, HR, 2 K
• Jesse Winker 2-7, 3 BB, 2 K

Game notes

During his press conference Friday afternoon, chairman of baseball operations David Stearns said explained that MLB will not allow additional players into September’s doubleheaders, potentially putting the Mets in a compromising position during Monday’s doubleheader if they clinch a spot in the postseason. Additionally, he stated that any player selected to the minor leagues would have to remain there for 10-15 days unless there is an injury on the active roster.

The Brewers are 18-3 in their last 21 home games against the Mets. However, New York punched their ticket to the 2022 playoffs in Milwaukee, so the team has some semblance of recent success at American Family Field.

Three things to pay attention to

1. Francisco Lindor. Lindor was scheduled to return Wednesday before the game was postponed. He injured his back on September 13 in Philadelphia, returned for a brief stint later in that series on September 15 and has been out since. He was ready for a bat Tuesday night, so hopefully these extra few days of rest helped Lindor. He’s coming off an MVP-caliber season for the Mets, slashing .271/.342/.494 with a 136 OPS+ and great defense.
2. The Vibes. The 2024 Mets are the vibes team. They pose for pictures with the OMG sign after home runs, the starting pitchers have their own celebration when they have a good outing, and overall the team just seems to be having a good time. They have faced many adversities this year and handled them with smiles and jokes. Hopefully the Mets emerge as that team tonight and aren’t cramped under the pressure of what this series means for extra games in another city on Monday. The tone for this weekend is set tonight.
3. Looking at the scoreboard. The San Diego Padres and Diamondbacks start an important series tonight. Yu Darvish faces Merrill Kelly in a game, Arizona feels like it has to win. The Braves also begin a three-game set with the Kansas City Royals as Max Fried And Brady singer teen de bump on Friday evening. Check out our article on all the Mets’ possible playoff scenarios!