Game Chat: Braves vs. Mets, 7:10 P.M.

Sunday, May 28, 2024 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Bryce Elder (1-1, 5.28) vs. RHP Luis Severino (2-2, 2.93)
ESPN

The New York Mets try to avoid the sweep this evening at Citi Field.

Last weekend, the Mets were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays. The Mets then “swept” the Cardinals in a rain-shortened, two-game series. So far this weekend, the Mets have lost both games, despite holding the Braves to only four runs per game. The bats just haven’t been there for New York. Saturday’s game was almost an embarrassing disaster as the Braves had a combined no-hitter intact with two outs in the ninth inning. J.D. Martinez hit his first homerun as a Met, breaking up the no-hitter and the shutout.

The Mets are calling on Luis Severino to stop the slide tonight as the Mets have the nationally televised night game on Mother’s Day.

Mets Lineup

1. DJ Stewart, LF
2. Starling Marte, RF
3. Francisco Lindor, SS
4. Pete Alonso, 1B
5. J.D. Martinez, DH
6. Brett Baty, 3B
7. Harrison Bader, CF
8. Jeff McNeil, 2B
9. Omar Narváez, C

Luis Severino has a 2.93 ERA, 3.38 FIP, 1.175 WHIP, and a 132 ERA+ over 40 innings (seven starts) in 2024. He’s coming off of a less than stellar start against the Rays who got him for four runs over five innings from four hits and six walks.

Severino missed the Braves earlier in the season and last year the Braves got him for five runs via five hits and two walks over four innings of work.

The Braves have the following career numbers against Severino:

• Ronald Acuña Jr. 2-3, HR
• Orlando Arcia 0-5, K
• Travis d’Arnaud 1-3
• Adam Duvall 0-3, K
• Michael Harris II 1-3
• Matt Olson 1-5, 2B, 3 BB, 4 K
• Marcell Ozuna 2-2, HR
• Austin Riley 0-3, 2 K

Braves Lineup

1. Ronald Acuña Jr., RF
2. Ozzie Albies, 2B
3. Austin Riley, 3B
4. Matt Olson, 1B
5. Marcel Ozuna, DH
6. Michael Harris, CF
7. Orlando Arcia, SS
8. Jarred Kelenic, LF
9. Chadwick Tromp, C

The Mets’ bats will try to get back into rhythm tonight against Bryce Elder. Over three starts, 15 1/3 innings, Elder has a 5.28 ERA, 6.35 FIP, 1.761 WHIP, and an 81 ERA+. Elder’s statistics are tilted from his last outing. Over his first two starts, he allowed only two runs from 12 hits over 12 innings. His last time out, he allowed seven runs from seven hits and four walks against the Dodgers.

Elder faced the Mets twice last season. The Mets were able to get to him in first start, scoring four runs from four hits and two walks over six innings, despite Elder striking out the Mets eight times. Then, later in the season, Elder held the Mets to only one run over 5 1/3 innings. That second start was after the Mets tore down the roster though at the deadline.

The Mets have the following career numbers against Elder:

• Pete Alonso 1-5, HR
• Harrison Bader 0-2, K
• Brett Baty 1-2, K
• Francisco Lindor 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 BB
• Starling Marte 1-3, 2 K
• J.D. Martinez 1-3, K
• Jeff McNeil 1-7, BB, K
• Omar Narváez 1-2
• Brandon Nimmo 1-7, 3 K
• DJ Stewart 0-2, K
• Joey Wendle 3-12, 2B, BB, 2 K

Game Notes

In another start for Syracuse (Triple-A), Tylor Megill tossed 5 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball. He did not walk any batters and struck out six.

Manager Carlos Mendoza previously confirmed that Brandon Nimmo is currently being listed as “day-to-day.” He added that he’s, “not too concerned.” He is not in the lineup today.

Max Kranick cleared waivers and will remain with the organization in Syracuse (Triple-A).

Three Things To Watch For

1. J.D. Martinez is starting to come around. As mentioned, J.D. Martinez was a hero of sorts in Saturday’s game for the Mets. Over his last four games, he has gone 4-for-15 with a home run and a walk. He’s not lighting the world on fire, but he’s starting to consistently make content. Twice in yesterday’s game he just scorched the ball. Sunday would be a great time for a full 2024 breakout.
2. Brett Baty is striking out a lot. Over his last eight games, Baty has gone 6-for-30 at the plate with two homers, five runs scored, three walks, and a whopping 14 strikeouts. Over his last four games, he has gone 1-for-15 at the plate with seven strikeouts. To put this in perspective, 14 of Baty’s 30 strikeouts this season have been in the month of May and he has struck out in eight consecutive games.
3. The Mets don’t hit triples. Looking at a team’s triples numbers is weird since triples are a combination of speed, ballpark dimensions, and the circumstances on the field. That being said, the Mets have had only one triple this season, tied with the White Sox at the bottom of the league. The Red Sox lead the league with 10.

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