Series Preview: Mets Begin Second Half In Miami

The wait has been far too long. The New York Mets (49-46) will open the second half of the season in playoff position, occupying the third Wild Card spot. Carlos Mendoza’s team has enjoyed a great stretch of baseball, going 25-13 since the start of June. They will try to continue that against the Miami […]

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The wait has been far too long. The New York Mets (49-46) will open the second half of the season in playoff position, occupying the third Wild Card spot. Carlos Mendoza’s team has enjoyed a great stretch of baseball, going 25-13 since the start of June. They will try to continue that against the Miami Marlins (33-63), who own the worst record in the National League. After making the playoffs in 2023, it looks like some of their best players will be moved at the trade deadline.

Let’s take a look at some notes for the four pitching matchups.

Friday, July 19, 2024: LHP Sean Manaea (6-3, 3.46 ERA) vs. RHP Edward Cabrera (1-3, 8.26 ERA)

No starter is on a better run in the Mets’ rotation than Sean Manaea. Over his last six starts, he is 3-0 with a 2.02 ERA. Manaea is not only pitching well, but pitching deeper into games as well. In two of his last three starts, he has made it through the seventh inning, which is a feat he had yet to accomplish prior to this stretch. The Mets want to begin this critical part of their schedule by playing good, clean baseball. Right now, the guy to lean on is Manaea. The left-hander 1-1 with a 4.80 ERA in three career starts against the Marlins.

Edward Cabrera, once the No. 2 prospect in the Marlins’ system, has yet to fulfill his potential. He came up as a guy who heavily relied on his four-seam fastball, but his pitch mix has become more balanced in recent years. Injuries have played a role in his struggles in the big leagues, as he dealt with a right shoulder impingement most recently. Cabrera has not thrown at least five innings since April 21 against the Chicago Cubs. Cabrera is 1-2 with a 5.67 ERA in seven career starts against the Mets.

Saturday, July 20, 2024: LHP Jose Quintana (4-6, 4.13 ERA) vs. RHP Roddery Muñoz (1-4, 5.47 ERA)

Jose Quintana was right in the thick of his best stretch as a Met until he went up against the Colorado Rockies last Sunday, who attacked him early. Quintana gave up a season-high four home runs in 5 2/3 innings, allowing a total of five runs. Despite that shaky performance, the left-hander has pitched to a 2.00 ERA over his last six starts. Quintana is going right when he keeps the ball in the ballpark and limits the walks. He has great career numbers against the Marlins, going 3-1 with a 2.42 ERA in four starts.

Roddery Muñoz may not have great overall numbers, but he did cause problems for the Mets’ offense earlier this season. Back on June 13, the right-hander threw 5 1/3 innings before giving up a hit at Citi Field. The Mets eventually went on to win that game on thanks to a two-run walk-off home run from J.D. Martinez, but Muñoz’s performance shouldn’t be forgotten. Since then, he is 0-2 with a 6.39 ERA in 25 1/3 innings. Muñoz utilizes three pitches over 20% of the time: a four-seam fastball, a cutter and a sinker.

Sunday, July 21, 2024: RHP Luis Severino (6-3, 3.78 ERA) vs. LHP Trevor Rogers (1-9, 4.72 ERA)

For the first 2 1/2 months of the season, Luis Severino was undoubtedly the Mets’ best starter. But, as of late, his results have been a bit all over the place. He has pitched to a 5.40 ERA over his last five outings despite completing two quality starts during that stretch. He is down to 6.6 strikeouts per nine this season, well below the mark of 9.3 he’s set for his career. Severino will hope the additional rest can help him get back on track. He is 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA in three career starts against the Marlins.

Trevor Rogers does not have a good win-loss record, but he has pitched much better as of late. The left-hander has allowed two earned runs or less in six of his last seven starts, including in three-straight. Rogers, a first-round pick of the Marlins in 2017, still has a chance to become a building block for the team moving forward. A strong second half would go a long way for the 26-year-old after battling through the past two campaigns. The Mets have not seen Rogers since April of 2023. Overall, he is 2-3 with a 3.52 ERA in eight career starts against them.

Monday, July 22, 2024: RHP Christian Scott (0-2, 4.36 ERA) vs. RHP Yonny Chirinos (0-1, 5.76 ERA)

Christian Scott is still in search of his first win as a big league starter. The right-hander was given an early lead in his last start against the Rockies but couldn’t find his way through the fifth inning. Home runs have hurt Scott, allowing at least one in six of his first eight outings. His first career start against the Marlins came back on May 17, and it did not go well. Scott allowed four runs on seven hits in four innings as the Mets lost 8-0. The rookie is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in four starts on the road this season and has a great chance to bounce back.

Yonny Chirinos, best known for his years with the Tampa Bay Rays, has struggled in his limited time with the Marlins. His last start was his worst to date, giving up seven earned runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Cincinnati Reds. Chirinos was punished for his mistakes in the middle of the zone, allowing a season-high three home runs in that one. He has relied heavily on his slider, throwing it 37.3% of the time. Chirinos has faced the Mets twice in his career, going 1-1 with a 8.68 ERA over 9 1/3 innings.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jazz Chisholm Jr. (MIA)

With his Marlins tenure potentially coming to an end in the coming days, all eyes are on Chisholm Jr. as one of the more high-profile players rumored to be available at the July 30 deadline. He is set to receive some playing time at second base for the first time in two seasons in what would appear to be an audition for infield-needy clubs such as the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners, both of whom have reportedly registered interest in the 26-year-old. Chisholm is slashing .249/.321/.407 with 18 stolen bases and 12 home runs on the year.

J.D. Martinez (NYM)

Martinez has been a revelation for New York this year, hitting .263/.349/.457 with 10 home runs while also taking up leadership responsibilities in the clubhouse. The 36-year-old did limp into the All-Star break, however, going 0-for-9 against the Rockies as he enters the second half with a .643 OPS in July. The Mets are hoping he can find some of his prior mojo in his hometown this series.

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