Game Chat: Mets vs Angels, 9:38 p.m.

Friday, August 2, 2024 • 9:38 PM
Angel Stadium • Anaheim, CA
RHP Paul Blackburn (4-2, 4.41) vs. LHP Tyler Anderson (8-9, 2.96)
SNY

The Mets start off a gauntlet of a month tonight. During August, the team will make two separate trips to the West Coast. The first one, which begins tonight, features series in Anaheim, Denver and Seattle as well as a makeup game in St. Louis with no off days in-between.

To start this series with the Angels, the Mets will send out Paul Blackburn to make his Mets debut against Tyler Anderson, who was a trade candidate at the deadline before the Angels held on to him.

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Brandon Nimmo – LF
3. J.D. Martinez – DH
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Mark Vientos – 3B
6. Jose Iglesias– 2B
7. Tyrone Taylor – RF
8. Francisco Alvarez – C
9. Harrison Bader – CF

Blackburn made nine starts for the Oakland Athletics this season, totaling 51 innings with a 4.41 ERA, 4.59 FIP, 1.157 WHIP and a 91 ERA+. His last start on July 26 was his first since returning from the injured list with a stress fracture in his foot that had sidelined him since the beginning of May. That outing was also against the Angels in Anaheim, where he allowed four runs on five hits over five innings. Blackburn is known for his large pitch repertoire that features a four-seam fastball, cutter, slider, changeup, curveball and sinker.

The Angels have the following career numbers against Blackburn:

• Jo Adell 1-3, HR, BB
• Willie Calhoun 1-1, 2B
• Brandon Drury 0-5, K
• Mickey Moniak 0-6, 2 K
• Zach Neto 0-2
• Logan O’Hoppe 1-4, 2 K
• Kevin Pillar 0-2
• Luis Rengifo 4-12, 2B, K
• Nolan Schanuel 1-4, HR, BB, K
• Taylor Ward 3-8, 2B, 2 HR

Opposing Lineup

1. Nolan Schanuel – 1B
2. Luis Rengifo – 3B
3. Logan O’Hoppe – C
4. Willie Calhoun – DH
5. Taylor Ward – LF
6. Mickey Moniak – RF
7. Zach Neto – SS
8. Jo Adell – CF
9. Luis Guillorme – 2B

Anderson has pitched 130 2/3 innings over 21 starts this season with a 2.96, ERA, 4.36 FIP, 1.140 WHIP and a 145 ERA+. He’s coming off of a solid start against the Athletics where he allowed three runs over seven innings while striking out 10, marking the second time he reached that mark during July.

The Mets have the following career numbers against Anderson:

• Pete Alonso 1-7
• Harrison Bader 1-3, 2B, K
• Ben Gamel 1-2, 2B
• Jose Iglesias 2-9, HR
• Francisco Lindor 2-9
• J.D. Martinez 1-4, HR, BB, K
• Jeff McNeil 1-6
• Brandon Nimmo 5-12, HR, 3 K
• Tyrone Taylor 1-3
• Luis Torrens 0-4

Game Notes

The Mets optioned Tylor Megill to Triple-A Syracuse upon activating Blackburn earlier today. Megill threw two innings in relief against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday after giving up four runs in five innings during his most recent start against the Atlanta Braves on July 27.

Mike Puma of the New York Post reported that Starling Marte is on track to begin a rehab assignment in the coming days. Marte, who was placed on the injured list on June 25 with a bone bruise in his right knee, will report to Port St. Lucie on Monday as he ramps back up.

Three Things To Watch For

1. The post-deadline Angels. The Angels could have gone full rebuild at the deadline, but instead traded just two relievers who qualified as rentals in Carlos Estévez and Luis García (the Mets will be thankful they won’t have to face them this weekend). As a result, Anderson will stick around and start against the Mets while the likes of Ward and Rengifo remain in the Angels’ lineup. The club enters play today with a .431 win percentage as they sit 13 games out of the wild card and without a direction. Will they play with a chip on their shoulders this weekend, or will they play like a team going through the motions?
2. Mark Vientos. Vientos was a bright spot for the Mets on Wednesday, going 1-for-3 with a two-run home run. It was his second-straight game with that identical batting line. Since July 10, he has gone 17-for-60 with five homers and six doubles (.283/.353/.633).
3. Surprisingly, we’ll see a lot of old friends. Former Mets Hunter Strickland, Brandon Drury, Kevin Pillar and Guillorme all play for the Angels. Pillar has appeared in 53 games and is hitting .300/.345/.488 with a 129 OPS+. Guillorme started the season hitting .150/.190/.250 (22 OPS+) over nine games with the Braves, though he has slashed .247/.315/.320 (78 OPS+) since coming over to Anaheim. Drury has endured a dreadful season, batting .160/.234/.197 (23 OPS+). Strickland is having a solid year out of the bullpen with a 3.35 ERA and 3.99 FIP over 51 innings.

Let’s go Mets!m

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