Game Chat: Mets vs. Dodgers, 4:10 P.M.

Sunday, April 21, 2024 • 4:10 PM
Dodger Stadium • Los Angeles, CA
RHP Adrian Houser (0-1, 4.70) vs. RHP Tyler Glasnow (3-1, 3.72)
WPIX • MLBN

The New York Mets look for their second-consecutive sweep and seventh-consecutive win this afternoon in Los Angeles.

The Mets won their sixth game in a row Saturday afternoon, clinching a series victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was the second time in the last two weeks that the Mets had won a series against a World Series contending team (Atlanta Braves).

Saturday’s game featured the Mets doing one thing they haven’t done a lot of this year; stealing bases. The Mets stole three bases in the game (Brandon Nimmo, Joey Wendle, and Starling Marte). Further, there were four Mets who each collected two hits in the game (Marte, Francisco Lindor, Jeff McNeil, and Wendle).

Mets Lineup

1. Brandon Nimmo, LF
2. Starling Marte, RF
3. Franciso Lindor, SS
4. Pete Alonso, 1B
5. Brett Baty, 3B
6. DJ Stewart, DH
7. Jeff McNeil, 2B
8. Harrison Bader, CF
9. Tomás Nido, C

Adrian Houser is on the bump this afternoon for the Mets. Over three starts (15 1/3) innings this season, Houser has a 4.70 ERA, 4.40 FIP, 1.500 WHIP, and an 88 ERA+. Most of the damage to his season statistics was done in Atlanta in his second start where he allowed five runs from eight hits over five innings of work.

He bounced back nicely in his last start allowing only two runs from two hits (and five walks) over 5 1/3 innings of work. Houser faced the Dodgers once last season and allowed four runs (three earned) over 5 1/3 innings with no walks and six strikeouts.

The Dodgers have the following career numbers against Houser:

• Austin Barnes 0-2
• Mookie Betts 1-4, 2 BB, K
• Freddie Freeman 2-9, HR, 3 BB
• Teoscar Hernández 1-3, K
• Max Muncy 1-5, 3 K
• James Outman 0-2, 2 K
• Miguel Rojas 2-9, HR, 3 K
• Will Smith 0-3
• Chris Taylor 2-3, 2B

Dodgers Lineup

1. Mookie Betts, SS
2. Shohei Ohtnai, DH
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Will Smith, C
5. Max Muncy, 3B
6. Teoscar Hernández, LF
7. James Outman, CF
8. Andy Pages, RF
9. Gavin Lux, 2B

The Mets will not get out of town without facing the ace of the Dodgers staff; Tyler Glasnow. Glasnow has made five starts (29 innings) this season with a 3.72 ERA, 3.61 FIP, 0.966 WHIP, and a 114 ERA+. He is coming off of his worst start of the season against the Washington Nationals where he allowed six runs via eight hits and two walks over five innings of work. Before that start, Glasnow had 2.25 ERA (2.77 FIP) over his first four starts including a start against the Minnesota Twins where he struck out 14 batters over seven innings.

The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 0-6, 6 K
• Harrison Bader 1-7, K
• Francisco Lindor 1-10, 4 K
• Starling Marte 1-5, HR, 3 K
• Jeff McNeil 2-7, 2B, BB, K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-2, 3 BB
• DJ Stewart 0-3, 2 K
• Joey Wendle 0-1, BB, K

Game Notes

J.D. Martinez returned to the lineup for the St. Lucie Mets as he continues working his way toward a debut with the New York Mets. Martinez had two hits in his first two at-bats of the game, including a double.

According to manager Carlos Mendoza, J.D. Martinez will play for Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday and Wednesday. He may join the team as early as Friday.

Francisco Alvarez confirmed to media he will have surgery for his torn ligament on Thursday. He confirmed a six-to-eight week timeline setting up for an early-to-mid June return.

Brett Baty is set to return to the lineup after a hamstring issue had him miss some time without landing on the injured list. He did return on Saturday as a pinch hitter. He finished the game at third base.

The Mets announce that they’re placed reliever Brooks Raley on the 15-day injured list. Grant Hartwig was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Can the Mets limit walks today? The Mets pitchers allowed an absurd 10 walks in Saturday’s game with Jose Buttó contributing five as the starter. You cannot give a team like the Dodgers a chance with free passes to first base. Further, it taxes the entire pitching staff. Houser is coming off of a start where he allowed five walks and already has nine total on the season.
2. Keep the strikeouts coming. The ten walks yesterday did not crush the Mets because the Mets batters got the Dodgers to strike out 14 times. The big three at the top of the lineup went 4-for-7, with two doubles, three RBIs, and one strikeout. That means the rest of the lineup had 13 strikeouts including Outman, Pages, and Hernández who struck out three times each.
3. Starling Marte! Marte has been a savior for the Mets lineup this season. Since April 6, Marte has made 13 starts and has hit .322/.365/.509. Prior to April 5, before his most recent streak, he was slashing .192/.250/.346. Over his last five games, he has gone 7-for-24 with two doubles and two home runs, which are four of his overall six extra-base hits this season. He has now stolen bases in back-to-back games for the first time this season as well.

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