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

The Mets are preparing for a wild weekend of baseball. They enter today’s game tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second Wild Card spot, with the tiebreaker in hand and two games left. The Atlanta Braves are one game behind these two clubs. Both the Mets and Braves are trying to secure playoff spots this weekend to avoid their doubleheader on Monday. Every game is now vital!

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Mets lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Mark Vientos – 3B
3. Brandon Nimmo –LF
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 120 ERA+ over 178 innings this year. Since late July, he has posted a 2.63 ERA and 3.13 FIP over 72 innings and 82 strikeouts. Manaea has thrown at least 6 2/3 innings in eight consecutive starts.

Since lowering his arm angle, Manaea has established himself as an ace, and the Mets need him to lead the team tonight more than ever.

The Brewers have the following career numbers against him:

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

Opposing formation

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

The Brewers send Frankie Montas tonight, who has thrown 146 2/3 innings between the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers this season with a 4.85 ERA, 4.66 FIP, 1.370 WHIP and an 89 ERA+. Since reaching the trade deadline, he has performed better as a Brewer, posting a 4.56 ERA, 4.20 FIP, 1.256 WHIP and a 93 ERA+ over 53 1/3 innings pitched.

Montas is trying to provide positive momentum in the offseason. In his last outing, he allowed seven earned runs over 2 2/3 innings against the D-Backs. Montas has struck out 10 batters in two of his last four starts.

The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 1-3, K
• Jose 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, President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said explained that MLB will not allow additional players in September doubleheaders, potentially putting the Mets in a compromising position if they clinch a postseason spot in Monday’s doubleheader. Additionally, he explained that any player who moves to the minor leagues must stay there for 10 to 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 its ticket to the playoffs in Milwaukee in 2022, 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 13th in Philadelphia, returned briefly later in that series on September 15th and has been out since then. He was ready to take a hard hit on Tuesday night, so hopefully those extra days of rest helped Lindor. He put together an MVP-caliber season for the Mets, hitting .271/.342/.494 with a 136 OPS+ and amazing defense.
2. The mood. The 2024 Mets are the Vibes team. They pose for photos with the OMG sign after home runs, the starters have their own celebration when they have a good performance, and overall the team just seems to be having fun. They have faced a lot of adversity this year and have overcome them with smiles and jokes. Hopefully the Mets emerge as that team tonight and aren’t under the pressure that this series brings for additional games in another city on Monday. The tone for this weekend will be set tonight.
3. Watch the scoreboard. The San Diego Padres and Diamondbacks begin an important series tonight. Yu Darvish faces Merrill Kelly In one game, Arizona feels like it has to win. The Braves also begin a three-game set with the Kansas City Royals Max Fried And Brady Singer Toe bump on Friday night. Check out our article on all of the Mets’ possible playoff scenarios!