MMO Game Thread: Guardians vs. Mets, 1:40 P.M. (Game 1)
Sunday, May 21, 2023 • 1:40 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, New York
RHP Tanner Bibee (1-1, 3.22) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (3-2, 4.88)
WPIX
The New York Mets look to extend their winning streak to four games and get above .500 this afternoon when they take on the Cleveland Guardians for the first game of a doubleheader. Yesterday afternoon’s game was washed out, which was probably a good thing for the Mets as their bullpen had been overtaxed the last three games. Now we have a split-admission doubleheader probable lineup for the ages as Max Scherzer pitches in the afternoon followed by Justin Verlander tonight.
The last time New York was in action, Friday night, was another incredibly exciting win for the Mets who were down 3-0 early. Pete Alonso tied the game with a grand slam in the seventh inning. The baby Mets (specifically Francisco Álvarez and Brett Baty) had home runs as well and eventually the Mets won the game via a walk-off single from Francisco Lindor.
Mets’ Lineup
https://twitter.com/Mets/status/1660297041983963138?s=20
Max Scherzer has pitched 27 2/3 innings over six games posting a 4.88 ERA, 5.65 FIP, 1.301 WHIP, and an 86 ERA+. He is coming off of one his better starts this season where he held the Washington Nationals to one run via two hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings.
He has now hit a season high of six strikeouts in three different starts – those have also been his best starts (this is excluding the start against the Dodgers, but he was heading toward at least six strikeouts before he was ejected). The Guardians have the following career numbers against Scherzer:
Guardians’ Lineup
Cleveland Guardians Starting Lineup 5/21
1. Kwan OF
2. Rosario SS
3. Ramirez 3B
4. Naylor DH
5. Bell 1B
6. Arias OF
7. Freeman 2B
8. Zunino C
9. Straw OFhttps://t.co/9qdcv6EMaO — 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 MLB (@LineStarMLB) May 21, 2023
The Mets’ bats will get a look at rookie Tanner Bibee. In his first four major-league starts he has has tossed 22 1/3 innings posting a 3.22 ERA, 2.71 FIP, 1.030 WHIP, and a 133 ERA+. Bibee had a rough start against the Detroit Tigers back on May 8 where he allowed four runs via seven hits and four walks over 3 2/3 innings. He bounced back in a big way against the Angels his time out, holding them to only one run from two hits over 7 2/3 innings while striking out seven.
Game Notes
Relief pitcher Josh Walker will serve as the Mets’ 27th man for the doubleheader for each game.
Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com, the Mets will be the first team to start pitchers who have each won three-plus Cy Young awards in both ends of the doubleheader in Scherzer and Verlander. Coincidentally enough, the only team to start two pitchers who even won two-plus Cy Young awards were also the Mets: Pedro Martínez and Johan Santana in 2008.
The Mets, along with all of Major League Baseball, will celebrate Armed Services Weekend. The team will wear military inspired caps and socks for the entire series against the Guardians.
Three Things To Watch For
Source: metsmerizedonline.com
