MMO Game Thread: Mets vs Rays, 7:10 PM

Wednesday, September 23, 2020 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Tyler Glasnow (4-1, 4.21) vs. RHP Michael Wacha (1-3, 6.75)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM

Yesterday it felt like the Mets season was over. Today – not so much. The Mets beat the Rays yesterday and the Marlins/Phillies both lost. The Mets now find themselves only 2.5 games back in the Wild Card and three games back from the automatic playoff berth with second place in the division. Time is still slipping away from the Mets but there is a path for them to back themselves into the playoffs. What a wild year it’s been.

Mets Lineup

1. Brandon Nimmo– CF
2. Michael Conforto – DH
3. Jeff McNeil – RF
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Dominic Smith – LF
6. Robinson Cano – 2B
7. Todd Frazier – 3B
8. Andres Gimenez– SS
9. Wilson Ramos – C

Rays Lineup

1. Yoshi Tsutsugo – DH
2. Brandon Lowe – 2B
3. Randy Arozarena – LF
4. Nate Lowe – 1B
5. Hunter Renfroe – RF
6. Joey Wendle – 3B
7. Willy Adames – SS
8. Manuel Margot – CF
9. Mike Zunino – C

Working against the Mets – they are at the part of their rotation that has struggled this season. Michael Wacha will get the start for the Mets. In seven games, six starts, he has pitched 28 innings with a 6.75 ERA, 5.04 FIP, 1.679 WHIP and 63 ERA+. He’s coming off one of his best performances of the season, a relief outing in Philly, where he allowed one run from five hits over four innings in a game the Mets won 5-4. That game knocked his ERA down from a season-high 7.50. The Rays have the following numbers against Wacha:

• Hunter Renfroe 1-1, 2B, 2 BB
• Manuel Margot 2-9, 2B, K
• Mike Zunino 0-1, BB
• Kevin Kiermaier 0-5, BB, 2 K

The Mets bats will get a look at Tyler Glasnow tonight. Through 10 starts and 51 1/3 innings this year he has a 4.21 ERA, 3.46 FIP, 1.188 WHIP and 102 ERA+. Glasnow had a bumpy start to September allowing seven runs over 12 1/3 innings in two starts but bounced back in his last start allowing only one run over five innings while striking out 10.

The Mets have the following numbers against Glasnow:

• Brandon Nimmo 0-0, 2 BB
• Robinson Chirinos 1-2, K
• Jeff McNeil 0-0, BB
• Michael Conforto 0-3, 2 BB, K
• Amed Rosario 0-2, K

Game Notes

• Dellin Betances will be at Citi Field tonight, where he will be evaluated by the staff according to Deesha Thosar. Betances could be activated tonight or tomorrow.
• Tomas Nido will join the team in Washington tomorrow for their final series of the season against the Nationals. Nido has spent the last month on the injured list.
• The New York Mets players are wearing custom cleats beginning with tonight’s game and auctioning them off to raise money for minor leaguers. Jacob deGrom wore custom Tom Seaver cleats during his bullpen session, while J.D. Davis is wearing custom Mr. Met cleats.
• Pete Alonso and Robinson Cano are also planning on wearing custom cleats, all of which can be purchased by auction at mlb.com/auctions.
• The Mets own the best Interleague winning percentage in NL history. Their .515 winning percentage (217-204) is the best mark in the Senior Circuit vs. AL clubs since Interleague play began in 1997. The Mets are 9-10 vs. the AL this year.

Let’s Go Mets!