Series Preview: Surging Mets Host Blue Jays
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The New York Mets (30-27) came home from a disappointing road trip and took out their frustration on the Philadelphia Phillies, sweeping a three-game series against their division rival. Mark Canha and the starting rotation led the way in that series, dominating that matchup from start to finish. The Mets will look to continue that against the Toronto Blue Jays (30-27), who are now 9.5 games back of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. Here are some important notes to look at for each of the three pitching matchups.
Friday, June 2, 2023: RHP Chris Bassitt (5-4, 3.80 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (2-2, 4.80 ERA)
Chris Bassitt is set to make his first start against the Mets since leaving in the offseason. The right-hander was dominant in his first three starts in May, allowing zero runs during that stretch. Bassitt had a complete game shutout against the Atlanta Braves on May 12, his fifth win of the season. The 34-year-old had one of his worst starts of the season against the Minnesota Twins last Saturday, surrendering seven runs on nine hits in just four innings of work. Bassitt made 16 starts at Citi Field in 2022, going 6-6 with a 2.95 ERA in 100 2/3 innings.
Justin Verlander was fantastic against the Cleveland Guardians back on May 21, allowing one run in eight strong innings. The right-hander failed to build off that at Coors Field, surrendering six runs on nine hits in five innings against the Colorado Rockies last Saturday. Verlander has had a very up-and-down start to his time with the Mets, much thanks to a shoulder injury right before Opening Day. The 40-year-old will look to bounce back against the Blue Jays, a team he is 4-6 against with a 4.29 ERA in 15 stars throughout his career. Verlander threw a no-hitter in September of 2019 against Toronto, back when he was a member of the Houston Astros.
Saturday, June 3, 2023: RHP José Berríos (5-4, 3.86 ERA) vs. RHP Tylor Megill (5-3, 4.67 ERA)
José Berríos has been much improved in 2023 after leading the league in 199 hits allowed and 100 earned runs a season ago. The right-hander is down to 8.7 hits allowed per nine, a significant improvement from his 10.4 hits allowed per nine in 2022. He has done an excellent job in his last two starts, allowing one run on a total of nine hits in his last 12 2/3 innings. Berríos is at his best when he is able to avoid the home run ball. He gave up a long ball in five of his six starts in the month of May, only avoiding the home run in his last start against the Twins. Berríos has had his fair share of trouble on the road, owning a 4.83 ERA in 41 innings this season.
It looked as if Tylor Megill had rediscovered his rhythm in the middle of May, giving up a total of three runs across two starts against the Washington Nationals and the Tampa Bay Rays. Unfortunately, that was not the case for the right-hander, who had two rough outings on the team’s most recent road trip. Megill followed up a tough start against the Chicago Cubs by allowing six runs, four of which were earned, on 10 hits in just four innings against the Rockies last Sunday. That raised his ERA to 4.67 ERA, which was down to 3.88 as recently as May 18. Megill will look to bounce back at home, where he is 3-1 with a 3.29 ERA in 27 1/3 innings this season.
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Sunday, June 4, 2023: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (5-2, 4.56 ERA) vs. TBD
Yusei Kikuchi struggled in the first season of his three-year, $36 million contract with the Blue Jays, finishing the 2022 season with a 6-7 record and a 5.19 ERA in 100 2/3 innings. The left-hander has shown flashes of improvement this season, as he has six starts with two runs or less allowed. While Kikuchi has performed better, the home run ball has hurt him on more than few occasions. The 31-year-old has given up 15 home runs in 56 1/3 innings, only ranking better than Jordan Lyles (16) of the Kansas City Royals. Kikuchi will be making his seventh road start of the year, pitching to a 3-1 record with a 5.23 ERA in the previous six.
The Mets have yet to announce a starter for the series finale, though the team is considering Kodai Senga on four days’ rest. He has only pitched on extra rest this season, so that would be an adjustment for the 30-year-old rookie. The right-hander is coming off his most dominant start of the season, throwing seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts against the Phillies on Tuesday. Senga surrendered one run or less in three of his five starts in the month of May, dropping his ERA from 4.15 to 3.44 during that stretch.
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