Sarah: Juan Soto is hot, but can he carry this lineup when half the bullpen is on the IL? And does Nolan McLean have enough gas left in the tank after that rough outing yesterday?
Tom: The injury report is getting longer by the day. We are looking at a critical series finale against San Francisco with everything on the line for pride, if not playoff positioning.
Sarah: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Sarah, and this is your daily home for New York Mets baseball analysis. Joining me as always is our lead analyst, Tom. Tom, how you doing today?
Tom: I’m good, Sarah. Just trying to process what happened last night. A 9-5 loss to the Giants really stings, especially when we had the momentum going into it.
Sarah: It does. So here is what we are covering today. First, we break down the pitching matchup for Game Three of this series. Second, we look at the offensive keys, focusing on Francisco Alvarez and Juan Soto. And third, we tackle the elephant in the room: the bullpen injuries and who steps up tonight.
Tom: Exactly. The Mets are sitting at 64-78, fifth in the NL East, while the Giants are 59-84 in fourth in the West. This series is tied one apiece. Tonight’s game decides the series winner.
Sarah: Let’s jump right into Segment One: The Series and the Pitching Probables. Tom, you mentioned the momentum shift from yesterday. How do you view the pitching matchup for today's finale?
Tom: Well, Sarah, it’s tough to ignore the context. Yesterday, Rafael Devers and Christian Koss both homered twice, powering San Francisco to that 9-5 win. But before that, Friday night, Nolan McLean was solid, leading the Mets to a 10-6 victory where Francisco Alvarez hit two of New York's five home runs.
Sarah: Right. So we know McLean can pitch deep into games. Who is starting today for New York? Is it McLean looking for redemption, or do they go with someone else?
Tom: Based on the rotation availability, it looks like Sean Manaea is likely on the mound. Remember, we talked about Manaea and Kodai Senga in our previews earlier this week. Manaea has been a steady presence, even if the team’s record doesn’t fully reflect his value.
Sarah: And for San Francisco? Do we have info on their starter?
Tom: The brief doesn't specify a probable for the Giants, but given their recent success against us, they’ll be confident. They just swept the first two games of this mini-series effectively.
Sarah: So, Manaea versus the Giants' offense. Given that the Giants scored nine runs yesterday, the margin for error is razor-thin. Tom, what’s the key for Manaea to keep this close?
Tom: It has to be command early. You cannot give up those big innings like we saw with Devers and Koss. If Manaea can navigate the first three innings without giving up more than two runs, he gives the Mets a chance. It’s about efficiency.
Sarah: Efficiency is the name of the game when your bullpen is decimated. That brings us to the reality of this roster. Let's stick with us; there’s a lot more to unpack regarding these injuries.
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