Game chat: Reds vs. Mets, 7:10 p.m.

Friday, September 6, 2024 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Fernando Cruz (3-8, 4.99) vs. LHP Sean Manaea (11-5, 3.35)
SNY

It's a brand new September! The Mets extended their winning streak to seven games with a sweep of the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night, and every team they're chasing in the National League wild card race lost on Thursday. The Mets are now tied for last place with the Atlanta Braves and just three games behind the first place San Diego Padres. The rest of the month is going to be wild!

Mets lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Brandon Nimmo – CF
3. Mark Vientos – 3B
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Jesse Winker – LF
6. JD Martinez – DH
7. Starling Marte – HF
8. Jeff McNeil – 2B
9. Francisco Alvarez – C

Sean Manaea has pitched 150 2/3 innings in 27 games, compiling a 3.35 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 1.115 WHIP and 118 ERA+. Manaea is off to a great start against the Chicago White Sox, shutting them out over seven innings. In his last seven games, he has a 2.42 ERA and 2.72 FIP over 44 2/3 innings, striking out 53 batters. He has gone seven innings in five of his last seven starts. Manaea's second start of the season was against the Cincinnati Reds, where he allowed one run over five innings.

The Reds have the following career numbers against Manaea:

• Will Benson 0-1
• Elly De La Cruz 1-2, K
• Santiago Espinal 0:1, 1:0
• Jake Fraley 0-2, 3BBs
• Ty France 2-10, 2K
• TJ Friedl 1-2, K
• Jonathan India 0-3
• Lukas Maile 0-3, BB, K
• Amed Rosario 4-8, 2B
• Spencer Steer 0-4, 2K
• Tyler Stephenson 1-2, BB

Opponent formation

1. Jonathan India – 2B
2. Elly De La Cruz – SS
3. Tyler Stephenson – C
4. Spencer Steer – LF
5. Ty France – 1B
6. TJ Friedl – CF
7. Santiago Espinal – 3B
8. Amed Rosario – DH
9. Jake Fraley – HF

Fernando Cruz makes just his third start of the season as an opener tonight after spending most of his time in the bullpen. In 63 games, he has pitched 57 2/3 innings with a 4.99 ERA, 3.26 FIP, 1.353 WHIP and 86 ERA+. In his last two appearances, both of which were starts, he has pitched a total of five innings while allowing one run and three hits and 11 strikeouts. He has thrown 42 pitches both times, which is a season high. He had one appearance earlier this season against the Mets in which he allowed one unearned run in one inning while allowing no hits and three walks.

The Mets have the following career numbers against Cruz:

• Pete Alonso 0-2
• Francisco Álvarez 0:2, K
• Harrison Bader 0:0, BB
• Francisco Lindor 0-1, BB
• JD Martinez 0-2
• Jeff McNeil 0-2, K
• Mark Vientos 0-1
• Jesse Winker 0-2, K

Game Notes

manager Carlos Mendoza told reporter The Paul Blackburn will start on Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays. The right-hander was placed on the injured list on August 25 with a bruised hand after being hit by a line drive against the San Diego Padres. He made a rehab start at Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, pitching 6 2/3 innings with one run and four strikeouts.

Kodai Senga will throw a Bullpen session tomorrow while he recovers from a calf strain and hopes to be back before the end of the year. He was placed on the injured list on July 27 after making his season debut against the Braves a day earlier.

Three things to look out for

1. Reds Bullpen Usage. Four relievers in the Reds bullpen have not pitched since Monday (Justin Wilson, Sam Moll, Emilio Pagan, Carson Spires). If Cruz can hit the same pitches as in his previous starts, they can expect him to pitch two to four innings. The Reds will then have to rely on their bullpen relatively early in the game after he is taken out of the game. One pitcher to keep an eye on in particular is Spires, who threw 65 pitches in 2 1/3 innings on Monday.
2. Francisco Lindor. It's a 2024 game, so of course we're watching Lindor. In his last three games, he's hit 6-of-12 with two doubles and a home run, scoring four runs. In his 15-game hitting streak, he's hit 23-of-63 with eight doubles and six home runs. During that span, he's posted a batting average of .365/.403/.778, while his fWAR is 7.3 fWAR.
3. Jesse Winker. On August 31, Winker hit 3 for 3, hitting a home run and hitting two RBIs in a game the Mets won 5-3. He got his next hit on Wednesday, hitting a grand slam in the first inning in his first at-bat. It's Winker's season in the home stretch!

Let's go, Mets!