Game Chat: Mets vs. Brewers, 7:38 p.m

Wednesday, October 2, 2024 • 7:38 p.m
American Family Field • Milwaukee, WI
LHP Sean Manaea (12-6, 3.47) vs. RHP Frankie Montas (7-11, 4.84)
ESPN

The Mets are one win away from the NLDS! The Mets traveled back to Milwaukee and took Game one of the series on Tuesday. The Brewers scored first, then the Mets responded. The Brewers later took the lead, then the Mets responded violently, scoring five runs with two outs to take the lead. At that point, the Mets shut out the Brewers for the remainder of the game.

Tonight is the first time the Mets have played in Milwaukee with a reverse script. Now the Brewers have to win. The Brewers are now dealing with memories of past failures, like when the Diamondbacks won the Wild Card Series in Milwaukee last season. How do the Brewers come out? How do the Mets respond?

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Mets lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Jose Iglesias – 2B
3. Mark Vientos – 3B
4. Brandon Nimmo –LF
5. Pete Alonso – 1B
6. JD Martinez – DH
7. Starling Marte – RF
8. Tyrone Taylor – C.F
9. Francisco Alvarez – C

Sean Manaea has thrown 181 2/3 innings this season, surpassing his previous career high in his last start. He has an ERA of 3.47, a FIP of 3.83, a WHIP of 1.084 and an ERA+ of 114. He had a rough start against the Brewers, allowing him to score six runs, five earned, over 3 2/3 innings marked. However, after the last few days the Mets have had, it feels like Friday night's game was a season ago. The Brewers have the following career numbers against Manaea:

• Willy Adames 1-9, 2 BB, 3 K
• Jackson Chourio 1-3
• William Contreras 2-6, 2B, 2 BB, 3 K
• Sal Frelick 0-2, K
• Eric Haase 2-4, 2B, HR, K
• Rhys Hoskins 2-6, 2 HR, K
• Garrett Mitchell 1-1, 2B
• Joey Ortiz 0-2
• Blake Perkins 0-2
• Gary Sanchez 3-8, 2 2B, BB, K
• Brice Turang 3-3, 2B

Opposing formation

1. Jackson Chourio –LF
2. Blake Perkins – C.F
3. William Contreras – C
4. Willy Adames – SS
5. Gary Sanchez – DH
6. Rhys Hoskins – 1B
7. Sal Frelick – RF
8. Joey Ortiz – 3B
9. Brice Turang – 2B

Frankie Montas has an ERA of 4.84, a FIP of 4.71, a WHIP of 1.367 and an ERA+ of 89 over 150 2/3 innings. As a member of the Brewers, he has a 4.55 ERA, 4.35 FIP, 1.256 WHIP and 92 ERA+ over 57 1/3 innings. He started last Friday against the Mets (also against Sean Manaea) and allowed two runs on two hits over four innings. In his last three starts, he allowed 13 runs, 12 earned, over 12 1/3 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 1-5, 2 K
• Francisco Alvarez 0-1, BB, K
• Jose Iglesias 2-9, 2K
• Francisco Lindor 4-12, 2 2B, 4 BB, 4 K
• Starling Marte 5-8, K
• JD Martinez 2-10, 2B, 2BB, K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-5, 2 K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-1
• Luis Torrens 2-8, HR, 2 K
• Mark Vientos 1-2, HR, K
• Jesse Winker 2-8, 3BB, 3K

Game notes

The Mets will host Watch party at Citi Field on Thursday, when there is a Game 3.

Mark your calendars, People. The OMG remix with Pitbull and Silvestre Dangond will be released on October 11th.

Tobias Myers starts for the Brewers if there is a Game 3.

Edwin Diaz “Feels great” and ready to pitch tonight.

Paul BlackburnThe 2024 season is over. He's still having problems after a spinal fluid leak a few weeks ago.

Three things to pay attention to

1. The Brewers approach. On Tuesday afternoon, the Brewers came out of the gate with momentum on their first few throws. They were aggressive on the base paths – it felt like they took every opportunity to capture an additional base. There was a multi-inning stretch where it felt like the Brewers were starting the inning with a runner on second. After the Mets calmed down after their big fifth inning, they were able to nix that strategy. Will the Brewers do more of the same tonight? Do they fall back to last weekend's strategy of just getting on base and stealing the bases?
2. Attacking the Brewers bullpen. The Brewers had to go to their bullpen early Tuesday after the Mets struck out Peralta after four innings. The Mets then scored five runs against Payamps and Ashby, two of the better pitchers in the Brewers' bullpen, which has been a strength for them this season. The Brewers still have plenty of strong, fresh talent available for today's game, but what the Mets did on Tuesday helped turn last week's story around.
3. Mark Vientos. Mark Vientos went 2-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs in his postseason debut. Vientos also hit a two-run home run against Frankie Montas last Friday when things were looking bleak for the Mets. Does he have another big moment left in him?

Let's go, Mets!