The New York Mets have finished the first month of the season with a 15-14 record.
After an 0-5 start the Mets bounced back in a big way to claw and scratch their way to a game over .500 heading into the month of May.
Tonight the Mets are set to face Shota Imanaga who has been great through his first five starts in the majors. Imanaga currently sits at a 0.98 ERA with 28 strikeouts through 27 and 2/3rds innings pitched. He has a devastating split-finger that mixes well with his fastball, that leads him to have one of the highest rated chase percentages in the league. Another low ball pitcher the Mets will face will be a difficult task to get runs across.
For the Mets Jose Butto will take the hill as he looks to avenge his tough start against Saint Louis. Butto has been reliable for the Mets this year posting a 2.86 ERA and 25 strikeouts through five starts. Butto has been able to get hitters swing and miss as he is in the 89th percentile in whiff percentage, but in his last start made a few mistakes that cost him in the end. The biggest thing for Butto tonight is to locate pitches, he cannot make the same mistakes he made in his previous start.
Keys to the game:
The Mets are going to have to be selective at the plate tonight. Imanaga only has given up three walks through five starts due to the way he gets hitters to chase. Look for the Mets to hunt fastballs to get runners on base and make Imanaga make a mistake with his split-finger.