05/06/24 Mets (Manaea) Cardinals (Gibson) 7:45 PM SNY
The New York Mets look to get back on track this week starting in Saint Louis.
After a series in which the Mets got swept in Tampa Bay the three game set against the cardinals is one that can shape up the rest of the month.
Starting this Friday the Mets have 10 games scheduled against national league east opponents. While the team has struggled over the last week the Cardinals have also struggled. They are currently 15-19 on the season, which is not very far behind the Mets 16-18 record. The Cardinals are currently 5-5 in their last ten games and were able to take two out of three games against the Mets back in April.
For the Cardinals Kyle Gibson will get the start this evening. Gibson has gone at least six innings in all six starts this year posting a 3.79 ERA with 29 strikeouts. He did not face the Mets in the previous series, but he has a 3-3 record with an ERA of 3.97 and 42 strikeouts in 9 appearances versus the Mets in his career. Gibson has been an average pitcher in the major leagues. Nothing he does wows you but he is able to use his pitches effectively and you know what you will get out of him every start. He is a low ball sinker style pitcher that is able to mix in his cutter effectively to jam left handed batters, and uses his sweeper to get right handed batters to chase.
The Mets will have Sean Manaea take the ball in game one of the series. Same thing with Gibson goes for Manaea, you know what you are going to get from him. Manaea has not given up a lot of runs, but constantly has put himself behind the eight ball giving up early walks and occasionally has a hard time putting hitters away. In Manaea’s first six starts he carries a 3.07 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 29 and a 1/3 innings pitched. He has only had one relief appearance against the Cardinals, so new territory for him as he looks to keep the Cardinals sluggers in check.