A fairly significant series is ahead for the New York Mets, to say the least. After dropping the final game at home with the Colorado Rockies, a game in which the Mets had just three hits, they will look to get back on track starting tonight.
The Mets happen to be, hostin,g by far the best team in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers are 89-38 and pose one awfully tough challenge to what is a great Mets team. With a three-game lead on the Atlanta Braves, this is one important three-game series for the Mets that will take place at Citi Field.
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Starting pitchers for this series:
Starting tonight, the Mets will have Taijuan Walker and be going against Andrew Heaney. Walker enters this one with a 10-3 record and a 3.38 ERA. Heaney has recorded a whopping 10 strikeouts in each of his last two starts. Heaney does average less than five innings pitched per start, it will be important for the Mets to get some runs across in the early going tonight.
The second of three in this series features an incredible starting pitching duel. Jacob deGrom is set to go up against Tyler Anderson. In game three, the Mets will have Chris Bassitt. The probable for the Dodgers in the final game is undecided.
The Mets need more from their lineup
Simply put, for the Mets to compete with the Dodgers in this series, they must get more from their bats. Going off Sunday’s performance especially, the Mets need base hits. From there, to win this series against the Dodgers, the long ball will be vital.
After a red-hot stretch, Francisco Lindor cooled off in a big way this last week. He saw his batting average drop from .274 to .264. He has gone hitless in the last five games (0-for-19). Lindor has had an exceptional second year with the Mets. However, the Mets will need Lindor to be at his best in this prime series with the Dodgers to win it.
The Mets’ top addition at the trade deadline, Daniel Vogelbach, has gone hitless in his last 10 at-bats. With Heaney and Anderson both being left-handed pitchers, it will be interesting to see what Vogelbach’s usage in this series is. It will likely lead to some chances for Darin Ruf. He has not had a base hit since August 12th. Ruf will have to end that streak in this series to bolster the Mets lineup.
Following a cold streak of his own, Mets All-Star Pete Alonso has had eight hits over the last five games. The Mets will need a long ball or two from their top power hitter in this crucial series.
Brandon Nimmo got on base seven times for the Mets batting order in the four-game series with the Rockies. Continuing to work pitchers and finding ways to get on base will as always be significant for the Mets’ leadoff hitter, especially in this series with the Dodgers.
After some early rookie struggles, Brett Baty has improved with a hit in each of the last four games he has played. Hopefully, he builds on that in this series, as the Mets will need it from their talented rookie.
The Mets must have Jeff McNeil, and Mark Canha keep up the tremendous production they have both provided as of late. Starling Marte has consistently given the Mets lineup a jolt. Going up against two left-handers the first two games, Canha will have his opportunities.
Across the board, the Mets lineup will have to raise their level of play in this prime series at home. The goal should ultimately be for the Mets to win two games and take this series. The Mets should prove that they belong with the best team in baseball currently.