Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Cardinals play a makeup game in St. Louis at 5:15 p.m. on Monday…
Preview
How will the Mets look?
This would seem like a weirdly vague question without context, so here’s the context:
The road trip the Mets are currently on already featured a ridiculous scheduling quirk, and the makeup game they’re being forced to fly to St. Louis for made it worse.
Before the makeup game was on the schedule, the plan was for the Mets to fly from Los Angeles to Colorado and then back to the West Coast to take on the Mariners. But because of how absurd that was, they had a day off between the Angels and Rockies series. Now, that off day is gone.
Instead of being off, the Mets have the pleasure of playing an early night game against the Cardinals before again boarding a plane to go to Colorado.
And it’s fair to wonder how fresh they’ll be for a key game against one of the teams they’re fighting against for a playoff spot.
Can Pete Alonso come through in the clutch?
Alonso hurt the Mets badly during Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Angels.
Three times he came up with runners in scoring position, and three times he failed.
And the at-bats weren’t inspiring, with the end results being a ground out, a double play, and a first-pitch pop out.
Alonso is now hitting just .198/.331/.359 in 130 plate appearances this season with runners in scoring position.
His other clutch stats are also quite bad — a .636 OPS with two outs and runners in scoring position, a .603 OPS in late and close situations, and a .678 OPS when the game is tied.
Brandon Nimmo is starting to snap out of it
Nimmo had just three hits in 10 games over 39 at-bats before the Mets started their road trip, and he had slashed .077/.250/.077 during that span.
But he started to show signs against the Angels.
Nimmo reached base safely in all three games in Los Angeles, notching four hits, two walks, two runs scored, and a stolen base.
Edwin Diaz will likely get in the game
Because of how the Mets’ games have shaken out lately, with some lopsided wins and close losses, Diaz hasn’t pitched since July 30.
Diaz was warming up late on Sunday in the event the Mets tied the game or took the lead.
Now, after five days off, it stands to reason that Diaz could pitch in today’s game against the Cardinals no matter what the score is.
Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado are still struggling
The Cardinals’ most important offensive players are continuing to go through it.
Arenado has a .706 OPS (98 OPS+).
Goldschmidt has a .681 OPS (90 OPS+).
But even though the big sluggers are struggling, they have the pedigree to turn this game on its head.
The Mets should also be beware of old friend Tommy Pham, who has been tearing the cover off the ball since being traded back to St. Louis at the deadline.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the game be?
Francisco Lindor.
Lindor has a knack for stepping up when the Mets need him most, and today is one of those times.
What will Sean Manaea’s final line be?
5.0 innings pitched, two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out seven.
Which Cardinals player will be a thorn in Mets’ side?
Tommy Pham.
Because why not?
Source Agencies
