The Mets hope to put the spurs to the Rangers (2024)

After winning five straight games, as well as 11 of their last 15, the Mets (33-37) are headed to the Lone-Star State for a three-game series with the Texas Rangers (33-38). Owners of almost exactly the same record, the discrepancy of their divisions is shown by the Rangers being in second place, with the Mets occupying fourth.

The Rangers are also home to two former Met pitchers, Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer. Both won a World Series title with the Rangers last season, but neither has pitched this season. deGrom is recovering from Tommy John Surgery and may be ready to go as early as August, but that seems optimistic for a pitcher of his age. Scherzer, dealing with a thumb injury, is currently rehabbing and is due back relatively soon, but not soon enough for a reunion with his old club.

The Rangers could use either pitcher, but the offense has been more of an issue in the midst of a rough month in which they’ve only won six games. They are coming off a sweep from the first place Mariners, which put a damper on taking two of three from the Dodgers at the end of last week. Since June 2, the Rangers have only scored more than three runs thrice, and scoring two or fewer seven times.

The Mets, on the other hand, are finally looking like the team that many hoped they could be. A big piece of that has been the red hot bat of J.D. Martinez, who reached base ten straight times over the weekend before finally being retired late in Sunday’s game. Sean Manaea, José Quintana, and Tylor Megill all looked good over the weekend and, aside from yesterday’s near meltdown spearheaded by Jake Diekman, the bullpen has been solid, with Edwin Díaz looking like himself after his IL stint.

Monday, June 17: David Peterson vs Jon Gray at 8:05pm on SNY

Peterson (2024): 16. 2 IP, 6 K, 5 BB, 1 HR, 4.32 ERA, 4.47 FIP, 112 ERA-

Peterson is making his fourth big league start of the season, and he’s been perfectly cromulent thus far for the Mets. He’s gone at least five innings in all three starts, with the team’s only loss coming in his first game back where he gave up just two earned runs en route to a 10-3 trouncing by the Dodgers. Peterson of 2024 very much looks like the Peterson of the past few seasons, except that it seems like he’s been able to stop the big innings and walk-dominant starts that would kneecap him in the past.

Gray (2024): 62.1 IP, 63 K, 19 BB, 3 HR, 2.17 ERA, 2.67 FIP, 54 ERA-

Gray is coming off of a couple of weird appearances. In his last start, he went just three innings and threw 65 pitches while giving up just one run. He got into a jam in the third inning, which he escaped, but which ended his game. His previous appearance on June 8th, his first back from the IL, was a relief appearance where he looked quite strong. Overall, he’s having a good year, putting up a 2.17 ERA over 62.1 innings, while being slightly below his career walk rate and right on his career strikeout rate.

Tuesday, June 18: Luis Severino vs Michael Lorenzen at 8:05pm on SNY

Severino (2024): 78.0 IP, 60 K, 30 BB, 6 HR, 3.12 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 81 ERA-

Severino is making fools of those who doubted his ability to return to his earlier success. Over his last five starts, Severino has really settled in, with his last three especially being impressive. In his appearance against the Nationals on June 5th, Severino went eight innings of one-run ball with no walks and four strikeouts. He only gave up one earned run in his most recent start as well against the Marlins, although he gave up a home run and walked three, so he was not nearly as sharp as he was the week prior.

Lorenzen (2024): 66.0 IP, 47 K, 29 BB, 8 HR, 2.86 ERA, 4.71 FIP, 71 ERA-

Lorenzen is on his way to his best year as a starter, after beginning his career in the Reds’ bullpen for his first seven seasons. Since making the transition to starting, Lorezen has been a perfectly acceptable back end of the rotation starter, putting up ERAs below four and a half while walking more and striking out less than you’d like. While 2024 has seen his rate stats more or less stay steady, he’s been limiting the damage, as evidenced by a FIP almost two runs higher than his ERA.

Wednesday, June 19: Sean Manaea vs Andrew Heaney at 8:05pm on SNY

Manaea (2024): 65.2 IP, 67 K, 26 BB, 7 HR, 4.11 ERA, 3.78 FIP, 107 ERA-

After a couple of rough starts against Arizona and Philadelphia, Manaea settled in against the Padres, giving up just one earned run - a solo home run - and one walk in five innings of seven-strikeout ball. Manaea has not been going as deep into games as anyone would hope, only getting into the sixth inning five times in 13 starts, but the results have been there more often than not. He’s a tough pitcher to throw third in this series, as the bullpen may already been taxed after eight games without an off-day.

Heaney (2024): 66.2 IP, 62 K, 18 BB, 10 HR, 4.19 ERA, 4.19 FIP, 104 ERA-

Heaney is having a very Heaney year, unless you’re looking at his 2-8 record, which looks far worse than his performance has actually been. Heaney is a guy from whom you know what you’re going to get: a 4ish ERA, a decent walk rate, and too many home runs. Also, he currently has the exact same ERA and FIP, which is a wonderfully rare thing to stumble across.