Wednesday, October 2, 2024 • 7:38 PM
American Family Field • Milwaukee, WI
LHP Sean Manaea (12-6, 3.47) vs. RHP Frankie Montas (7-11, 4.84)
ESPN

The Mets are one win away from the NLDS! The Mets traveled back to Milwaukee and took game one of the series on Tuesday. The Brewers scored first, then the Mets responded. Later, the Brewers took the lead, then the Mets responded big-time, scoring five runs with two outs to take the lead. At that point, the Mets locked up the Brewers for the rest of the game.

Tonight marks the first time the Mets will play in Milwaukee with a flipped script. It’s the Brewers who need to win now. The Brewers now have to deal with memories of past failures, like when the Diamondbacks won the Wild Card series in Milwaukee last season. How do the Brewers come out? How do the Mets respond?

Brad Penner-Imagn images

Mets lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Jose Iglesias – 2B
3. Mark Vientos – 3B
4. Brandon Nimmo – L.F
5. Pete Alonso – 1B
6. JD Martinez – DH
7. Starling Marte –RF
8. Tyrone Taylor – C.F
9. Francisco Alvarez -C

Sean Manaea has thrown 181 2/3 innings this season, surpassing his previous career high in his last start. He has a 3.47 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 1.084 WHIP and a 114 ERA+. He’s off to a rough start against the Brewers, who gave him six runs, five of them earned, in 3 2/3 innings. That Friday night game feels like a season ago after the last few days the Mets have had. The Brewers have the following career numbers against Manaea:

• Willy Adames 1-9, 2 BB, 3 K
• Jackson Chorio 1-3
• William Contreras 2-6, 2B, 2BB, 3K
• Sal Frelick 0-2, K
• Eric Haase 2-4, 2B, HR, K
• Rhys Hoskins 2-6, 2 HR, K
• Garrett Mitchell 1-1, 2B
• Joey Ortiz 0-2
• Blake Perkins 0-2
• Gary Sánchez 3-8, 2 2B, BB, K
• Brice Turang 3-3, 2B

Opposite arrangement

1. Jackson Chourio – L.F
2. Blake Perkins – C.F
3. William Contreras -C
4. Willy Adames – SS
5. Gary Sanchez – DH
6. Rhys Hoskins – 1B
7. Sal Frelick –RF
8. Joey Ortiz – 3B
9. Brice Turang – 2B

Frankie Montas has a 4.84 ERA, 4.71 FIP, 1.367 WHIP and an 89 ERA+ over 150 2/3 innings. As a member of the Brewers, he has a 4.55 ERA, 4.35 FIP, 1.256 WHIP and a 92 ERA+ over 57 1/3 innings. He started last Friday against the Mets (also against Sean Manaea) and allowed two runs on two hits over four innings. In his last three starts, he has allowed 13 runs, 12 of them earned, over 12 1/3 innings. The Mets have the following career grades against him:

• Pete Alonso 1-5, 2 K
• Francisco Alvarez 0-1, BB, K
• Jose Iglesias 2-9, 2 K
• Francisco Lindor 4-12, 2 2B, 4 BB, 4 K
• Starling Marte 5-8, K
• JD Martinez 2-10, 2B, 2BB, K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-5, 2 K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-1
• Luis Torrens 2-8, HR, 2 K
• Mark Vientos 1-2, HR, K
• Jesse Winker 2-8, 3 BB, 3 K

Game notes

The Mets will host one watch the party at Citi Field on Thursday if there is a Game 3.

Mark your calendars, people. The OMG remix with Pitbull and Silvestre Dangond will be released on October 11.

Tobias Myers will start for the Brewers if there is a Game 3.

Edwin Diaz “feels great” and is ready to pitch tonight.

Paul BlackbrandThe 2024 season is over. He’s still having problems after his spinal fluid leaked a few weeks ago.

Three things to pay attention to

1. The brewers’ approach. On Tuesday afternoon, the Brewers came out of the gate swinging on the first pitches. They were aggressive on the basepaths – it felt like they had to grab an extra base every chance they got. There were a few innings where it felt like the Brewers started the inning with a runner on second base. Once the Mets settled down after their big fifth inning, they were able to nullify this strategy. Will the Brewers do more of the same tonight? Will they revert to last weekend’s strategy of just getting on base and stealing bases?
2. Attacking the Brewers Bullpen. The Brewers had to retire their bullpen early Tuesday after the Mets defeated Peralta after four innings. The Mets then scored five runs against Payamps and Ashby, two of the better pitchers in the Brewers bullpen, which has been a strength for them this season. The Brewers still have a lot of strong, fresh weapons available for tonight’s game, but what the Mets did on Tuesday helped turn last week’s narrative around.
3. Mark Vientos. Mark Vientos went 2-for-4 in his postseason debut with two runs scored and two RBIs. Vientos also hit a two-run home run against Frankie Montas last Friday when things looked bleak for the Mets. Does he have another big moment left in him?

Let’s go Mets!