The New York Mets will start Justin Hagenman tonight against Tampa Bay as they try to squeeze out a series win.
The New York Mets have a chance to win a rubber game and get a series win against the Tampa Bay Rays tonight, which would break a three-series losing streak in that department. They’ll have to do it despite a disadvantageous pitching matchup, though, as Justin Hagenman will make his season debut after fracturing a rib in spring training.
Hagenman was suht down from throwing for ten weeks, and he described the comeback process as difficult, to say the least.
“It was just a unique [injury],” Hagenman said after he was activated, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. “You kind of just have to wait for the bone to heal. It took a lot of time, which is probably the longest I have taken off from throwing.”
Hagenman will be inserted into the Mets rotation tonight, the idea being to allow extra rest for Christian Scott. It’s that time of year from some of the Mets younger pitchers as their innings counts pile up, and according to Puma it will provide Hagenman an opportunity to show he can potentially be part of the organizational pitching depth heading into next season.
Hagenman showed flashes last season, per the writer, pitching to a 4.56 ERA in nine appearances for the team, mostly as a bulk reliever. He was given a major league contract before last season despite never having pitched above Triple-A.
The Rays will counter with Griffin Jasx on the mound, and he, too, will be coming off an injury. His is more conventional, though, as Jax comes off the 15-day IL after recovering from an elbow issue.
Jax was part of the house cleaning done by the Minnesota Twins at the deadline, as he wanted to be a starter. He’s had a successful go of it, as he’s given up just three earned runs in his last three starts and pitched to an ERA of 3.63.
If you’re looking for a hot Mets hitter to watch, that would be Francisco Lindor, who’s rediscovered his power stroke of late. He homered last night off former Met Freddy Peralta, and Soto and Lindor went back-to-back with solo homers against the Houston Astros on Sunday.
The Rays come into this one with the best record in the American League, but they’re currently fending off a challengs from the New York Yankees, who are 4.5 games back coming into this one. The Mets made something of a brief charge to try and overcome the Washington Nationals and get out of the NL East basement, but the Nats have been pulling away and now have a four-game advantage.
