New York Mets vs Pittsburgh Pirates

New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates (2026-08-09). Sean Manaea vs Jared Jones at PNC Park.

Starters — Sean Manaea has a 4.33 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 97.2 innings, with 8.75 K/9, 3.23 BB/9, and 1.2 HR/9. His last three starts have been steady: 6 IP, 2 ER, 7 K, 5 BB; 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 K, 2 BB; and 6 IP, 1 ER, 3 K, 2 BB. The recent trend is down, with run prevention improving over that span despite some control volatility. Jared Jones carries a 4.02 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 56 innings, with 9.96 K/9, 2.57 BB/9, and 1.45 HR/9. His last three starts were 4 IP, 3 ER, 4 K, 1 BB; 6 IP, 3 ER, 5 K, 2 BB; and 6 IP, 1 ER, 5 K, 1 BB. The trend is up, supported by the strong WHIP and better strikeout-to-walk profile, though the home run rate remains a notable risk.

Teams — The Mets enter with a .689 OPS, 488 runs scored, a .234 team average, and a pitching staff at 4.13 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP. They are 6-4 over their last 10, which points to decent recent form, but the offense has been more modest by season-long production. Pittsburgh owns a .748 OPS, 601 runs scored, a .257 team average, and a 4.29 team ERA with a 1.32 WHIP. The Pirates are just 3-7 in their last 10, so the stronger full-season offensive numbers have not translated cleanly into recent results.