Jonah Tong’s next big league test comes with a little extra noise around it Monday night at Citi Field.
The 23-year-old right-hander will make his second start and fifth appearance of the season for the Mets when they open a three-game series against the Orioles at 7:10 p.m. And this one has a twist: Pete Alonso is back in the building, now wearing Orioles colors, in a matchup that puts Tong in line for his 10th major league appearance.
Tong has already had a couple of those memorable assignments. In his third start last season, he drew Jacob deGrom in deGrom’s return to Citi Field. On Monday, the spotlight shifts to Alonso, the All-Star first baseman returning to his roots against the Mets.
“We don't do those things on purpose,” Mets interim manager Andy Green said with a smile. “That's crazy that that happened.
That's the stuff you block out of your head, frankly, as a competitor. There are batters in the box and it's your job to go get them out.
“Where they were, what their history is, what they've done for an organization, that's not where your head should ever be in that moment.”
There’s also a milestone watch hanging over the game. Alonso and Francisco Lindor are both sitting on 299 career home runs.
Tong enters with a 2-1 record and a 4.80 ERA, along with 14 strikeouts in 15 innings. In his last outing, he gave up four earned runs on four hits and one walk across five innings against the Marlins, while striking out seven.
Baltimore will send Brandon Young to the mound. He brings a 9-4 record and a 3.71 ERA into his 26th start of the season.
The game will air on SNY and stream on MLB.TV.
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