213 Miles From Shea

The Mets had a golden opportunity this week to close the wild card race against the Cardinals. Instead the Mets got swept, fell below .500 and the season is in major jeopardy.

Tonight they welcome the Phillies to Queens and this is the make or break series of the season for the Mets. If they can sweep the Phillies, then they can keep the hope for the playoffs alive. If the Mets get swept, they will have to overcome a historic sized mountain to make it into the post-season.

Taijuan Walker gets the start for the Mets tonight. Over 27 games and 144.2 innings, Walker has a 4.29 ERA, 4.46 FIP, 1.189 WHIP and a 93 ERA+. September has been ugly for Walker – he’s allowed 11 earned runs off 12 hits and four walks in 10.1 innings of work. This will be his fifth start against the Phillies season. In his previous four starts he has allowed nine runs from 17 hits and six walks over 21.1 innings – a 3.80 ERA. The Phillies have the following career numbers against Walker:

• J.T. Realmuto 2-6, HR, K
• Ronald Torreyes 3-7, 2 2B, K
• Jean Segura 3-8, HR, K
• Bryce Harper 2-12, HR, BB, 2 K
• Didi Gregorius 4-14, 2B, 2 K
• Andrew McCutchen 2-11, 2B, 5 K
• Brad Miller 0-6, 2 BB, 2 K
• Freddy Galvis 0-5, BB, 2 K
• Odubel Herrera 0-6, K
• Matt Joyce 0-8, K

The Mets bats will get to face an old friend and Cy Young candidate Zack Wheeler tonight. Wheeler has made 29 starts, pitching 195.1 innings (league leading) with a 2.86 ERA, 2.67 FIP, 1.019 WHIP and a 144 ERA+. He also leads the league in strikeouts (225), complete games (3), and complete game shut outs (2). After Wheeler threw a complete game shutout against the Mets in August, he had a rough go of it for four starts, allowing 21 runs, 19 earned, over 26.2 innings. Since then he has made two starts, allowing only one run over 12.2 innings. Overall this season he has faced the Mets four times, allowing only seven runs over 29.1 innings (2.15 ERA) while striking out 31 batters. The Mets have the following numbers against Wheeler:

• J.D. Davis 5-13, 2 2B, HR, 5 K
• Jose Peraza 2-6, 2B, BB
• Dominic Smith 8-20, 2B, 5 K
• Francisco Lindor 3-9, 2B, K
• Pete Alonso 5-15, 2B, 3 K
• Michael Conforto 4-19, 2 2B, 2 BB, 6 K
• James McCann 3-12, K
• Jeff McNeil 3-17, BB, 5 K
• Jonathan Villar 3-16, 4 K
• Kevin Pillar 1-11, BB, 4 K
• Javier Báez 1-10, 3 K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets had an opportunity last night to close the gap in the division race and the wild card race – and they couldn’t seize it.

The Mets lost in extra innings in a back and forth affair with the Cardinals. The Mets and Cardinals swapped the lead a few times and the Mets were able to navigate miscues that gave up the lead when they tied it in the 9th. After a silent 10th inning for both teams, the Cardinals scored three times in the 11th and the Mets only scored twice. With the Cardinals widening the gap in the Wild Card race, tonight’s game becomes a must win for the Amazin’s.

Tylor Megill gets the start tonight for the Mets. In 15 starts and 77.2 innings this year, Megill has a 4.06 ERA, 4.26 FIP, 1.197 WHIP and a 98 ERA+. He’s coming off of a strong start against the Yankees where he allowed two runs from four hits and a walk over 7.0 innings. It was the second time in three starts that Megill allowed two runs or less and his third time in his last five starts. This will be Megill’s first start against the Cardinals and has not faced anyone on their roster while they were with other teams.

The Mets are facing Jon Lester! A long time member of the Cubs, Lester signed with the Nationals this off-season and was traded as part of the fire sale at the end of July. This season he has made 24 starts and pitched 119.1 innings with a 4.75 ERA, 5.42 FIP, 1.542 WHIP and a 83 ERA+. He’s made eight starts with the Cardinals totaling 44.0 innings posting a 4.30 ERA, 5.41 FIP, 1.455 WHIP and a 90 ERA+. In his last four starts he has allowed only five runs over 23.2 innings from 17 hits and 10 walks, a 1.90 ERA. Lester has faced the Mets only once this season, allowing two runs from seven hits over 6.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• J.D. Davis 1-3, HR
• Javier Báez 1-3, HR, K
• James McCann 8-16, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 K
• Michael Conforto 2-6, HR, 3 BB, 2 K
• Francisco Lindor 5-16, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
• Pete Alonso 1-5, BB, K
• Kevin Pillar 2-11, BB, K
• Jonathan Villar 0-9, 3 K, 2 BB
• Jeff McNeil 0-3

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets entered last night’s game trailing 3.0 games for the Wild Card and chasing the Cardinals.

After the storm and the loss, they are now 5.5 games out of first in the division and 3.5 games out of the Wild Card. The Mets season is starting to fully slip away making tonight’s game a must win.

Last night the Mets offense just fell silent, getting only six hits and scoring no runs. Rich Hill had an average start, allowing three runs over 5.0 innings, but later in the game Yessny Díaz allowed four runs in his one inning of relief putting the game out of reach.

Marcus Stroman looks to put the Mets back on track tonight. Over 30 starts and 163.0 innings this season, Stroman has a 2.87 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 1.129 WHIP and a 138 ERA+. He’s coming off of a strong start against the Marlins, allowing one run over 6.1 innings, from four hits and no walks. In his last four starts Stroman has a 3.09 ERA over 23.1 innings. Stroman faced the Cardinals back at the start of May and allowed four runs, only two earned, over 5.0 innings from seven hits and a walk. The Cardinals have the following career numbers against Stroman:

• Paul DeJong 1-3, HR
• Paul Goldschmidt 3-6, HR, K
• Dylan Carlson 1-3, K
• Nolan Arenado 3-9, K
• Harrison Bader 1-3, SB
• Tyler O’Neill 0-2, BB
• Matt Carpenter 0-3, BB, K
• Andrew Knizner 0-2, K
• Yadier Molina 0-3, 2 K
• Tommy Edman 0-3, 2 K

The Mets bats will get a look at Jake Woodford tonight. Woodford has pitched in 22 games and made four starts this season, pitching a total of 48.1 innings with a 4.28 ERA, 5.00 FIP, 1.386 WHIP and a 90 ERA+. Since returning to the Cardinals on September 4th he has pitched a total of 9.1 innings between two games, allowing only one run from five hits and two walks. In a relief outing against the Mets back in May he allowed no runs from two hits over 2.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Jake:

• Dominic Smith 1-1
• Pete Alonso 0-0, BB
• Francisco Lindor 1-3
• Javier Báez 1-5, 2 K
• Kevin Pillar 0-2
• Jonathan Villar 0-1, K
• Jeff McNeil 0-1, K
• Michael Conforto 0-1
• James McCann 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets welcome the Cardinals to Citi Field with a new goal – chasing the wild card! For a while the wild card felt like a pipe dream, that it would go to the Dodgers/Giants and the Padres. But as the Padres have faded an opening for the Wild Card has opened up.

The Mets remain five games back in the division race, but after last night’s win they are now only three games out of the wild card. There are a lot more teams to leap frog, and one of them is the Cardinals! The Mets have a direct opportunity to close the gap between the teams this week.

The Mets are also coming off of an exciting series win. The Mets beat the Yankees after a back and forth affair last night thanks to Francisco Lindor’s greatest game as a Met. Lindor hit three homers last night with 5 RBI’s. Hopefully the Mets can ride that momentum through the end of the season.

Rich Hill is on the mound tonight. Over 28 games and 139.0 innings this year he has a 3.82 ERA, 4.41 FIP, 1.165 WHIP and a 101 ERA+. His numbers as a Met are better than his season numbers – over nine games and 43.2 innings he has a 3.71 ERA, 4.10 FIP, 1.168 WHIP and a 108 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed one run over 12.0 innings from eight hits and two walks while striking out 12 batters. The Cardinals have the following career numbers against him:

• Paul Goldschmidt 9-19, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
• Nola Arenado 3-8, HR, 3 K
• Matt Carpenter 1-3, BB
• Paul DeJong 1-6, BB, K
• Yadier Molina 1-12, 3 BB, K
• Tyler O’Neill 0-2
• Harrison Bader 0-5, 2 K
• Tommy Edman 0-2, K

The Mets draw the long time Cardinal Adam Wainwright tonight. This season Adam has made 28 starts pitching 184.1 innings with a 2.98 ERA, 3.51 FIP, 1.025 WHIP and a 129 ERA+. He also leads the league with three complete games. In his last start he allowed four runs over 8.1 innings from seven hits. Before that he pitched 36.1 innings over five games allowing only four runs, three earned, which is an ERA over 0.74. Adam struggled against the Mets back in May allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks over 5.2 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 3-5, 2 2B, BB
• J.D. Davis 1-2, 2B
• Michael Conforto 1-7, HR, 4 BB, K
• Kevin Pillar 3-10, HR
• Jeff McNeil 1-4, BB, K
• Jonathan Villar 3-20, 3 BB, 6 K
• Javier Báez 5-35, 2B, BB, 12 K
• Francisco Lindor 1-7, 2 K
• Albert Almora Jr. 0-11, K
• Dominic Smith 0-3, K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets and Yankees play the rubber game for a National televised game tonight after the Mets couldn’t capitalize yesterday and lost 8-7.

The Mets started out rough yesterday thanks to a 5-run second inning for the Yankees. After that fairly major setback, Walker was able to settle in and keep the Yankees off the scoreboard. The Mets bats were able to claw back in and took the lead 6-5 before extending it to 7-5. But then the Yankees started to rally, eventually took the lead 8-7 and despite getting additional runners on base, the Mets could not bring them in.

Carlos Carrasco gets the start for the Mets tonight. Over eight games and 33.2 innings he has a 5.88 ERA, 4.50 FIP, 1.277 WHIP and a 68 ERA+. In his last start he allowed four runs but only one was earned over 5.0 innings from seven hits and a walk. In his last three starts he has allowed nine runs, six earned, over 17.1 innings which is a 3.12 ERA. This will be Carrasco’s first start against the Yankees this year and the Yankees have the following career numbers against him:

• Anthony Rizzo 3-4, 2B, HR, BB
• Joey Gallo 2-6, 2 HR, BB, 2 K
• Brett Gardner 6-22, 2B, 3B, 5 BB, 6 K
• Andrew Velazquez 1-3, K
• Rougned Odor 3-11, 2B, 4 K
• Aaron Judge 0-2, BB, 2 K
• Giancarlo Stanton 0-1, K

After the game last night, Aaron Boone declined to formally name a starter for tonight’s game. he did say that Andrew Heaney and Clark Schmidt could both see time tonight on the mound in some capacity – so we’re going to preview both pitchers.

Andrew Heaney was traded from the Angels to the Yankees at the deadline. He has pitched in 27 games and made 23 starts this year totaling 124.1 innings with a 5.86 ERA, 4.78 FIP, 1.311 WHIP and a 76 ERA+. As a Yankee he has pitched in nine games, making five starts with 30.1 innings of work posting a 7.71 ERA, 7.02 FIP, 1.319 WHIP and a 56 ERA+. The main difference between his time with the Angels and Yankees – the long ball. As an Angel Heaney had a 1.5 HR/9 inning. As a Yankee that number has ballooned to 3.3 HR/9. He hasn’t started a game since August 24th where he allowed two runs over 4.0 innings against the Braves.

Clark Schmidt is hoping to make his 2021 baseball debut. Last year he pitched in three games for the Yankees, logging 6.1 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and five walks (7.11 ERA). Across four minor league levels this year he has gotten into 8 games and pitched 27.1 innings with a 2.96 ERA and 1.244 WHIP. He has spent the most time at AAA ball where he has a 3.00 ERA over 4 games.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets and Yankees continue their series together tonight on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. The Mets will hold a remembrance ceremony before the game starts with members of the 2001 team in attendance and the Mets will also wear first responder hats (along with an altered white top) on the field.

The game tonight is important to both squads. For the Mets to have a chance at the playoffs, they need to sweep the Yankees this weekend. The Yankees are on a seven game slide and the Blue Jays are now only half a game back in the Wild Card race.

Last night the Mets won 10-3, and pretty much fired on all cylinders. Lindor hit his 14th homer of the season, the Mets had 11 hits overall, Megill looked excellent through 7 innings and the Mets decreased their run differential on the season to -3.

Taijuan Walker takes the mound for the Mets tonight. Over 26 starts and 138.2 innings with a 4.15 ERA, 4.32 FIP, 1.190 WHIP and a 96 ERA+. After a good start against the Giants where Walker held one of the best offenses in the league to three runs, two earned, over 6.0 innings, Walker struggled his last time out against the Nationals. He allowed six runs on six hits with three walks over 4.1 innings, allowing two homers. Home runs has been his weakness of late. He’s allowed 20 on the season and 14 of them since July 24th (6.39 ERA, 43.2 innings). Walker faced the Yankees at the start of July and allowed two runs from two hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. The Yankees have the following career numbers against him:

• Tyler Wade 1-1, 2 BB
• Giancarlo Stanton 3-7, 2B, HR, 2 K
• Aaron Judge 1-5, HR, BB
• Rougned Odor 6-13, HR, 2 K
• Gio Urshela 1-3, 2B, K
• Luke Voit 2-7, HR
• DJ LeMahieu 6-23, 2B, 4 BB, 5 K
• Joey Gallo 1-4, K
• Gleyber Torres 0-2, 2 BB
• Brett Gardner 1-7, K
• Anthony Rizzo 0-7, BB, 2 K
• Gary Sanchez 0-8, BB, 2 K

The Mets bats will get a look at Corey Kluber tonight. Kluber has made 12 starts and pitched 61.0 innings this year with a 3.69 ERA, 4.06 FIP, 1.279 WHIP and a 115 ERA+. He’s recently rejoined the rotation after missing significant time with a shoulder injury from the end of May to the end of July. Since returning, Kluber has allowed seven runs on nine hits over 7.2 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against Kluber:

• Michael Conforto 2-3, 2 2B
• Kevin Pillar 2-8, 2B, HR, 3 K
• Jonathan Villar 1-7, K
• James McCann 0-17, 2 BB, 8 K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets season is quickly fading again – they’ll need to act quickly to save it.

The Mets lost another close game to the Marlins last night, and fell below .500 again. The Braves also won last night, increasing their division lead to 5.0 games. The Mets had an opportunity with a stretch of games against the Nationals and Marlins to claw back, and at first it looked like they would take advantage of it. They’ve now dropped 3 of their last 4.

Tylor Megill will look to get the Mets back on track tonight. In 14 starts and 70.2 innings of work, Tylor has a 4.20 ERA, 4.42 FIP, 1.245 WHIP and a 95 ERA+. He’s coming off of a rough start where he allowed four earned runs from seven hits in 6.0 innings, in a game the Mets eventually lost 4-3. He’s had a much bumpier road on the mound in his last seven starts, pitching 35.1 innings with a 6.37 ERA. In his seven starts before that he had 35.1 innings (the same!) with a 2.04 ERA. This will be Tylor’s first career start against the Yankees.

The Mets bats will get a look at Jordan Montgomery tonight. Montgomery has pitched in 25 games and 135.0 innings with a 3.47 ERA, 3.57 FIP, 1.207 WHIP and a 122 ERA+. Jordan has been on a roll in his last three starts, totaling 15.2 innings with a 1.15 ERA (three runs, two earned). In his last 36.0 innings (seven starts), with an ERA of 1.50. His ERA was 4.18 before this stretch. He faced the Mets at start of July and allowed three runs from six hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. Montgomery has the following numbers against the Mets:

• Francisco Lindor 4-7, 2B, BB, 2 K
• James McCann 1-4, HR, 2 K
• Dominic Smith 2-4, K
• Javier Báez 1-3, 2B
• J.D. Davis 1-3, K
• Michael Conforto 1-5, 2 K
• Kevin Pillar 2-13, 3 K
• Jonathan Villar 1-7
• Jeff McNeil 0-4, BB, K
• Pete Alonso 0-4, BB, 3 K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets look to win the rubber game tonight against the Marlins! The Mets lost in another close game yesterday, but the Braves also lost, so they remain 4.0 games out. However, the Mets schedule is about to get a whole lot tougher and every loss makes every following game that much more important.

Last night the Mets faced the Marlins ace who showed up as their ace. Sandy Alcantara allowed only one run in 9.0 innings while striking out 14 batters. The Mets pitchers to their credit allowed only one run in 9.0 innings despite allowing the Marlins to get nine hits. The Mets lost the game in the 10th inning.

Marcus Stroman looks to get the Mets back in the win column tonight. In 29 starts and 156.2 innings he has a 2.93 ERA, 3.43 FIP, 1.149 WHIP and a 134 ERA+. He’s coming off of an average start against the Nationals where he allowed three runs over 5.0 innings from six hits and three walks. Stroman hasn’t faced the Marlins since the end of May where he held them to two runs over 6.0 innings from six hits and a walk. The Marlins have the following career numbers against Stroman:

• Sandy Leon 2-5, 2B, K
• Jazz Chisholm 1-3, 2K
• Joe Panik 1-3
• Miguel Rojas 0-3, K
• Margneuris Sierra 0-2, 2 K

The Mets bats draw Jesus Luzardo for the finale. Over 20 games and 13 starts this season, Jesus has pitched 72.0 innings with a 7.00 ERA, 5.93 FIP, 1.653 WHIP and a 59 ERA+. Since coming over to the Marlins from Oakland, he’s made seven starts with 34.0 innings pitched, posting a 7.15 ERA, 5.75 FIP, 1.676 WHIP and a 58 ERA+. Jesus has improved greatly though in his last two starts, allowing only three runs from six hits and three walks in 11.2 innings of work. His first start as a Marlin was against the Mets and he allowed three runs from four hits and three walks in 5.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 2-3, HR, K
• J.D. Davis 1-1, BB
• Javier Báez 0-2, BB, K
• Kevin Pillar 0-3, K
• Jeff McNeil 0-3, K
• Dominic Smith 0-2
• James McCann 0-2, K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets continue to chase the Braves for first place in the NL East. Yesterday both the Mets and the Braves won, keeping the Mets 4.0 games out first place (and 3.5 games out of the wild card). The Marlins kept the game interesting last night, climbing back to tie the game on two occasions but eventually the Mets broke out and won 9-4. Francisco Lindor had a big 2-run hit to finally give the Mets some breathing room. Pete Alonso hit two homers on the night becoming the second fastest player ever to 100 homers.

Rich Hill takes the mound for the Mets tonight. In 27 games and 133.0 innings this year he has a 3.92 ERA, 4.56 FIP, 1.180 WHIP and a 100 ERA+. As a Met he has tossed eight games and 37.2 innings with a 4.06 ERA, 4.60 FIP, 1.221 WHIP and a 98 ERA+. Over his last two starts he has allowed only two runs in 11.0 innings from eight hits – both against the Nationals. He faced the Marlins at beginning of August, allowing one run, unearned, over 5.0 innings from three hits and a walk. The Marlins have the following numbers against him:

• Miguel Rojas 2-4, 2B, BB
• Jesus Aguilar 2-8 2B, HR, BB
• Jazz Chisholm Jr. 1-2, BB
• Bryan De La Cruz 1-2, K
• Joe Panik 4-11, 3 BB, K
• Jorge Alfaro 0-2, K
• Alex Jackson 0-1
• Lewis Brinson 0-4

The Mets bats get to see Sandy Alcantara again. Over 28 starts and 171.2 innings, Sandy has a 3.36 ERA, 3.56 FIP, 1.124 WHIP and a 123 ERA+ (all better than his career averages). He had a streak of great starts snapped last week by the Mets. before he faced the Mets, he had a 1.24 ERA over four starts and 29.0 innings where he struck out 37 batters. Last week the Mets scored four runs off eight hits in 6.1 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against Alcantara:

• Patrick Mazeika 2-3, 2B
• Jonathan Villar 1-4, HR, 2 K
• J.D. Davis 4-10, 2 2B
• Francisco Lindor 4-9, 2B, SB
• Jeff McNeil 7-20, HR, 2 BB
• Michael Conforto 6-23, 2 HR, BB, 3 K
• Kevin Pillar 2-5
• Pete Alonso 2-14, 2B, HR, BB, 4 K
• Javier Báez 3-11, 2B, 5 K
• Dominic Smith 1-10, K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets look to bounce back from yesterday’s game as they start a new series in Miami. Yesterday the Mets bats couldn’t capitalize on multiple opportunities to drive in more runs and the bullpen fell apart late as the Nationals won in walk-off fashion. On top of that, the Braves actually won a game so now the Mets are 4.5 games out of first place. However, the Mets have showed us last week how in a short period of time they can really close a division gap – so let’s get another win streak started today!

Carlos Carrasco gets the start for the Mets. In seven games and 28.2 innings he has a 6.59 ERA, 4.91 FIP, 1.221 WHIP and a 60 ERA+. In his last two games he has allowed five runs from seven hits and a walk, over 12.1 innings. That’s a much more reasonable 3.65 ERA. This includes a start against the Marlins last week where he allowed three runs from four hits and a walk over 5.1 innings, in a game the Mets eventually won 4-3. The Marlins have the following numbers against him:

• Joe Panik 1-1
• Miguel Rojas 2-4, HR
• Alex Jackson 1-2, 2B, K
• Jesus Aguilar 3-9, 2B, 2 BB, K
• Jazz Chisholm 1-5, 2B, K
• Bryan De La Cruz 1-4
• Jorge Alfaro 1-5, 2 K
• Sandy Leon 0-1
• Isan Diaz 0-4
• Lewis Brinson 0-4

The Mets bats will get another look at Edward Cabrera. Edward is making his third major league start. Over his first two starts he’s allowed six runs off 11 hits and three walks in 10.1 innings. This includes three homers. His last start was against the Mets where he allowed three runs off seven hits over 4.0 innings, in a game the Mets eventually won 3-1. The Mets had the following batting records from that game:

• Michael Conforto 1-1, HR
• Jeff McNeil 1-2, 2B
• Jonathan Villar 1-2
• J.D. Davis 1-2, K
• Javier Bàez 1-2
• Pete Alonso 0-2, K
• Patrick Mazeika 0-1

Let’s Go Mets!