213 Miles From Shea

The Mets only had a 1.1% if making the playoffs yesterday, so it’s not like the results were heartbreaking. The Mets lost both games they played and were eliminated from a playoff berth by the end of the first game. For a season filled with not making expectations, its fitting (possibly relieving) that the Mets eliminated themselves from contention, and not any other team winning yesterday.

Anyway, we say good bye to Mets baseball today. What an odd season. From being only 60 games, to 7-inning doubleheaders and BVW making head scratching trades – the Mets packed a lot of “Mets” into a short time period. Next season starts off a new chapter with the Mets with a new owner and most likely a new front office.

But today is for the current Mets. Seth Lugo looks to close out his season as a starter. He’s pitched 35.1 innings this year with a 3.82 ERA, 4.28 FIP, 1.217 WHIP and 111 ERA+. Lugo dominated in his first three starts – pitching 11.2 innings allowing only 2 runs while striking out 20. Then he struggled for two starts, allowing 9 runs over 7.0 innings. He bounced back in his last start, allowing 2 runs, 1 earned over 6.1 innings against the Rays. In one outing against the Nationals this year he held the reigning champs scoreless over 2.0 innings. The Nationals have the following numbers against him:

• Juan Soto 2-7, HR, BB, 4 K
• Trea Turner 2-13, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
• Andrew Stevenson 1-4, BB, K
• Victor Robles 1-7, 2B, 3 K
• Kurt Suzuki 1-7
• Michael A Taylor 1-9, 3 K
• Asdrubal Cabrera 0-3

The Mets will end their season against Austin Voth who make his 11th start today. Over 44.2 innings he’s posted a 6.25 ERA, 6.36 FIP, 1.478 WHIP and a 73 ERA+. His last two starts he has really found himself though – pitching 12.0 innings allowing 2 runs while striking out 13. Overall this month he has dropped his ERA from 8.26 down to 6.25. In his one start against the Mets he allowed 3 runs from 6 hits including 2 homers in 4.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Voth:

• Dominic Smith 2-2, 2B, HR
• Luis Guillorme 2-2
• Brandon Nimmo 2-8, 2 2B, BB, 3 K
• Amed Rosario 1-5, 2 K
• J.D. Davis 0-3, 2 K
• Jeff McNeil 0-1
• Pete Alonso 0-3, K
• Todd Frazier 0-2, K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets will be sending out Rick Porcello in the night cap of our two 7-inning games. Porcello and Wacha were signed in the off-season to boost the Mets strength – their starting rotation. Never has a statement from the Mets been so wrong (and the Mets have had plenty of misleading front office statements through the year). The Mets could have signed Porcello as the back up starter and gone after Wheeler to stay in the rotation. Instead the Mets lost Syndergaard and Stroman. Compounded with Matz’s struggles this year – Porcello and Wacha had a tremendous opportunity. But they missed it. The Mets were plagued with roster construction issues this year and this was at the core of it, a Wilpon/BVW creation.

So back tonight, featuring Rick Porcello’s last start of the season. In 56.0 innings he has a 5.46 ERA, 3.15 FIP, 1.429 WHIP and a 78 ERA+. He’s coming off his best start of the year against the Braves where he allowed 1 run and 3 hits over 7.0 innings while striking out 10. He’s also had success against the Nationals this season – pitching 13.0 innings over two starts allowing only 3 runs. It would be wonderful for Porcello and all of us watching if he can build off his last start and his earlier two against the Nationals. The Nationals have the following numbers on Porcello:

• Victor Robles 2-4
• Juan Soto 3-8, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Yan Gomes 6-18, 3 2B, 2 K
• Eric Thames 2-5
• Trea Turner 2-9, HR, K
• Kurt Suzuki 7-29, 2 2B, HR, 4 BB, K
• Asdrubal Cabrera 18-67, 3 2B, 3 BB, 11 K

The Mets bats will get a final 2020 look at Anibal Sanchez. Anibal has had a season to forget. In 47.2 innings over 10 starts he has a 6.80 ERA, 5.48 FIP, 1.741 WHIP and 67 ERA+. He’s coming off of one of his better starts this season, holding the Phillies to 1 run over 5.0 innings (this start lowered his ERA from 7.38 to 6.80). In one start against the Mets this year he allowed 5 runs off 6 hits in 2.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Sanchez:

• Luis Guillorme 1-1, SB
• Dominic Smith 2-3, 2B, BB
• Pete Alonso 3-7, 2B, HR, BB
• Brandon Nimmo 2-6, HR, 2 BB, K
• J.D. Davis 4-9, 2B, K
• Andres Gimenez 1-2
• Wilson Ramos 9-24, 2 2B, 4 BB
• Robinson Cano 6-21, 2B, 2 BB, 3 K
• Jeff McNeil 1-8, 2B, BB, K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets and Nationals had the night off yesterday thanks to the rain and thanks to San Diego – the Mets are, somehow, mathematically still in it. To stay in the race, they need to win both games today and the Giants need to lose out, not great odds. Basically impossible. But the Mets will start with Jacob deGrom in a 7 inning game to set things off.

So rather than Porcello vs Scherzer, we will get deGrom vs Scherzer, a much better pitching match up to watch. Jacob will be making his 12th and final start of the season where he tossed 63.0 innings with a 2.14 ERA, 1.99 FIP (league leading), 0.921 WHIP and a 197 ERA+. He is also leading the league in K/9 at 13.4. If he records 6 strikeouts, he will reach 100 on the season this afternoon. After a hamstring shortened outing, he bounced back his last time out against the Rays with a 7.0 inning outing where he allowed 2 runs and the Mets somehow lost. He tied his season high with 14 K’s in that game. This will be his first game in 2020 against the Nationals, and the Nationals have the following numbers against him:

• Brock Holt 2-6, HR, 3 K
• Yan Gomes 1-2, K
• Victor Robles 3-10, 2 2B, 2 BB, 4 K
• Juan Soto 3-13, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
• Andrew Stevenson 1-4, 2B, BB
• Trea Turner 11-38, 2B, BB, 13 K
• Josh Harrison 3-12, 5 K

The Mets bats draw Max Scherzer’s last start of the season. He has pitched 61.1 innings over 11 starts with a 3.67 ERA, 3.18 FIP, 1.386 WHIP, and 125 ERA+. After a terrible start on 9/13 where he allowed 6 runs over 5.1 innings he rebounded in his last start allowing 2 runs, both unearned, in 5.2 innings against the Marlins. In a fun, meaningless stat – he’s tossed 119 pitches in back to back games. He had two starts against the Mets in 2020. He left after the first inning in one start and then the next time he allowed 1 run over 6.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Max:

• Luis Guillorme 3-4, 2B, K
• Andres Gimenez 1-3, 3B, K
• J.D. Davis 4-9, 2B, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 3-21, 2B, HR, 6 BB, 12 K
• Jeff McNeil 3-13, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Robinson Cano 3-21, 2 HR, BB, 5 K
• Amed Rosario 4-15, 2B, 7 K
• Wilson Ramos 4-20, 2B, 2 K
• Todd Frazier 1-13, 2B, 4 K

Let’s Go Mets!

I guess last night was thanks to BVW?

The Mets held off being eliminated last night thanks to Robinson Chirinos, the catcher the Mets inexplicably acquired at the trade deadline with Todd Frazier from the Rangers. Robinson had two hits including a homer thus knocking in all three runs for the Mets. The Marlins and Phillies each won yesterday as well. The Mets continue to have a nearly impossible odds of making the post-season, but they aren’t gone yet.

Rick Porcello will look to keep the Mets in the hunt for another night as he makes his 12th and final start of the year. In 56.0 innings he has a 5.46 ERA, 3.15 FIP, 1.429 WHIP and a 78 ERA+. He’s coming off his best start of the year against the Braves where he allowed 1 run and 3 hits over 7.0 innings while striking out 10. He’s also had success against the Nationals this season – pitching 13.0 innings over two starts allowing only 3 runs. The Nationals have the following numbers on Porcello:

• Victor Robles 2-4
• Juan Soto 3-8, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Yan Gomes 6-18, 3 2B, 2 K
• Eric Thames 2-5
• Trea Turner 2-9, HR, K
• Kurt Suzuki 7-29, 2 2B, HR, 4 BB, K
• Asdrubal Cabrera 18-67, 3 2B, 3 BB, 11 K

The Mets bats draw Max Scherzer’s last start of the season. He has pitched 61.1 innings over 11 starts with a 3.67 ERA, 3.18 FIP, 1.386 WHIP, and 125 ERA+. After a terrible start on 9/13 where he allowed 6 runs over 5.1 innings he rebounded in his last start allowing 2 runs, both unearned, in 5.2 innings against the Marlins. In a fun, meaningless stat – he’s tossed 119 pitches in back to back games. He had two starts against the Mets in 2020. He left after the first inning in one start and then the next time he allowed 1 run over 6.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Max:

• Luis Guillorme 3-4, 2B, K
• Andres Gimenez 1-3, 3B, K
• J.D. Davis 4-9, 2B, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 3-21, 2B, HR, 6 BB, 12 K
• Jeff McNeil 3-13, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Robinson Cano 3-21, 2 HR, BB, 5 K
• Amed Rosario 4-15, 2B, 7 K
• Wilson Ramos 4-20, 2B, 2 K
• Todd Frazier 1-13, 2B, 4 K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets lost last night, securing a losing season. They still aren’t eliminated from the playoffs but in order to back their way in now, they would have to win-out the rest of the season and the Phillies/Marlins would both pretty much have to lose every game for the rest of the season. Very unlikely. So in year where more than half the league makes the playoffs, the Mets are not playing meaningful games in the last weekend of the series.

The emergence of David Peterson was a key bright spot for the Mets this season. Next year the rotation is full of question marks but the Mets depleted farm system still managed to produce Peterson – which is to say that BVW didn’t trade away a pitcher with the ability to start major league games. This year, over 42.2 innings, Peterson has a 3.80 ERA, 4.77 FIP, 1.289 WHIP and 112 ERA+. He’s coming off of his first double digit strikeout game in his career, a game where he allowed 1 run on 3 hits over 6.0 innings while striking out 10. In his only start against the Nationals he held them to one unearned run over 5.0 innings from 1 hit. The Nationals have the following numbers against him:

• Yan Gomes 1-2
• Juan Soto 0-1, K
• Trea Turner 0-2, BB
• Michael A Taylor 0-2
• Asdrubal Cabrera 0-2

The Mets bats will look to back Peterson up as they take on Patrick Corbin tonight. Patrick has pitched 58.2 innings over 10 starts posting a 4.76 ERA, 3.99 FIP, 1.534 WHIP and a 96 ERA+. He’s leading the league in hits allowed at 75. He’s coming off a fairly disastrous start against the Marlins where he allowed 7 runs from 14 hits over 6.0 innings. Against the Mets this year he allowed 5 runs, 4 earned over 11.2 innings (13 hits). The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Michael Conforto 9-25, 2B, 5 HR, BB, 7 K
• J.D. Davis 6-22, 2B, 3 HR, 3 BB, 7 K
• Todd Frazier 6-21, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 4 K
• Pete Alonso 5-20, 2 2B, HR, BB, 9 K
• Wilson Ramos 3-17, 2B, HR, 3 BB, 2 K
• Robinson Cano 2-11, HR, BB, 3 K
• Jeff McNeil 3-12, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Brandon Nimmo 4-18, BB, 8 K

Let’s Go Mets!

Yesterday it felt like the Mets season was over. Today – not so much. The Mets beat the Rays yesterday and the Marlins/Phillies both lost. The Mets now find themselves only 2.5 games back in the wild card and 3.0 games back from the automatic playoff berth in the division. Time is still slipping away from the Mets but there is a path for them to back themselves into the playoffs. Wild.

Working against the Mets – they are at the part of their rotation that has struggled this season. Michael Wacha will get the start for the Mets. In 7 games, 6 starts, he has pitched 28.0 innings with a 6.75 ERA, 5.04 FIP, 1.679 WHIP and 63 ERA+. He’s coming off one of his best performances of the season, a relief outing in Philly, where he allowed 1 run from 5 hits over 4.0 innings in a game the Mets won 5-4. That game knocked his ERA down from a season high 7.50. Anyway, the Rays have the following numbers against Wacha:

• Hunter Renfroe 1-1, 2B, 2 BB
• Manuel Margot 2-9, 2B, K
• Mike Zunino 0-1, BB
• Kevin Kiermaier 0-5, BB, 2 K

The Mets bats will get a look at Tyler Glasnow tonight. Through 10 starts and 51.1 innings this year he has a 4.21 ERA, 3.46 FIP, 1.188 WHIP and 102 ERA+. Tyler had a bumpy start to September allowing 7 runs over 12.1 innings in two starts but bounced back in his last start allowing only 1 run over 5.0 innings while striking out 10. The Mets have the following numbers against Glasnow:

• Brandon Nimmo 0-0, 2 BB
• Robinson Chirinos 1-2, K
• Jeff McNeil 0-0, BB
• Michael Conforto 0-3, 2 BB, K
• Amed Rosario 0-2, K

Let’s Go Mets!

Jacob deGrom gave the Mets everything he had last night but the Mets bats fell completely silent in a 2-1 loss. Now the Mets are three games out of a wild card spot with basically about a week left to play. The playoffs are still mathematically possible but things have to go perfectly.

And the Mets haven’t been playing that way.

Seth Lugo tries to bounce back tonight in Queens. On the season he has pitched in 14 games and made 5 starts with 29.0 innings pitched, posting a 4.34 ERA, 4.46 FIP, 1.310 WHIP and 99 ERA+. His last start basically crushed his season stats. Last time out he allowed 6 runs from 8 hits over 1.2 innings against the Phillies including 4 homers. Not good. Only a few Rays have seen Seth Lugo in action before:

• Manuel Margo 5-6, 2B, K
• Hunter Renfroe 1-5, HR, 2 K
• Mike Zunino 0-2, 2 K

The Mets draw the former AL Cy Young Award winner tonight – Blake Snell. Snell has made 10 starts and pitched 44.1 innings this year with a 3.05 ERA, 4.10 FIP, 1.150 WHIP and 141 ERA+. He’s coming of his best back to back starts of the season, allowing 1 run and 7 hits over 10.2 innings of work, lowering his ERA from 3.74 to 3.05. The Mets have the following numbers against Snell:

• Brandon Nimmo 1-3, 2B, BB
• Robinson Cano 2-5, BB, K
• Robinson Chirinos 1-5, BB
• Todd Frazier 1-8, BB, K
• Amed Rosario 0-2, BB
• Michael Conforto 0-3, 2 K

Let’s Go Mets!

One step forward. One step backwards. One step forward. One step backwards.

For a good portion of the Mets season, immediately after the Mets take a step forward – they take a step backwards back into their previous situation but with less time. A few days ago the Mets won and put themselves 1.5 games out of the wild card spot. Then they lost. Then they won again and put themselves 1.5 games out of the wild card. Then they lost. That was yesterday.

So like two days ago (and four days ago) the Mets find themselves in a must win game except now there are even less games remaining for the Mets to back themselves into the playoffs. At least the Mets have exactly the pitcher they would want to go tonight in this position. Jacob deGrom makes his 11th start tonight, looking to bounce back from his early (injury induced) exit his last time out. Over 56.0 innings this year he has a 2.09 ERA, 2.01 FIP, 0.929 WHIP and a 205 ERA+. Jacob left his last start due to a hamstring spasm after 2.0 innings, allowing 3 earned runs, the most earned runs he has allowed in a start this year. The Rays have the following numbers against him:

• Willy Adames 1-3, HR, K
• Hunter Renfroe 3-9, 2B, 2 HR, 2 K
• Kevin Kiermaier 2-6, 2B, 2 K
• Manuel Margot 2-9, 3B, 2 K
• Brett Phillips 0-2, BB
• Joey Wendle 0-3
• Mike Zunino 0-5, 3 K

The Mets draw Pete Fairbanks who is having a terrific year for the first place Rays – as a reliever. Pete has pitched in 24 games and only start, totaling 23.0 innings with a 2.74 ERA, 2.71 FIP, 1.435 WHIP and 156 ERA+. His only start this year happened on the 16th where he allowed 1 hit over an inning and that was on purpose. He then pitched an inning the next day. He has not faced anyone on the Mets roster in an official game.

Let’s Go Mets!

Before yesterday’s game, things looked pretty bleak for the Mets. They got beat 15-2. How are they going to get their momentum back for the final push of games to back themselves into the playoffs? Well just about everything in baseball across the land broke right for the Mets and now they are 1.5 games out of the playoffs, again. The Mets still need to pretty much win out the rest of the year to secure a spot but 1.5 games out – a lot of opportunities open up.

Rick Porcello gets the start for the Mets today. On the season he’s pitched 49.0 innings over 10 starts with a 6.06 ERA, 3.11 FIP, 1.531 WHIP and 71 ERA+. After two average-ish starts, allowing 4 runs over 10.0 innings, he has pitched two starts giving up 9 runs in 10.0 innings from 16 hits. He had back to back starts to open the season against the Braves. The first one was terrible – allowing 7 runs, 6 earned in 2.0 innings. His next start was good, only by comparing it to his first start, where he allowed 4 runs, 3 earned over 4.0 innings. The Braves have the following numbers against Rick:

• Dansby Swanson 2-4, 2B, BB, K
• Travis d’Arnaud 4-9, HR, BB, SB
• Marcell Ozuna 2-4, 2B
• Freddie Freeman 6-14, 3 BB, 2 K
• Nick Markakis 11-30, 2B, HR, 5 BB, 2 K
• Adam Duvall 1-3
• Ozzie Albies 1-4, 2B, K
• Adeiny Hechavrarria 4-24, 2B, HR, 3 K
• Ronald Acuna Jr 1-8, 2B, K

The Mets bats draw Kyle Wright today who is making his 7th start of the season. In 25.0 innings this year, he has a 7.20 ERA, 7.12 FIP, 2.080 WHIP and 68 ERA+. In his last two starts he’s pitched 10.0 innings, allowing 9 runs, 8 earned, from 15 hits and 4 walks. His best start of the year, in terms of runs allowed, was against the Mets where he allowed no runs over 3.1 innings despite allowing 5 hits and 4 walks. He hasn’t allowed 0, 1 or 2 runs against anyone else this season. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Michael Conforto 2-3, 2B, HR, 3 BB, K
• Brandon Nimmo 2-3, HR, BB, K
• Dominic Smith 3-4, HR, BB
• Jeff McNeil 4-5, 2 2B
• Wilson Ramos 0-1, 2 BB, K
• Robinson Cano 1-5, 2B, K
• Amed Rosario 1-5, K
• J.D. Davis 0-2, 2 K
• Pete Alonso 0-1, K

Let’s Go Mets!

Last night was not good for the Mets. Matz came back from the rotation – imploded – and the game just became silly. The Mets have been able to manage some crazy comebacks against teams with weak bullpens, like the Phillies, but that was not possible last night. It took the Mets play off chances from around 27% down to around 12-13%. Just an all around bad night for the Mets.

So tonight they will be playing for their survival as every loss compounds and already complicated path to the playoffs. David Peterson will get the start for the Mets tonight. So far this season over 36.2 innings, he has a 4.17 ERA, 4.91 FIP, 1.309 WHIP and 103 ERA+. His last start was a good step forward in Buffalo, where he allowed 2 runs over 5.0 innings against the Blue Jays. His longest start of the season both in terms of innings and pitches thrown was against Atlanta. He allowed 3 runs from 5 hits in 6.0 innings from 87 pitches. In that game Adam Duvall went 2-2 with a double, Riley and Swanson both picked up hits too. Acuna, Hechavarria, d’Arnaud, Freeman and Ozuna went a combined 0-13.

The Mets bats draw Ian Anderson, who has been quite good in his first four major league starts. Over 22.0 innings he has a 1.64 ERA, 2.97 FIP, 0.909 WHIP and 298 ERA+. He’s coming off his longest and best outing of the year where he tossed 7 scoreless innings against the Nationals allowing 1 hit and 3 walks while striking out 9, tossing 99 pitches. This will be the first time the Mets face the rookie.

Let’s Go Mets!