213 Miles From Shea

The Mets go for the sweep tonight before the off-day against Philly! Last night the Mets fired on all cylinders as they beat the Phillies 9-0. Through the first 5 innings, the game was the Zack Wheeler show as he recorded 11 strikeouts, had 2 hits including a homer and a double and recorded 3 RBI, or 3 of the Mets 4 runs. Then in the 6th Todd Frazier hit a Grand Slam that put the game away for the Mets. Last night’s win means that no matter what happens tonight, the Mets will at least tie their season record against the Phillies.

The game also got a little chippy/chirpy last night in the 9th inning which will be something to watch for today. The Phillies were already upset about the bad umpiring from Monday night, which led to Harper being ejected and then Arrieta making comments about Harper being ejected. In the 9th inning last night, Rhame almost hit Hoskins, who took it as he was being thrown at on purpose. Benches cleared but stayed towards the dugout. Important to note: the Mets were winning 9-0, had no reason to throw at Rhys and Rhame notoriously has control issues. Ball 4 to Hoskins could also be interpreted as Rhame throwing at Rhys (if you’re a Phillies fan or Hoskins). To everyone else it looked like Rhame still demonstrating a lack of control. Maybe this is a non-issue that the Phillies use to band together tonight.

For the Mets, they send out Jason Vargas who’s a bonding moment for fans and teammates in different ways. Over 10.1 innings, 4 games and 3 starts this year he has a 9.58 ERA, 7.75 FIP, 2.323 WHIP and a 42 ERA+. His last start was a step forward – allowing 1 run over 4.0 innings against the Cardinals that lowered his ERA from 14.21 to 9.58. He did average, which is good, in his one start against the Phillies last year holding them to 2 runs over 5.1 innings. The Phillies have the following numbers against him:

• Bryce Harper 0-5, BB
• Cesar Hernandez 1-3
• Rhys Hoskins 1-3
• Scott Kingery 1-2, 2B
• J.T. Realmuto 0-2
• Nick Williams 0-2
• Maikel Franco 0-1
• Andrew McCutchen 0-1

The Mets bats will get their first look at Vince Velasquez who over his first 4 games and 3 starts this year has found his stuff compared to previous years. Last year in 31 games and 30 starts, 146.2 innings, he had a 4.85 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 1.343 WHIP and 86 ERA+. This year in 17.2 innings he has a 2.55 ERA, 4.18 FIP, 0.962 WHIP and 179 ERA+. Last year he faced the Mets twice and allowed 5 runs from 9 hits and 2 walks over 10.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Velasquez:

• Michael Conforto 6-12, 3 HR, 3 BB, 2 K
• Travis d’Arnaud 1-10, 3 K
• Amed Rosario 2-5, 3B
• Robinson Cano 0-2, 2 BB
• Jeff McNeil 2-3
• Dominic Smith 1-3, 2B
• Todd Frazier 0-1
• Brandon Nimmo 1-1, 2B, BB
• Wilson Ramos 0-2

Lets Go Mets!

After what felt like a week of being out of step, the Mets were in-sync last night after a two-hour rain delay and will try to take game two of the series against the Phillies today in the battle of the Zachs/Zacks. Last night the Mets functioned as they were designed to. Matz was strong over 6.0 innings and then Lugo, Familia and Diaz each had a strong inning behind him. For a team that has been struggling with pitching of all kinds the last couple of weeks, it was a welcomed sign.

Tonight it’s Wheeler’s turn to get back on the right track. On the season he has tossed 22.2 innings over 4 starts posting a 6.35 ERA, 4.72 FIP, 1.544 WHIP and 63 ERA+. His last two starts have been a step in the right direction, posting a 3.46 ERA over 13.0 innings. His last start was the first of the season against the Phillies where he allowed 3 runs over 7.0 innings from 5 hits and 3 walks but also two homers. The Phillies have the following numbers against him:

• Bryce Harper 5-28, HR, 4 BB, 11 K
• Cesar Hernandez 8-16, HR, BB, 4 K
• Odubel Herrera 2-13, HR, 2 BB, 5 K
• Maikel Franco 1-9, HR, 2 BB
• J.T. Realmuto 5-11, 2B, 2 K
• Rhys Hoskins 1-9, BB, 3 K
• Andrew McCutchen 2-9, 2B, HR, BB, K
• Scott Kingery 1-6, HR, 2 K

The Mets will get their first 2019 look at Zach Eflin tonight who is 2-2 over 4 starts and 22.0 innings with a 3.68 ERA, 4.77 FIP, 1.364 WHIP and 93 ERA+. In his first two starts of the season he was dominant allowing only 1 run over 12.0 innings, then he allowed 6 runs off 10 hits in 4.0 innings against the Marlins. He had an average start his last time in Colorado allowing 3 runs, 2 earned over 6.0 innings. He faced the Mets 4 times last year allowing 13 runs over 19.2 innings (5.95 ERA) from 19 hits and 9 walks while striking out 23. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Michael Conforto 3-16, 2B, HR, BB, 4 K
• Amed Rosario 5-11, 3 2B, 2 K
• Jeff McNeil 2-7, 2B, 3B, 2 BB, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 1-7, 2 BB
• Dominic Smith 1-6, BB
• Todd Frazier 2-4, HR, 2 K
• Robinson Cano 3-3, HR

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets return home tonight after dropping a series against the Phillies and the Cardinals only to face the Phillies again. Syndergaard struggled again yesterday allowing 6 runs, 4 earned over 5.0 innings and luckily for the Mets Gsellman came in and tossed 3.0 perfect innings not only to keep the Mets in the game but to save the bullpen. In addition to the Mets pitching woes, the Mets fielding woes continued with Rosario recording to errors on the day which puts him at 5 on the year.

The Mets offense yesterday came as four solo homers from Conforto, Alonso, Cano and Syndergaard furthering the narrative that 2019 is the year of the homer.

Stven Matz will look to put the Mets back on track. His last start was one to forget as a combination of just not having it + the defense behind him led to the Phillies scoring 8 runs in the first inning without recording an out. With the game now at Citi Field, this should be a little tougher for the Phillies to replicate. On the season, mainly due to that game, Matz has allowed 13 runs, 9 earned over 16.1 innings leading to a 4.96 ERA, 5.24 FIP, 1.347 WHIP and 82 ERA+. The Phillies have the following numbers against him:

• Bryce Harper 4-17, 2 2B, 3 BB, 3 K
• Cesar Hernandez 3-9, 5 BB, 2 K
• Rhys Hoskins 1-10, HR, 2 BB, K
• J.T. Realmuto 4-10, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Aaron Altherr 1-6, 2B, 2 BB
• Scott Kingery 4-8, 2 HR
• Maikel Franco 3-6, HR
• Odubel Herrera 1-5, BB
• Andrew McCutchen 2-5, BB

The Mets bats draw Jake Arrieta who last Wednesday tossed a stellar game against them holding the Mets to 2 runs over 8.0 innings from 6 hits and 2 walks. On the season he is 3-1 over 4 games and 28.0 innings with a 2.25 ERA, 4.70 FIP, 1.107 WHIP and 199 ERA+. The Mets have the following numbers against Jake:

• Robinson Cano 5-25, 2 2B, 4 BB, 5 K
• Todd Frazier 7-23, 2B, 2 HR, 8 K
• Michael Conforto 4-15, HR, 2 BB, 4 K
• Amed Rosario 0-10, K
• Travis d’Arnaud 3-9, BB
• Jeff McNeil 5-10, 2B
• Wilson Ramos 4-7, 2 BB
• Keon Broxton 0-9, 4 K
• Brandon Nimmo 2-7, 2B, 2 BB, 3 K
• Pete Alonso 1-4, K

Let’s Go Mets!

Yesterday just was not the day for the Mets. Chris Flexen looked good after the first inning and then everything fell apart as the Mets just got crushed. So now the Mets find themselves with an important rubber game. If they win today, they take the series and don’t drop the series after dropping the series against the Phillies. A loss today would push the Mets only 1 game above .500.

More important than that, the Mets bullpen needs a breather. Daniel Zamora was recalled to replace Chris Flexen and credit to Flexen for lasting as long as he did in yesterday’s game. Syndergaard has to do a lot today: lead this team and save the pen.

Through 4 starts this season Syndergaard has allowed 15 runs over 24.0 innings from 22 hits and 5 walks, a 5.63 ERA, 3.03 FIP, 1.125 WHIP and a 71 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed 9 runs over 12.0 innings. In two starts against the Cardinals last year he allowed 6 runs, 5 earned over 13.1 innings from 12 hits and 2 walks while striking out 17. The Cardinals have the following numbers against Syndergaard:

• Marcell Ozuna 4-20, HR, 7 K
• Paul Goldschmidt 3-11, BB, 4 K
• Dexter Fowler 1-11, BB, 5 K
• Matt Carpenter 2-10, 2B, 2 K
• Yadier Molina 3-10, 2B, HR, 2 K
• Kolten Wong 1-8, 2 K
• Jedd Gyorko 1-7, HR, 3 K
• Jose Martinez 3-6, HR
• Paul DeJong 3-5, 2B

The Mets draw young, Dakota Hudson for the series finale. This season he has pitched in 4 games, 3 starts totaling 13.1 innings allowing 10 runs, 9 earned from 21 hits and 10 walks posting a 6.08 ERA, 8.24 FIP, 2.325 WHIP, and a 70 ERA+. For Dakota, his first start was a mess, then he was fine for two outings and his last start was a mess, allowing 6 runs over 3.2 innings. He has never faced the Mets nor has he faced any Mets players while they were with other teams.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets survived a Vargas start yesterday and escaped with a win! Now they’ll have to push through a Chris Flexen start to string together a couple of wins. Vargas didn’t last incredibly long yesterday, but was able to hold the Cardinals to only 1 run. On the other side of the ball, Cano had a good game with three hits and Pete Alonso reached across the strike zone to defend it with 2-strikes and ended up launching the ball deep into center field.

Vargas only lasting 4 innings is a concern for today with Chris Flexen on the mound who under normal, spot-start circumstances (if there is such a thing) would ask him to go about 4-5 innings. This will put pressure on Syndergaard tomorrow to save the bullpen but we are getting ahead of ourselves.

This is Chris Flexen’s first start of 2019 and the first time we’ll see him in the majors since he lost a good chunk of weight. In Major League Spring Training this year he tossed 2.1 innings over 3 games and allowed only 1 hit while striking out 2. In Syracuse this year he has allowed 7 runs over 12.0 innings from 11 hits (due to 3 homers). As a plus side, his strikeouts are way up, recording 18 in his first two starts. He has never done that. Last year he pitched in 4 games and 6.1 innings allowing 13 runs, 9 earned and in 2017 he pitched in 14 games and 48.0 innings posting a 7.88 ERA. There are only two Cardinals who have seen Flexen before when they were members of other teams. Ozuna is 0-1 with 2 walks and Goldschmidt is 1-3 with a strikeout.

The Mets bats will look to make things easier for Flexen by putting up runs against Miles Mikolas. In his first four starts of the season eh has allowed 15 runs, 14 earned over 21.0 innings leading to a 6.00 ERA, 6.26 FIP, 1.381 WHIP and a 70 ERA+. He is coming off a tremendous year where he went 18-4 over 32 starts and 200.2 innings posting a 2.83 ERA, 3.28 FIP, 1.071 WHIP and a 137 ERA+. The last four stats are amazing considering he led the league in hits allowed at 186 but he only walked 29 batters. He has never faced the Mets but several players on the Mets roster have seen him. The problem is several of them are injured:

• Robinson Cano 1-3
• Yoenis Cespedes 1-3, 2B
• Jed Lowrie 0-2, BB
• Keon Broxton 0-2
• Todd Frazier 1-1, HR

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets have only played two games this season against teams not in the NL East, and they will more than double that amount after this weekend as they start a three game series with the Cardinals. The Mets are coming off a series loss to the Phillies in Philly. On Tuesday they were thumped on 14-3 and on Wednesday they lost 3-2 with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth.

Now the Mets turn to Jason Vargas to get them back on the right track. Originally, the Mets were going to skip him in the rotation but Jacob is dealing with strep, so here’s Jason. Yay. On the season he has allowed 10 runs over 6.1 innings leading to a 14.21 ERA, 8.16 FIP, 2.842 WHIP and 30 ERA+. The numbers are more stark if you get to the game by game level. After a good start on April 2nd, where he allowed 2 runs over 5.0 innings, he allowed 8 runs over 1.1 innings between an inning of a relief and a start where he could only get 1 out. The Cardinals have the following numbers against Jason:

• Matt Wieters 6-23, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Yadier Molina 5-11, 2B, HR, BB
• Dexter Fowler 3-8, 3 2B
• Matt Carpenter 5-5, 2B, BB
• Paul Goldschmidt 2-7, HR, 2 K

The Mets bats draw Adam Wainwright for the first game of the series. In his three starts this season he has tossed 16.0 innings with a 3.94 ERA, 4.04 FIP, 1.125 WHIP and 110 ERA+. Last year in a shortened season, Adam tossed 40.1 innings over 8 games with a 4.46 ERA, 4.28 FIP, 1.463 WHIP and a 88 ERA+. He missed the Mets in 2018 but in 2017 he pitched against the Mets twice holding them to 4 runs, 3 earned, over 12.1 innings from 11 hits and 2 walks while striking out 10. The Mets have the following numbers against Adam:

• Todd Frazier 7-25, 2 2B, HR, 3 BB, 4 K
• Keon Broxton 7-9, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, BB, K
• Travis d’Arnaud 2-9, BB
• Michael Conforto 1-5, HR, BB, K
• Wilson Ramos 1-4

Let’s Go Mets!

On this off-day, we decided to take a look at the Mets minor league rosters to see if there are players who are standing out in any way that we weren’t expecting. Between Woods-Richardson, Vientos and Mauricio, we already knew the Columbia Fireflies were going to be the team in the Mets system to watch this summer.

And then we saw this opening line from their corner infielder, Brian Sharp:

12 G, 39 PA, 31 AB, 8 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 BB, 16 K, .258/.395/.516

Granted there is a giant red flag near the end of that line, 16 K’s, which is alarming, his .395 OBP is leading the team and so is his slugging (thanks to half of his hits being for extra bases).

The Mets drafted him in the 26th round of last year’s draft and he was assigned to Brooklyn, where he was exactly the average age. He hit .250/.347/.387 including 5 homers in 50 games (remember MCU is a a difficult park to hit the ball out of).

This year he’s slightly over the average age in his league and he’s blocked at St. Lucie by Blake Tiberi, who is off to a fantastic start and Todd Frazier who should be shipping up to Syracuse today. If the Mets get aggressive and promote Tiberi, which they should, then the Mets should move Blake Sharp up. He’s listed as a third basemen but at Columbia he has to compete for time at third with Mark Vientos, the Mets could un-logjam their system a bit and having intriguing players at the hot corner across multiple levels in the system.

Wow was last night a night to forget. Steven Matz struggled to get anyone out in the first inning (aided by multiple defensive miscues across the field) and the Mets were down 10-0 at the end of the first inning. To add insult to injury, Nimmo had a stiff neck that he tried to play through but after the second homer of the inning that knocked out Matz, he decided that he just couldn’t play through it anymore. Hopefully he’s ok as he just started to heat up.

Wheeler will try to get the Mets back on the right track today. He’s 1-1 over 3 games and 15.2 innings allowing 13 runs. After two rough starts to begin 2019 (11 runs over 9.2 innings), he rebounded against Atlanta his last time out holding the Braves to 2 runs over 6.0 innings while striking out 8. In 2018 against the Phillies last year he was not good, allowing 7 runs over 11.2 innings from 10 hits and 6 walks. The Phillies have the following numbers against Wheeler:

• Bryce Harper 5-26, HR, 3 BB, 11 K
• Cesar Hernandez 7-14, 4 K
• Odubel Herrera 1-11, 2 BB, 4 K
• Maikel Franco 1-7, HR, 2 BB
• J.T. Realmuto 3-8, 2B, 2 K
• Nick WIlliams 3-6, BB, K
• Rhys Hoskins 1-7, 2 K
• Andrew McCutchen 2-5, 2B, HR, BB, K
• Jean Segura 1-6

The Mets get a look at Jake Arrieta this afternoon who unlike Nola and Pivetta, has been successful so far this season. Over three games and 20.0 innings this season he has a 2.25 ERA, 4.74 FIP, 1.150 WHIP and a 206 ERA+. Last season he pitched 172.2 innings over 31 starts with a 3.96 ERA, 4.26 FIP, 1.286 WHIP and a 105 ERA+. He faced the Mets three times last year and did well allowing only 5 runs over 18.1 innings from 18 hits and 3 walks while striking out 17. The Mets have the following numbers against Jake:

• Robinson Cano 5-22, 2 2B, 4 BB, 5 K
• Michael Conforto 2-12, 2 BB, 4 K
• Wilson Ramos 4-7, 2 BB
• Brandon Nimmo 2-7, 2B, 2 BB, 3 K
• Amed Rosario 0-7
• Keon Broxton 0-6, 4 K
• Jeff McNeil 3-6, 2B

Let’s Go Mets!

It’s been a couple of weeks since we searched the league for former Mets to see how they are doing! Let’s take a trip down memory lane:

Tampa Bay Rays:
Adam Kolarek: Adam is off to amazing start this season pitching in 9 games and 5.2 innings allowing no runs from 6 hits and a walk. He has a 0.00 ERA, 2.79 FIP and 1.235 WHIP. The Rays as a team are off to a fantastic start this year.

Cleveland Indians:
Oliver Perez: Oliver has allowed 4 runs over 4.0 innings in 7 games from 5 hits and two walks. Not great. Not great.
Kevin Plawecki: The Mets were having some issues this season with back up catchers between Nido and d’Arnaud’s return from injury. Plawecki though is also having a tough time hitting .125/.222/.313 over 18 PAs.

Detroit Tigers:
Michael Fulmer: Still on the injured list. This isn’t a surprise.

Kansas City Royals:
Lucas Duda: Lucas is having a rough go of it with the Royals early on this season. He is hitting .174/.333/.348 over 30 PAs. The difference between batting average and on base is positive, probably due to his 6 walks, but the slugging is the disappointing part of his game right now.

Minnesota Twins:
Addison Reed: Still on the injured list. This isn’t a surprise.

Houston Astros:
Collin McHugh: Collin is still good! He has allowed 5 ER over 17.0 innings in three games this season with a 2.65 ERA, 2.20 FIP, 0.882 WHIP and a 164 ERA+.
Joe Smith: On the Injured List. Hasn’t pitched yet this season

Texas Rangers:
Kyle Dowdy: Dowdy is still with the Rangers on the major league squad. He has pitched in 3 games and 6.2 innings this season allowing 5 runs, 4 earned from 5 hits and 4 walks.
Asdrubal Cabrera: It hasn’t been a great season for our old second basemen. In 56 PAs he has hit .216/.268/.549.

Oakland Athletics:
Yusmeiro Petit: Petit is off to another great season out of the pen. In 8 games and 8.0 innings he has allowed only 2 runs, a 2.25 ERA, 4.89 FIP, 0.750 WHIP and 196 ERA+

Seattle Mariners:
Chasen Bradford: Recently landed on the Injured List, before that
Gerson Baustista: Still on the Injured List
Anthony Swarzak: Recently off the injured list and has done really well in the five games he’s been in. He’s allowed no runs and only 2 hits over 4.1 innings.
Jay Bruce: Bruce is just being extra Bruce with the Mariners. He’s hitting .169/.265/.559 over 68 PAs with only 10 hits this season but 7 of the 10 hits have been homers. Its outrageous really.

Los Angeles Angels:
Matt Harvey: Since his first start Matt Harvey has had a rough go of it as an Angel allowing 16 runs over 14.1 innings now leading to a 10.05 ERA, 7.12 FIP, 1.953 WHIP and a 44 ERA+.
Hansel Robles: Hansel is being average right now with the Angles and for him that’s a godo thing to be. He has allowed 4 runs from 8 hits and a homer over 7.1 innings while striking out 11.

Miami Marlins:
Neil Walker: Walker is trying to re-establish himself this season and the start he is having the Marlins doesn’t inspire confidence posting a .231/.298/.423 line over 57 PA’s.
Curtis Granderson: Our favorite Curtis Granderson is struggling more than Walker in Miami. Over 55 PA’s Curtis is hitting .152/.273/.304. Granted, he is half a decade older than Walker.

Atlanta Braves:
Darren O’Day: Still on the Injured List.

St. Louis Cardinals:
John Gant: Gant has turned a major corner this year. He has allowed 1 run over 11.2 innings in 9 games this year leading to a 0.77 ERA, 4.51 FIP, 0.857 WHIP and 569 ERA+ (actually).
Merandy Gonzalez: Still not on the active roster for the Cardinals

Milwaukee Brewers:
Bobby Wahl: Still on the injured list, you already knew this

Los Angeles Dodgers:
Justin Turner: Turner is off to another fine season with the Dodgers hitting .302/.387/.333 over 75 PA’s. If this holds true, granted it’s still early in the season, it would be his third season in a row batting above .300.

Arizona Diamondbacks:
Wilmer Flores: Wilmer is seeing semi-regular playing time and is having a a rough go of it hitting .195/.250/.268 over 44 PA’s.

Colorado Rockies:
Daniel Murphy: Still on the IL for the foreseeable future

It was pretty clear around the 3rd inning that last night’s game was going to be one of those games that despite the marquee pedigree of Syndergaard and Nola on the mound, that the wind, the friendly confines of the ballpark and the way the baseball just flies now, it was going to be a back and forth offensive game. This one ended with the Mets on top in the 11th.

Steven Matz will look to keep the Mets in the win column tonight. Over his first three starts of the season he has allowed 5 runs, 3 earned over 16.1 innings with a 1.65 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 1.041 WHIP and a 251 ERA+. He faced the Phillies 4 times last year totaling 17.0 innings allowing 9 runs, 7 earned over 17.0 innings (3.71 ERA). The Phillies have the following numbers against Matz:

• Bryce Harper 4-17, 2 2B, 3 BB, 3 K
• Rhys Hoskins 1-10, HR, 2 BB, K
• Cesar Hernandez 3-9, 4 BB
• J.T. Realmuto 3-9, BB, 3 K
• Aaron Altherr 1-5, 2B, 2 BB
• Odubel Herrera 1-5, HR
• Maikel Franco 2-5
• Jean Segura 1-3, K

The Mets will get their first 2019 look at Nick Pivetta who is in the midst of his third major league season. So far he has allowed 15 runs, 14 earned over 13.1 innings leading to a 9.45 ERA, 5.10 FIP, 2.175 WHIP, and a 49 ERA+. Last year he made a significant step forward from his 2017 rookie year. In 2018 he tossed 33 games, 32 starts and 164.0 innings with a 4.77 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 1.305 WHIP and a 87 ERA+. He only faced the Mets once last year where he allowed 6 runs from 8 hits and a walk in 3.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Nick:

• Brandon Nimmo 0-6, BB, K
• Dominic Smith 2-7, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Amed Rosario 4-7, 3 K
• Michael Conforto 1-5, HR, BB, K
• Keon Broxton 1-3
• Travis d’Arnaud 2-4, HR
• Juan Lagares 1-3, 2B
• Jeff McNeil 0-2, K

Let’s Go Mets!