Game Preview: Braves vs Mets

The Mets will attempt to clinch the series split against the Braves today after a mixed bag of results yesterday. The Mets beat the Braves in the first game and Jacob deGrom pitched 5.0 innings. The Mets bats went silent in the second game and lost 1-0. They had a terrible 6th inning where Villar got hurt and then Pereaza & Lindor both ran themselves out. Then they couldn’t push a run across in the bottom of the 7th despite loading the bases with one out. Further more – the Mets released updates throughout the day that Gsellman would be out for 6-8 weeks, Lucchesi had a serious UCL tear and Familia was heading to the IL for his hip. Just a rough day with injuries.

But the Mets have faced a mountain of injuries before this season and somehow pushed through – and they’ll attempt that again tonight behind Marcus Stroman. Stroman has made 14 starts and pitched 84.1 innings this year with a 2.35 ERA, 3.52 FIP, 1.043 WHIP and a 165 ERA+. In his last three starts he has pitched 20.0 innings allowing 4 runs, 3 earned, a 1.35 ERA with opponents hitting .194/.256/.306 against him. He missed the Braves earlier this season and the Braves have the following career numbers against him:

Pablo Sandoval 1-1, BB
Kevan Smith 2-4, HR, K
Dansby Swanson 4-8, BB, 2 K
Ozzie Albies 4-9, K
Freddie Freeman 0-6, 3 BB, K
Guillermo Heredia 1-6, K
Ronald Acuna Jr. 0-5, BB, 3 K
Abraham Almonte 0-8, 3 K

The Mets bats will try to break out of their funk against Charlie Morton. In 14 starts and 73.2 innings Morton has a 4.03 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 1.208 WHIP and a 109 ERA+. The last time the Mets saw him – Morton was struggling. He had a 5.08 ERA on the season and every great start he had was followed by a terrible start. He allowed 1 run over 6.0 innings against the Mets and including that game, he has a 2.86 ERA over 6 starts. He’s coming off of his best start of the season where he allowed no runs over 7.2 innings against the Cardinals from 3 hits and no walks. The Mets have the following numbers on Morton: