The Mets are back to 8 games above .500! In a close game, the Mets squeaked out two runs in the bottom of the 9th yesterday to beat the Phillies 4-3. The Nationals and Braves also lost so the Mets increased their division lead to 5.0 games above the Nationals and 6.0 games above the Braves and Phillies.
Yesterday was more of the same for the Phillies as they turned to Hector Neris to lock down the game in the 9th inning. Neris blew his 6th save of the year. Blankenhorn got the inning started, reaching on error. McKinney walked, then Pillar got a single. Luis Guillorme walked, scoring the tying run and Conforto hit a ball deep to center allowing McKinney to score on a sacrifice fly. The Mets will now face a frustrated Phillies team this afternoon as they look to take the four game set.
The baseball world will be treated to a great pitching match up today as Marcus Stroman will take on Zack Wheeler. Marcus Stroman returns to the mound after his injury shortened start last Tuesday where he recorded 3 outs, and made a few pitched in the 2nd and had to leave with a hip issue. Overall, Stroman has made 15 starts and tossed 85.1 innings with a 2.32 ERA, 3.57 FIP, 1.055 WHIP and a 164 ERA+. In his last four starts and 21.0 innings he has a 1.29 ERA. Stroman’s first two starts of the season were against the Phillies and he allowed 1 run from 7 hits over 12.0 innings. The Phillies have the following career numbers on Stroman:
- Travis Jankowski 2-4, 2B
- J.T. Realmuto 5-10, BB, K
- Andrew Knapp 1-2, K
- Odubel Herrera 1-3, BB, K
- Brad Miller 9-37, 2B, 3B, HR, 4 BB, 12 K
- Andrew McCutchen 1-5, 2B, K
- Rhys Hoskins 1-11, 3 K
- Alec Bohm 0-7, 2 K
- Nick Maton 0-2
- Bryce Harper 0-8, 3 K
- Ronald Torreyes 0-8, 2 K
Zack Wheeler is having a career year for the Phillies (and this comes right after his previous career year during his first season with the Phillies). In 15 starts and 99.1 innings this year, Wheeler has a 2.36 ERA, 0.977 WHIP, 2.43 FIP and a 167 ERA+. He’s coming off of his worst start of the season where he allowed 3 runs in 3.0 innings from 6 hits and a walk against the Nationals. The team that has given Wheeler trouble this year – the Mets. Against his old club he has allowed 7 runs from 17 hits over 13.1 innings, a 4.73 ERA. The Mets have the following career numbers on Wheeler:
- Dominic Smith 8-16, 2B, 3 K
- Billy McKinney 1-3, 2B, K
- James McCann 3-6
- Pete Alonso 3-8, 2B, K
- Jose Peraza 2-6, 2B, BB
- Francisco Lindor 2-6
- Michael Conforto 4-14, 2 2B, BB, 3 K
- Jeff McNeil 3-10, BB, 4 K
- Kevin Pillar 1-8, K
Let’s Go Mets!
