Around 6 PM last night, I was starting to wonder if the Mets were about to start something special. They had a good win on Sunday. They activated Francisco Lindor the first time in a month. The Giants were starting one of their weaker starters in the rotation. Maybe the Mets can get a little magic going in Queens, make a run for it this month.
Then the game happened. Tylor Megill had a real bump in the road start against hone of the best offenses in the league. The Giants starter had a great start against the Mets offense which seemed stuck. Oh well.
The Mets could always turn it around tonight though as they turn to Taijuan Walker. In 23 starts and 123.2 innings of work, Walker has a 3.86 ERA, 4.28 FIP, 1.181 WHIP and a 104 ERA+. Walker has faced the Dodgers in back to back starts, first holding them to only 1 run over 6.2 innings, in a game the Mets eventually lost 2-1. Then his last time out he allowed 4 runs over 6.0 innings, in a game the Mets eventually lost 4-1. It’s no secret Walker has struggled since the All-Star Break but recently the Mets bats have given him no help, scoring a combined 2 runs overall in the last three games he’s started. The Giants have the following numbers against Walker:
- Brandon Belt 2-7, 3B, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
- Austin Slater 1-2, BB, K
- Kris Bryant 2-4, K
- Tommy La Stella 1-2, K
- Brandon Crawford 4-15, 2 2B, BB, 5 K
- Wilmer Flores 1-3
- Buster Posey 2-8, BB, K
- Curt Casali 0-3, K
The Mets bats will get a look at Johnny Cueto tonight. Cueto has made 19 starts and pitched 104.0 innings with a 3.89 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 1.279 WHIP and a 107 ERA+. August has not been the friendliest month for Cueto. At the start of the month he made two starts allowing 7 runs, 5 earned, over 10.1 innings from 11 hits and 5 walks. He was then placed on the injured list with a right flexor strain and is making his first start of the IL tonight. The Mets have the following numbers against Cueto:
- Kevin Pillar 4-6, HR, K
- Brandon Drury 7-10, 2B, 3 BB, 2 K
- Jonathan Villar 2-11, 2B, 2 BB, 4 K
- Francisco Lindor 0-2, BB
- Javier BaƩz 0-12, 5 K
Let’s Go Mets!