“And if we again tomorrow, it’s called a winning streak … It has happened before” – Major League
Winning is the answer to all ills in baseball and the Mets have the chance to go on a three game winning streak if they beat the Nationals in the series opener. On Saturday the Mets held onto a 3-1 lead thanks to a tremendous major league debut for Nolan McLean. Sunday the Mets rolled through the Mariners in the Little League classic playing a version of small-ball that kept the line moving and built frustration on the Mariners. Let’s keep the momentum going tonight in DC!
It’s redemption night for David Peterson! Over 136 1/3 innings and 23 starts Peterson has a 3.30 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 1.276 WHIP and a 120 ERA+. Peterson had a streak of six starts in a row going at least six innings heading into last start. Last time out he lasted only 3 1/3 innings allowing six runs from five hits and five walks (tied a season worst). In his last two starts he has been tagged for 10 runs over 9 1/3 innings. On June 11th Peterson pitched a complete game shutout against the Nationals! The Nationals have the following career numbers against Peterson:
- CJ Abrams 3-17, BB, 3 K
- Riley Adams 0-6, 2 K
- Josh Bell 5-16, HR, 3 BB, 2 K
- Luis García Jr. 6-18, 2B, 3 K
- James Wood 3-10, 4 K
- Jacob Young 3-9, BB, K
Jake Irvin has started 25 games and pitched 140 innings with a 5.14 ERA, 5.40 FIP, 1.379 WHIP and an 80 ERA+. August has been brutal for Irvin, allowing 14 runs (13 earned) over 13 1/3 innings from 23 hits (including four home runs). The last time he faced the Mets he allowed four runs over five innings from five hits. Earlier int he season he held the Mets to only one run over 7 1/3 innings scattering five hits. The Mets have the following career stats against Irvin:
- Pete Alonso 2-15, 2B, 2 BB, 5 K
- Francisco Alvarez 2-14, 7 K
- Brett Baty 0-4
- Francisco Lindor 6-16, 2 2B, HR, 3 K
- Starling Marte 1-2, K
- Ronny Mauricio 0-1
- Jeff McNeil 3-13, BB, K
- Cedric Mullins 0-5, K
- Brandon Nimmo 5-17, 2 HR, 2 BB, K
- Juan Soto 2-6, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
- Tyrone Taylor 1-9, 2B, 2 K
- Luis Torrens 0-2, 2 K
- Mark Vientos 1-12, 2 K
Three Things To Watch For:
- Home runs. The Mets won on Sunday on small ball early and a Mark Vientos three-run homer in the middle of the game to break it open. It feels like tonight is a good night for the Mets to hit some bombs. Jake Irvin leads the league in home runs allowed at 27, which is good for a 1.7 HR/9. That’s also not too far off of his previous season marks at 1.4 and 1.5 HR/9. He’s allowed four home runs over three starts this month and he allowed two homers his last time out against the Mets.
- Francisco Lindor. There are not enough words to describe how hot Lindor is right now. He now has five consecutive multi-hit games and six consecutive getting on base at least two times. Over this stretch he has gone 14-for-25, which is just absurd, with three doubles, three home runs, seven RBI’s and seven runs (.560/.607/1.040). The Mets are kind-of failing Lindor over the last two games. He’s had five hits but hasn’t scored any runs.
- Francisco Alvarez. How good has Alvarez been recently? He went 6-for-12 in three games against the Mariners hitting two doubles, a home run, recording five RBI’s and scoring four runs. In the opening game against Atlanta he went 3-for-4 with a double and two homeruns. After the game on August 10th Alvarez was hitting .242/.339/.364, six games later he’s hitting .265/.349/.438. This would be a great time for Alvarez to go on a run!
Let’s Go Mets!
