213 Miles From Shea

The Mets need a win. Full stop.

The Mets were decimated by Zack Wheeler over the weekend who cut through the team like they’ve been in a multiple week slump (which is true). Javier Báez also injured his hip in the game, as of yesterday he was listed as a day to day but that means the Mets are possibly down Lindor, Báez, Guillorme and Peraza at short stop. Hopefully the Mets were able to use yesterday’s day off to take a deep breath before heading into this series with the Nationals.

Carlos Carrasco will make his third start of the season tonight. So far he has allowed 3 runs over 8.1 innings from 8 hits and 1 walk while striking out 9. Carrasco made it to 62 pitches is his last outing and all of the damage came in the 5th inning when it looked like he just ran out of gas. This is Carrasco’s first start against the Nationals this year and the Nationals have the following of career numbers against him:

• Gerardo Parra 3-4, 2B, K
• Josh Bell 2-6, 2B, 3 K
• Alicides Escobar 8-41, 2B, 6 K
• Adrian Sanchez 0-1, K
• Tres Barrera 0-1
• Andrew Stevenson 0-1, K
• Ryan Zimmerman 0-2

The Mets will face off against a bright spot for the Nationals this season – Paolo Espino. Espino has pitched in 25 games and made 9 starts totaling 66.1 innings with a 3.66 ERA, 4.24 FIP, 1.101 WHIP and a 106 ERA+. As a starter only he’s pitched 42.2 innings with a 3.80 ERA & a 1.195 WHIP. He’s coming off of a rough start against the Phillies where he allowed 6 runs from 8 hits over 5.0 innings. In his only start against the Mets this year, he held the Mets scoreless, scattering 5 hits over 5.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Dominic Smith 1-2
• Jeff McNeil 1-3, K
• Pete Alonso 1-3, K
• J.D. Davis 0-1, BB
• Kevin Pillar 0-2, K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-1
• Javier Báez 0-3, K
• James McCann 0-1

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets try to avoid the sweep today in Philadelphia. On Friday the Mets lost the division lead, yesterday, the offense couldn’t get anything going until the 9th inning, scored 3 runs but couldn’t overcome the 5-0 hole they started the inning in. Now the Phillies have Zack Wheeler, competing for a Cy Young, up against the Mets. The Mets need a spark, they need something to get going again!

Taijuan Walker gets the start for the Mets. In 20 games and 105.0 innings this year he has a 3.86 ERA, 4.08 FIP, 1.229 WHIP, and a 102 ERA+. Since the All-Star break, baseball has been a struggle for Walker. He has allowed 21 runs, 20 earned, over 15.0 innings from 26 hits and 10 walks. Seven of the 13 homers he’s allowed this year have been in his last 4 starts. Walker has started against the Phillies three times allowing a run over 4.1 innings, then 4 runs over 6.0 innings (his first bad start of the year on May 1st) and then 1 run over 5.0 innings. Here’s hoping he can channel the good starts against the Phillies today who have the following career numbers against him:

• Nick maton 2-3, 2B, 2 BB
• Ronald Torreyes 3-5, 2 2B, K
• Alec Bohm 4-8, 2B, HR, 2 BB, K
• J.T. Realmuto 1-3,K
• Jean Segura 2-5, K
• Didi Gregorius 4-14, 2B, 2 K
• Brad Miller 0-4, 2 BB, 2 K
• Bryce Harper 1-9, BB, K
• Rhys Hoskins 1-7, 4 K
• Odubel Herrera 0-6, K
• Andrew Knapp 0-4

The Mets draw Zack Wheeler in the series finale today. In 22 starts he’s pitched 147.0 innings (league leading) and recorded 170 strikeouts (league leading) with a 2.57 ERA, 2.49 FIP, 1.034 WHIP and a 155 ERA+. He’s been a bit more human in his last two starts, allowing 7 runs over 14.1 innings from 15 hits and 3 walks. The first two times the Mets faced him this year they did fine, scoring 7 runs against him in 13.1 innings from 17 hits. The last time the Mets faced Wheeler, Wheeler was able to hold the Mets to 4 hits and no runs over 7.0 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against Wheeler:

• J.D. Davis 5-12, 2 2B, HR, 4 K
• Pete Alonso 5-11, 2B, K
• Dominic Smith 8-17, 2B, 3 K
• James McCann 3-9, K
• Michael Conforto 4-17, 2 2B, BB, 5 K
• Jeff McNeil 3-13, BB, 4 K
• Jonathan Villar 3-13, 3 K
• Brandon Nimmo 4-18, 2B, 4
• Kevin Pillar 1-10, BB, 3 K
• Javier Báez 1-8, 3 K

Let’s Go Mets!

For the first time in about 90 days the Mets wake up not in first place.

The Mets lost 4-2 to the Phillies last night and now the Phillies have a half game lead in the east. The offense was the issue for the Mets last night, mustering up only 5 hits and scoring 2 runs. Even with Edwin allowing 2 runs at the end of the game, which gave the Phillies their buffer, the offense has to do a better job of keeping the Mets in the game.

Tylor Megill goes for the Mets tonight. In his first 8 starts and 40.1 innings pitched he has a 2.68 ERA, 3.54 FIP, 1.116 WHIP and a 148 ERA+. He allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, in 5.0 innings in his last start, his worst of his career but the numbers hide what actually happened. His stuff was off at the start of the game, leading to a grand slam. After that he returned to the pitcher the Mets know and have seen this whole season – the Mets bats just didn’t bail him out. This will be his first start against the Phillies and no one on the Phillies roster has seen him in a major league game.

Ranger Suárez? The Phillies changed their rotation recently as way to shake things up, moving Matt Moore and Vince Velasquez out of the rotation and Ranger in. In 28 games, and 1 start, Suárez has pitched 43.1 innings with a 1.04 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 0.831 WHIP and a 167 ERA+. In his first start on Monday he allowed no hits and one walk in 3.0 innings while totaling 33 pitches. He’s broken 40+ pitches three times this season too, just as an FYI. In two games against the Mets this year he has allowed 2 runs, 1 earned over 2.0 innings from 3 hits and a walk. The Mets have the following career numbers on Suárez:

• Kevin Pillar 2-3, 2B, HR
• Brandon Nimmo 2-5, BB, K
• Dominic Smith 2-5, BB, K
• Michael Conforto 2-8, 2 K
• Pete Alonso 0-2, BB
• Jeff McNeil 0-2, K

Let’s Go Mets! Let’s get the division lead back!

This has been a rough week for the Mets, and yesterday it got a whole lot worse. The Mets lost to the Marlins, unable to capitalize on situations throughout the game (same as several other games this week) and the Marlins broke through in the 8th, leaving the Mets in the dust. Later in the day the Phillies won and now the Mets have only a half game lead heading into a series in Philadelphia. If there was ever a time for the Mets to bounce back, it’s right now.

Marcus Stroman gets the start for the Mets. Over 22 games and 122.0 innings, Stroman has a 2.80 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 1.131 WHIP and a 140 ERA+. He was having a great start his last time out against the Reds until the wheels came off in the 6th inning and he ultimately allowed 4 runs over 5.2 innings in a game the Mets lost 7-1. He’s already faced the Phillies three times this year. He faced the Phillies in back to back starts to start 2021 and he was phenomenal, allowing 1 run over 12.0 innings from 7 hits and 2 walks. In late June the Phillies got the best of him for 4 runs, 2 earned, from 5 hits and 3 walks over 3.0 innings. The Phillies have the following career numbers against Stroman:

• Travis Jankowski 2-5, 2B, K
• Andrew Knapp 1-2, K
• J.T. Realmuto 5-12, BB, K
• Didi Gregorius 9-36, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
• Brad Millar 9-37, 2B, 3B, HR, 4 BB, 12 K
• Jean Segura 6-18, 3 K
• Odubel Herrera 1-4, BB, K
• Ronald Torreyes 2-10, 2 K
• Rhys Hoskins 1-11, 2 BB, 3 K
• Alec Bohm 0-9, 3 K
• Bryce Harper 0-8, 3 K

The Mets bats will try to break out of their slump against one of the newest Phillies – Kyle Gibson. Gibson, a 2021 All-Star, had a league leading 2.87 ERA and 154 ERA+ when he was with the Rangers this season. In his first start as a Phillie he allowed 2 runs from 5 hits and 2 walks over 6.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Gibson:

• Brandon Nimmo 2-3, 2B, HR, K
• Michael Conforto 4-5, 2B, HR, BB
• Kevin Pillar 4-11, 2 2B, HR, 3 BB, 4 K
• J.D. Davis 1-2, 3 BB, K
• Jonathan Villar 6-11, 2B, BB, K
• James McCann 6-25, BB, 6 K
• Brandon Drury 0-2, K
• Jeff McNeil 0-2, K
• Pete Alonso 0-3, 2 K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets stopped the slide! Because of a Javier Baez slide!

The Mets found their way back to the win column last night with a 5-3 lead over the Marlins and they look to repeat their success in an early afternoon game today. The Mets found multiple runs in the same inning (3 of them!) when they capitalized on Marlins miscues in the 2nd inning. Between the 5th and 6th inning they let the fish tie the game but were able to score some runs late and hold the lead. The game wasn’t perfect and they still left too many runners on, but it was a huge improvement from the last several days.

Rich Hill will make his third start for the Mets tonight. In his first two Mets starts he has allowed 7 runs over 10.0 innings from 10 hits and 3 walks. Overall on the season he has made 21 starts and pitched 105.1 innings with a 4.10 ERA, 4.74 FIP, 1.177 WHIP and a 97 ERA+. Hill’s first start of the season was against the Marlins where they got him for 4 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks in 4.0 innings of work. The Marlins have the following career numbers against Hill:

• Miguel Rojas 1-1, 2B, BB
• Jesus Aguilar 1-2, HR, BB
• Joe Panik 4-10, 2 BB, K
• Jazz Chisholm 0-1, BB, 2 SB
• Lewis Brinson 0-2

The Marlins have made a solid amount of roster moves this week due to injuries and in those moves recalled Braxton Garrett. Garrett has pitched in 5 games this season, starting 4, totaling 22.2 innings with a 4.37 ERA, 4.57 FIP, 1.544 WHIP and a 95 ERA+. He had two normally spaced out turns in the rotation between July 18th and the 24th. On the 18th he allowed 3 runs over 4.1 innings and his last time out, before being sent down, he did great! Garrett allowed only 2 runs over 7.0 innings to the Padres. Today will be his first career game against the Mets.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets slide continued last night after a 5-4 loss to the Marlins. Taijuan Walker, similar to his last start, had periods where he looked like the same pitcher before the All-Star game and periods where he struggled to keep the ball in the ball park. The offense also played similar to their previous starts – getting on base frequently and then nothing. Hopefully the offense swings back today and the Mets can find their way to the win column.

The Mets turn to Carlos Carrasco tonight to put the Mets back on the right path. He made his Mets debut last Friday on black jersey night and did great. The first batter he faced hit a solo homer, and after that he allowed only two more hits, no additional runs and only one walk over 4.0 innings while striking out 4. Carlos also reached 58 pitches on the evening as he continues to build back his arm strength. A few Marlins have seen Carrasco before:

• Brian Anderson 1-2
• Jesus Aguilar 1-5, BB, K
• Sandy Leon 0-1
• Jorge Alfaro 0-1, K
• Miguel Rojas 0-1

The Mets will get their first look at rookie Zach Thompson today. Thompson has made 8 starts and pitched 38.2 innings with a 2.33 ERA, 3.29 FIP, 1.086 WHIP and a 177 ERA+. In June he had a three start stretch where he allowed 1 earned run, 3 total, over 15.0 innings. Since then he has had a 3.05 ERA over four starts. The only person on the Mets roster who has faced Zach is Javier Baez! Who went 0-2 with a strikeout.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets will turn to Taijuan Walker to turn the ship around tonight in Miami. Last night was another rough game for the Mets as they lost to the Marlins 6-3 in a very winnable game. Megill had a rough first inning, allowing a grand slam, but that was his only mistake of the game. After that inning the Mets continuously got runners on base but couldn’t bring them home. Coupled with a late scratch with Nimmo and a Covid scare with Miguel Castro, things don’t feel great in Metsville right now. Hopefully today will be better!

Taijuan Walker has made 19 starts and pitched 99.1 innings this year with a 3.71 ERA, 3.88 FIP, 1.198 WHIP and a 106 ERA+. His line in his last start hide what was happening. He allowed 5 runs in 5.0 innings but in the first three innings he looked as good as he has at any point this season. But the 4th and 5th inning count and now in his last three starts he has allowed 17 runs, 16 earned, over 9.1 innings. His first start this season was against the Marlins and he allowed 2 runs over 6.0 innings from 4 hits and 2 walks. The Marlins have the following numbers against Walker:

• Jesus Aguilar 1-3, K
• Miguel Rojas 1-5, 2B
• Joe Panik 4-15, BB, 2 K
• Jazz Chisholm Jr. 0-1, BB, K
• Brian Anderson 1-5, 2 K

For the second straight day the Marlins named their starter pretty late in the day. Nick Neidert gets the start for the fish tonight. He’s pitched in 6 games, made 5 starts and has 25.0 innings logged this season with a 3.96 ERA, 5.92 FIP, 1.560 WHIP and a 105 ERA+. He last pitched in the majors on July 21st and allowed only 1 run on 3 hits over 5.0 innings, his longest outing of the season. His first start of the year was against the Mets way back on April 8th. He allowed only 1 run over 4.1 innings from 3 hits and 5 walks, a game the Mets won 3-2.

Let’s Go Mets!

Yesterday was an ugly day for the Mets. Stroman started off strong but towards the end of his outing things started to unravel. Then the bullpen further fell apart all while the offense stayed ice cold. The Mets ended up losing 7-1. The Phillies won and gained a game on the Mets (the Braves thankfully lost). Then the Mets and Kumar Rocker failed to reach a deal. Just not a good day in Mets land.

But today is a new day! The Mets will try to get back on the right track behind Tylor Megill. In his first 7 starts of his career, Megill has tossed 35.1 innings with a 2.04 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 1.104 WHIP and a 194 ERA+ while striking out 39 batters. In his last five starts, Megill has allowed only 3 runs over 26.0 innings – a 1.04 ERA. The only team that has given Megill trouble was the Braves in his first two starts, but he got back at them in his last start. This will be Megill’s first start against the Marlins, and there is no one on the Marlins roster who has faced Megill in a major league game.

The Marlins will send out Jesus Luzardo, who they just acquired from the Oakland Athletics for Starling Marte. Jesus has pitched in 13 games and made 6 starts this year totaling 38.0 innings with a 6.87 ERA, 6.08 FIP, 1.632 WHIP and a 60 ERA+. His last outing was on June 19th where he allowed 3 runs and recorded one out. As a starter this year he had a 5.79 ERA.

Let’s Go Mets!

There is a lot going on with the Mets this weekend. The trade deadline on Friday led into news about Jacob deGrom which came right before a Mets loss. The Mets held an emotional Hall of Fame induction ceremony last night and then won their 20th game in come from behind fashion with their 8th walk off on the year. Today they have the rubber game of the series with the Reds and the deadline to sign Kumar Rocker. Busy, busy weekend.

After the Mets got a 1-0 lead last night the Reds shot back getting a 3-1 lead and eventually extended it to 4-1. Javier Baez in his first game as a Met hit a 2-run homer to get the Mets close and Dominic Smith tied the game in the 9th. Brandon Drury had the walk-off hit in the 10th, ending July going 11-15 at the plate. It was a fun one last night and hopefully the momentum carries into today.

Marcus Stroman gets the start for the Mets today. Over 21 starts and 116.1 innings he has a 2.63 ERA, 3.43 FIP, 1.109 WHIP and a 149 ERA+. He allowed only 2 runs from 8 hits in his last start, pitching 5 of 7 innings against the Braves. The Mets bats couldn’t back him up at all, so the Mets lost 2-0. In his last three starts he has allowed 4 runs over 18.0 innings, a 2.00 ERA. This includes an 8.0 inning, one hit performance against the Reds on the 21st, a day the Mets desperately needed length from a starting pitcher. The Reds have the following numbers against Stroman:

• Kyle Farmer 1-5, HR
• Tyler Naquin 8-17, 2B, K
• Joey Votto 1-7, 2 BB, K
• Eugenio Suarez 2-10, BB, 3 K
• Aristides Aquino 1-5, 2 K
• Jonathan India 0-2, K
• Jesse Winker 0-3
• Mike Freeman 0-1
• Shogo Akiyama 0-1

The Mets bats will get another look at the 25-year old rookie, Vladimir Gutierrez. In his 11 starts and 60.2 innings this year, Vladimir has posted a 4.75 ERA, 5.87 FIP, 1.434 WHIP and a 100 ERA+. In four starts in July, Vladimir allowed 2 runs or less in three of them. The one start he didn’t was against the Mets who had 9 hits and 2 walks and hit 3 homers in the game, getting a total of 6 runs. The Mets have following numbers against him:

• Michael Conforto 1-2, HR
• Pete Alonso 2-3, HR, K
• J.D. Davis 1-1, BB
• Jeff McNeil 1-3, HR
• Tomas Nido 1-2, 2B
• Brandon Nimmo 1-2, BB
• Luis Guillorme 1-2
• Javier Baez 1-3, SB
• Dominic Smith 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets have had an intense 24 hours. They acquired Javier Baez at the trade deadline, found out that deGrom had an injury set back and lost a game to the Reds. Buried in the loss last night where the bats were silent, was a good start by Carlos Carrasco, his first as a Met, allowing 1 run over 4.0 innings.

Rich Hill gets the start today to help the Mets turn it around. Over 20 starts and and 100.1 innings this year, Hill has a 3.95 ERA, 4.54 FIP, 1.176 WHIP and a 101 ERA+. He allowed 3 runs over 5.0 innings in his last start but that line is hiding his first five innings vs the 6th inning. He held the Blue Jays scoreless over his first 5.0 innings and then ran into immediate problems in the 6th inning. The first 5.0 innings were exactly what the Mets were hoping from Hill and it would be swell if Hill could replicate those innings today. The Reds have the following numbers against Hill:

• Eugenio Suarez 3-7, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
• Kyle Farmer 1-4, K
• Joey Votto 1-10, 3 BB, 2 K
• Aristides Aquino 0-3, 2 K
• Tucker Barnhart 0-3, K

The Mets draw the Reds’ All-Star again today. Wade Miley has made 18 starts and pitched 107.0 innings this season posting a 2.86 ERA, 3.47 FIP, 1.243 WHIP and a 166 ERA+. He’s coming off of a bad start against the Cubs where he allowed 3 runs from 7 hits and 5 walks in 4.1 innings of work. Before that he held the Mets to only 2 runs, 1 earned, over 6.1 innings while striking out 8. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Javier Baez 4-19, 2B, 2 BB, 2 K
• Pete Alonso 2-3, HR
• Dominic Smith 0-0, BB
• Kevin Pillar 9-27, 2B, HR, BB, 6 K
• James McCann 5-13, 2B, 2 K
• Jeff McNeil 1-3, K
• Jonathan Villar 2-11, 2B, 2 BB, 6 K
• Brandon Drury 1-5, 2B, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-4, 3 K
• Michael Conforto 0-3, K

Let’s Go Mets!