213 Miles From Shea

Note: This article was written 4 hours before the trade deadline. Lots of rumors. No action. Here’s hoping if you check in after 4 PM the Mets roster looks a little (or a lot) different!

The Mets are coming off of a tough series with Braves to welcome the Reds to town tonight. And the stadium should be lit. The Mets are debuting their black uniforms, Carlos Carrasco is making his first start of the season and the team has been playing today up. Expect a high energy atmosphere tonight in Queens!

The Mets took 2 of 3 from the Reds earlier in the month. Since then Joey Votto has exploded – homering in 6 straight games. When the Mets left the Reds, the Reds were heading into sell mode now the Reds are a borderline team. This weekend is make or break for them.

Carlos Carrasco was a huge part of the trade with Cleveland in the off-season. The Mets were getting a pitcher to bolster the rotation and take it to the next level. He’s been battling injuries all year and makes his anticipated Mets debut tonight. Last season he made 12 starts and pitched 68.0 innings with a 2.91 ERA, 3.59 FIP, 1.206 WHIP and a 159 ERA+. He’s coming off a strong rehab start. I would expect about 3-4 innings, maybe 5 tonight from Carlos. The Reds have the following numbers against him:

• Joey Votto 6-14, 2 2B, HR, 4 BB, 3 K
• Jesse Winker 2-5, 2 2B, 2 K
• Eugenio Suarez 3-13, HR, BB, 6 K
• Tucker Barnhart 1-6, K
• Kyler Farmer 0-2, K
• Shogo Akiyama 0-3, 3 K

The Mets bats draw Sonny Gray tonight. Sonny has pitched in 14 games and 70.0 innings with a 4.50 ERA, 4.03 FIP, 1.414 WHIP and a 105 ERA+. Gray missed the Mets last time around and is coming off of back to back difficult starts where he has allowed 13 runs over 8.0 innings from 14 hits and 5 walks. These two starts raised his ERA from 3.19 to 4.50. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Michael Conforto 2-4, HR, 2 BB
• Dominic Smith 1-3, HR
• Kevin Pillar 7-27, BB, K
• Jonathan Villar 3-18, 3 K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-2, K
• James McCann 1-7, K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets and Braves play the rubber game of their five game set in an early, noon game! The Mets just finished ahead of the Braves last night, 2-1, in an exciting game that featured another great start by Tylor Megill, a go-ahead homer by Brandon Drury, and the arm of Michael Conforto saving the game. Drury is now 6-6 in July and is just crushing his role as a pinch hitter this year, hitting a homer on back to back nights. Conforto had the play of the night, throwing out the tying run at home.

On top of everything, it’s the trade deadline. There will be rumors swirling throughout the game. Assuming the game ends between 3 and 4 today, the Mets will have about 24-25 hours before the trade deadline (while not playing) to strike a deal. The rumors will permeate everything this afternoon at Citi Field and across the league.

Taijuan Walker gets the start for the Mets tonight. Over 18 starts and 94.1 innings he has a 3.43 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 1.177 WHIP and a 114 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed 12 runs, 11 earned, over 4.1 innings, which has ballooned his ERA. The power bats in the Blue Jays lineup got him last time out, tagging him for three homers. Walker pitched back to back games against the Braves to close out May and allowed no runs and only 3 hits over 8.0 innings while striking out 10 batters. The Braves have the following numbers against him:

• Joc Pederson 8-20, 2 2B, HR, BB, 4 K
• Freddie Freeman 2-8, HR, 3 K
• Pablo Sandoval 2-6, 2B, BB
• Stephen Vogt 3-14, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
• Austin Riley 1-4
• Ozzie Albies 0-2, BB, K
• Dansby Swanson 0-3, K
• Ehire Adrianza 0-2, 2 K
• Guillermo Heredia 0-2, K
• Abraham Almonte 0-2, K

The Mets bats draw Drew Smyly. Smyly has made 17 starts and tossed 88.0 innings this year posting a 4.30 ERA, 5.07 FIP, 1.341 WHIP and a 104 ERA+. Drew has been much better in his last 6 starts than his season averages, posting a 1.97 ERA over 32.0 innings. He can get in trouble with walks, look for the Mets to try increase his pitch count and get on base that way. This will be Drew’s first start against the Mets this season and the Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• James McCann 5-9, 2 HR, BB, 2 K
• Pete Alonso 2-4, 2B
• J.D. Davis 1-3, K
• Kevin Pillar 3-20, HR, BB, 2 K
• Jonathan Villar 1-6, BB, K
• Jeff McNeil 0-2, BB
• Michael Conforto 0-2, BB, K
• Brandon Drury 0-1, K
• Tomas Nido 0-3, K

Let’s Go Mets!

Last night was a frustrating night for the Mets and makes tonight’s game even more important. Jerad Eickhoff was named the starter a couple of hours before pitching and allowed 10 runs, at that point the game became unreachable for the Mets bats. At this point the Mets executed their other plan – give key players in the bullpen a rest and got lucky with the Nationals beating the Phillies. The Mets were able to hold their 3.5 game lead in the east and they ended up using Eickhoff, Yennsy Diaz, Smith and Banda in the pen last night.

But that adds pressure to the game tonight. The Mets need a big start from Tylor Megill and a big night from the Mets bats. Megill has done everything the Mets have asked him to do this year, and more. In his first 6 starts and 30.0 innings he has a 2.10 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 1.100 WHIP and a 187 ERA+. In his last two starts he’s allowed no runs from 9 hits and a walk over 12.0 innings. His only average starts this year were his first two starts of his career – against the Braves. He allowed 5 runs from 8 hits and 4 walks over 9.1 innings. The Braves have the following numbers against him:

• Guillermo Heredia 1-1, BB
• Freddie Freeman 3-5, 2 K
• Ozzie Albies 1-5, HR, 2 K
• Ehire Adrianza 0-1, BB
• Austin Riley 1-5, K
• Dansby Swanson 0-4, 3 K
• Abraham Almonte 0-4

The Mets bats will look to do their part versus Max Fried tonight. Over 16 starts and 84.2 innings, Fried has a 4.46 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 1.370 WHIP and a 100 ERA+. In July he’s had one great start against the Rays where he allowed no runs over 7.0 innings, and three bad starts totaling 13 earned runs in 15.0 innings. In one start against the Mets this year he allowed 2 runs over 5.0 innings in a game the Braves won 20-2. The Mets have the following numbers against Max:

• Luis Guillorme 2-4, 2B
• Jonathan Villar 3-8, 2 2B, K
• Tomas Nido 2-5, 2B
• Brandon Nimmo 2-7, 2B, 2 BB, 3 K
• Pete Alonso 3-16, 2 HR, 4 BB, 6 K
• Jeff McNeil 6-17, 3 2B, 4 K
• Kevin Pillar 3-10, 2 2B, K
• J.D. Davis 4-15, 3 BB, 4 K
• James McCann 0-2, 2 BB
• Michael Conforto 2-19, 2B, 3 BB, 10 K
• Dominic Smith 0-4, BB, K
• Brandon Drury 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets split the double header yesterday with a 2-0 loss in the first game and a 1-0 win in the second game. Runs were at a premium in both games as both offenses struggled to get much going. The Mets executed another excellent bullpen game in the night cap and are turning to yesterday’s starting pitcher, TBA, to pitch another gem tonight.

Today’s TBA was revealed by the Braves Game Notes! The Braves Game Notes were the first document to name Jerad Eickhoff the starting pitcher for the Mets. You might remember Eickhoff from the time that he pinch hit against Charlie Morton at Citi Field and was the Mets only hit against Morton. The on again, off again starting pitcher for the Mets, Eickhoff has pitched in 4 games this season and logged 16.1 innings with a 4.96 ERA, 8.11 FIP, 1.714 WHIP and a 79 ERA+. He last pitched against the Reds and allowed 7 runs, only 2 earned over 3.2 innings in a game the Mets eventually won 15-11. His greatest outing as a Met this year was against Braves back on June 21st where he held the Braves scoreless and to 3 hits over 4.0 innings.

While the Mets side is shrouded in mystery, the Braves are set on sending out Charlie Morton tonight. Morton has pitched in 20 games and 111.0 innings this year with a 3.65 ERA, 3.41 FIP, 1.135 WHIP and a 124 ERA+. His last four games have been a lot like his season average, putting up a 3.33 ERA over 24.1 innings. Before that he faced the Mets in back to back starts, allowing no runs over 7.0 innings in the first game, and 3 runs from 5 hits in 6.0 innings in the second game. Overall against the Mets this year he has allowed 4 runs from 8 hits over 19.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Morton:

• Michael Conforto 2-6, HR, K
• Dominic Smith 3-9, HR, 4 K
• Jonathan Villar 3-11, HR, 5 K
• Brandon Drury 1-4, 2B, 2 K
• Luis Guillorme 1-4, BB
• James McCann 1-8, HR, 5 K
• Kevin Pillar 2-13, BB, 7 K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-3, 2 K
• Pete Alonso 0-3

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets have yet another double-header today – a theme of the season for the Mets. Finding starters for the Mets has been difficult as of late – the Mets have 12 players on the injured list right now that start or have been used as a bulk usage person this season (deGrom, Peterson, Carrasco, Syndergaard, Gsellman, Lucchesi, Oswalt, Reid-Foley, Yamamoto, Szapucki, Stock, Nogosek).

As of writing this (3:15), the Mets have not named a starting pitcher but have named Nick Tropeano as the 27th man. The Mets have used an opener before for double headers, based on how the first game goes and then followed that with the 27th man. Using Nick today for 2-4 innings would relieve some of the pressure on the Mets bullpen. As a member of the Giants this year he allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, over 6.0 innings from 4 hits and 2 walks over 4 games. In one outing with the Mets he allowed 1 run from 4 hits and a walk in 2.0 innings. With the Syracuse Mets this year he has allowed 2 runs from 6 hits over 11 innings, scattered over 5 games.

The Braves will turn to Bryse Wilson for the nightcap. In 6 starts and 28.2 innings Wilson has posted a 5.34 ERA, 5.73 FIP, 1.535 WHIP and a 84 ERA+. At first glance of his Baseball Reference page, Wilson hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 20th where he allowed 5 runs from 8 hits over 4.0 innings. However, there was a double header the Braves played on July 21st against the Padres. Wilson started that game but the game hasn’t ended yet! He has a lost start right now! Wilson will probably be happy for that game to be completely scrubbed from the books – he is on the hook for 5 runs over 2.0 innings from 4 hits and 4 walks. In the minors this year he has pitched in 10 games, making 9 starts and 55.1 innings with a 4.23 ERA. Despite pitching in 21 games over the last four seasons, no one on the Mets have ever seen him in a major league game.

Let’s Go Mets!

Pretty good weekend in Mets land. The Mets took the three game series from the Blue Jays, their second consecutive series win (and second consecutive series win against a winning team), the Braves and Phillies split a four game set and the Nationals got swept. The Mets head into the last week of July with a 4.0 game lead over the Phillies and a 5.0 game lead over the Braves.

Earlier this month the Braves traded for Joc Pederson to help fill the void left by Ronald Acuna Jr. one of the most exciting players in baseball. The knee jerk reaction among many with the trade was something like this: the Braves are between being buyers and sellers, there’s enough time left in the month to trade Pederson away if the Braves fall further away. This week will determine the Braves status at the deadline as they five games against the Mets.

Marcus Stroman starts game 1 for the Mets today. In 20 starts and 111.1 innings this year he has a 2.59 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 1.078 WHIP and a 151 ERA+. Stroman is coming off of his biggest start of the year for the Mets where he allowed one hit and no runs against the Reds, ending a streak of 4 lackluster starts. On top of that, the Mets really needed Stroman to go deep his last time out to give the bullpen a rest, and he did that. Stroman will also be making his 6th start on a double header (which is absurd). He’s been fantastic in two, average in one, and not good in the most recent two. Also his only start against Atlanta this season was his injury shortened one. The Braves have the following career numbers against Stroman:

• Pablo Sandoval 1-1, BB
• Kevan Smith 2-4, HR, K
• Stephen Vogt 4-9, HR, K
• Dansby Swanson 4-8, BB, 2 K
• Joc Pederson 2-6, 2 2B, 2 K
• Ozzie Albies 4-10, K
• Freddie Freeman 0-6, K
• Guillermo Heredia 1-6, K
• Orlando Arcia 0-3
• Abraham Almonte 0-9, 3 K

The Mets bats look to keep their July 2021 offense going against rookie Kyle Muller. In 5 games and 4 starts Muller has pitched 19.2 innings with a 3.20 ERA, 3.15 FIP, 1.119 WHIP and a 141 ERA+. He’s coming off a good, if not short, start against the Padres where he allowed 1 run over 4.0 innings from 2 hit sand 3 walks. His last start before that was back on July 3rd, his longest start of the year, where he pitched 5.2 innings allowing 3 runs against the Marlins. His stat line against the Mets is one of the stranger ones you’ll see. 4.0 innings of work, no hits, 1 run, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. The Mets have the following numbers against Muller:

• Tomas Nido 0-0, BB
• Jonathan Villar 0-1, BB, K
• Kevin Pillar 0-2, K
• Pete Alonso 0-2
• Dominic Smith 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets and Blue Jays face off in a rubber game today with the Mets looking to take their second consecutive series. Yesterday was a tough day for the Mets, they got one rally going in the game where they scored 3 runs after having multiple rallies ended by double players earlier in the game. After they scored 3 runs, and cut the Blue Jays lead in half, the Blue Jays took off. The end score was a 10-3 lost. On to the next one.

Today has been a day of light contention for the Mets for the last week or so – who’s going to start? Eickhoff self-destructed in his last start and Robert Stock got injured running to first base in his. At the same time, Carlos Carrasco had a rough start in Syracuse. Would the Mets bump Carrasco up?

The answer became clear in the middle of the week when the Mets acquired Rich Hill from the Rays, a trade that gives the Mets exactly what they are looking for – a major league pitcher who will give you innings. This allows Carrasco to pitch again today in the minors. In 19 starts and 95.1 innings this year, Hill has a 3.87 ERA, 4.54 FIP, 1.164 WHIP and a 102 ERA+. His last 7 starts have been a bit rough, allowing 20 runs over 33.1 innings with a 5.40 ERA. This includes a July 11th start against the Blue Jays where he allowed 3 runs from 4 hits over 5.0 innings. The Blue Jays have the following numbers against Hill:

• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 0-2, 2 BB
• Teoscar Hernandez 1-2, K
• Santiago Espinal 1-2
• George Springer 1-7, 3B, BB, 2 K
• Bo Bichette 1-3
• Randal Grichuk 0-1, BB, K
• Marcus Semien 0-5, BB
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 0-3

The Mets bats will get a look at Ross Stripling today. In 16 games, 15 starts and 75.0 innings this year Ross has a 5.04 ERA, 5.28 FIP, 1.307 WHIP and an 89 ERA+. He’s coming off of his worst start of the season where he allowed 6 runs and recorded only one against the Red Sox. In his last 2 starts he has allowed 10 runs over 4.0 innings from 8 hits and 4 walks. Homers have been his weakness this year – he’s allowed 18 and 5 in his last two games. Before this rough stretch he made four consecutive starts where he allowed 7 runs, 6 earned in 23.1 innings (2.31 ERA). The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 1-1, 2B
• Brandon Drury 3-11, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Kevin Pillar 1-6, 2B
• Jonathan Villar 0-2
• Dominic Smith 0-1
• James McCann 0-1, K

Let’s Go Mets!

Can the Mets get three wins in a row?

The Mets secured their second straight win last night thanks to a great start from Tylor Megill, two homers from Pete Alonso and a 1-2-3 inning through the heart of the Blue Jays lineup by Edwin Diaz. The Mets, still desperate for starting pitching stability got it from Megill but Diaz had the standout moment for me last night. Coming off three straight blown saves, he needed to regain his footing and reestablish his confidence. He did that last night against one of the more prolific offenses in the majors.

The Mets will look to keep the pitching going tonight with Taijuan Walker on the mound. Over 17 starts and 90.1 innings, Walker has a 2.99 ERA, 3.28 FIP, 1.118 WHIP and a 130 ERA+. The Walker we’ve seen this year actually started in Toronto. Before he was traded in 2020, he had a 4.00 ERA over 5 starts and 27.0 innings. After the trade he had a 1.37 ERA over 6 starts and 26.1 innings with the Blue Jays. He is also coming off an extremely frustrating start where he recorded one out while allowing 6 runs, 5 earned, from 4 hits and 4 walks. Only a few members of the Blue Jays have seen Walker before:

• George Springer 6-20, HR, BB, 7 K
• Marcus Semien 2-14, 2 2B, BB, 5 K
• Randal Grichuk 0-4, BB, 2 K

The Mets bats draw a tough challenge today with Hyun Jin Ryu. In 18 starts and 105.2 innings he has a 3.32 ERA, 3.96 FIP, 1.126 WHIP and a 135 ERA+. Ryu is coming off of a complete game shut out (7-innings) against the Rangers where he held them to 3 hits and a walk and in his 12.0 innings he’s allowed only 1 run. He held the Mets to only 1 run despite the Mets getting 8 hits against him over 6 innings last year. The Mets have the following numbers against Ryu:

• Brandon Nimmo 3-5, 2B, 2 K
• Dominic Smith 2-3
• Jonathan Villar 1-3, K
• Tomas Nido 1-3, K
• Jeff McNeil 2-8, 2B
• Pete Alonso 2-9, 2B, 3 K
• James McCann 0-1, BB
• Kevin Pillar 1-6
• Michael Conforto 2-12, 6 K
• J.D. Davis 0-9, 3 K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets return home!

The Mets haven’t been home since the All-Star break. Since then they’ve had a lackluster series in Pittsburgh, a series where they battled severe pitching shortages in Cincy and have now extended their division lead to 4.0 games. The Braves and Phillies, tied for second in the division, play each other this weekend while the Mets take on an old friend tonight (more on that in a bit).

The Mets got a much needed off day yesterday. The pitchers though basically got two days off thanks to Marcus Stroman. Stroman put on a show on Wednesday, holding the Reds scoreless for 8.0 innings, giving the Mets stability.

Tylor Megill will look to make stability from the rotation a multiple game thing as he takes the mound tonight. In his first 5 starts and 24.0 innings this year he has a 2.63 ERA, 3.70 FIP, 1.208 WHIP and a 150 ERA+. He’s coming off of his best start in his career, 6.0 scoreless innings scattering 6 hits while walking none. This will be Megill’s first game against the Blue Jays.

Big night tonight for those who like to see old friends, Steven Matz makes his Citi Field return! Matz, pitcher for the Mets since 2015, was traded this off-season to the Blue Jays for Yennsy Diaz and Sean Reid-Foley (another player, Josh Winckowski who the Mets traded). A beloved Long Island native, Matz enjoyed success and faced obstacles while he was with the Mets. This year he has made 16 starts and pitched 81.1 innings with a 4.43 ERA, 3.97 FIP, 1.328 WHIP and a 101 ERA+. He’s coming off of a solid start where he didn’t allow any runs over 5.0 innings (3 hits, no walks). Before that he allowed 8 runs, 7 earned over 6.2 innings in two starts. Only two Mets have seen Matz before:

• Jonathan Villar 2-7, 3 K
• Kevin Pillar 0-5, BB, K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets need tomorrow’s day off.

After back to back days using the entire bullpen to the limit, the Mets were hoping to get at least 3 if not 4 innings from Robert Stock last night. However, the injury bug continued to haunt the Mets and Stock left with an injury after running to first base in the top of the second. The Mets bullpen did an excellent job keeping them in the game to the point that losing 4-3 almost feels like a win. The Yankees beat the Phillies so the Mets maintained their 2.5 game lead in the east.

All of that makes today’s start by Marcus Stroman that much more important. Stroman today will look to save both the series and the Mets bullpen. In 19 starts and 103.1 innings this year Stroman has a 2.79 ERA, 3.61 FIP, 1.142 WHIP and a 140 ERA+. In the month of July he has pitched 15.0 innings allowing 10 runs, 8 earned, from 19 hits and 1 walk. The Reds have the following numbers against him:

• Kyle Farmer 1-2, HR
• Tyler Naquin 8-14, 2B, K
• Eugenio Suarez 2-7, BB
• Joey Votto 1-5, BB
• Nick Castellanos 2-17, HR, BB, 2 K
• Mike Freeman 0-1
• Tucker Barnhart 0-2, K

The Mets bats will look to bounce back from last night against Jeff Hoffman. Hoffman has pitched 41.0 innings over 10 starts with a 4.61 ERA, 4.66 FIP, 1.585 WHIP and a 103 ERA+. This will be his first start since May 26th against the Nationals where he allowed 2 runs from 2 hits and 5 walks in 1.1 innings. He landed on the IL with a right shoulder impingement and will be making this start as a way to give Mahle and Castillo an extra day off. The Mets have the following numbers against Hoffman:

• Jeff McNeil 2-3, HR, K
• Dominic Smith 1-1
• J.D. Davis 1-3, K
• Pete Alonso 1-5, HR, 2 K
• Michael Conforto 2-9, 2B, 3 BB, K
• Jonathan Villar 1-5, BB, K
• Brandon Nimmo 1-3, K
• Tomas Nido 0-1, BB, K
• Kevin Pillar 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!