213 Miles From Shea

The Mets and Braves continue their series tonight, fresh off a comeback win for the Mets last night. Charlie Morton was slicing through the Mets lineup, just like last week. In the 5th inning, Ozzie Albies hit a 3-run homer that felt insurmountable (like Swanson last week). But then some Mets magic! James McCann hit a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 6th to tie the game and Francisco Lindor hit a go-ahead single in the 7th. McCann and Lindor both needed a night where they were the offensive star.

Now the Mets will look to make it two in a row as they conclude a wild month of June. David Peterson starts for the Mets. Over 14 starts and 63.2 innings with a 4.95 ERA, 4.64 FIP, 1.319 WHIP and a 77 ERA+. In his last three starts he has allowed 2 runs over 16.2 innings from 6 hits and 7 walks leading to a 1.08 ERA. His season ERA has dropped from 6.32 to 4.95 during this stretch. He has made one start against Atlanta this season where he allowed 3 runs from 5 hits and a walk in 4.2 innings. The Braves have the following career numbers on Peterson:

• Austin Riley 3-6, 3 2B, 3 K
• Guillermo Heredia 1-2, K
• William Contreras 0-1
• Freddie Freeman 2-9, 4 K
• Ronald Acuna Jr. 0-5, 4 BB, K
• Dansby Swanson 1-7, 4 K
• Ozzie Albies 0-5

Max Fried returns to the Braves rotation today after a quick stint on the IL. He was supposed to start against the Mets last week but a blister on his finger landed him on the injured list. In 11 starts and 57.2 innings this season, Fried has a 4.21 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 1.335 WHIP and a 105 ERA+. He had a good start right before heading to the IL, allowing one run over 7.0 innings from 2 hits and 2 walks. Fried had a rough start to the season, ending April with a 11.45 ERA before heading to the IL for the first time this season when he came back he allowed exactly 1 run in 4 consecutive starts in May before alternating good and bad starts in June. One of those May starts was against the Mets where he allowed 1 run from 5 hits and 2 walks over 6.0 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against Fried:

• Luis Guillorme 1-2, 2B
• Jeff McNeil 6-16, 3 2B, 4 K
• Kevin Pillar 2-7, 2B, K
• Francisco Lindor 1-7, HR, 2 K
• James McCann 0-1, BB
• Pete Alonso 2-15, HR, 3 BB, 6 K
• Jose Peraza 2-8
• Michael Conforto 2-17, 2B, 3 BB, 8 K
• Dominic Smith 0-4, BB, K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets almost made magic happen last night – then fell apart. The Mets were making a one game layover to DC to make up a game from first opening series and went down 5-0 early, thanks to Kyle Schwarber. Between the 7th and 8th inning the Mets got four runs back, but then the wheels came off in the bottom of the 8th. Blankenhorn made two errors on the same play which set up a 3-run homer for Ryan Zimmerman. At that point the Mets couldn’t catch up.

Tonight they’ll turn to Tylor Megill making his second career start against Charlie Morton who frustrated the Mets in Queens last week. Morton flirted with a no hitter until Jerad Eickhoff, pinch hitting for a injury depleted Mets bench, got an infield single. Y’all, its been a rough couple of weeks for the Mets.

Anyway back to Megill. Megill made his major league debut against the Braves last week where he allowed 2 runs from 3 hits and 2 walks over 4.1 innings. He also struck out 4 batters and was fairly impressive. Tonight will be a tall order as he’ll have to face the same lineup that just got to see him, again. The Braves had the following box score against Tylor:

• Ender Inciarte 1-2, HR
• Freddie Freeman 2-2
• Ehire Adrianza 0-1, BB
• Austin Riley 0-2
• Ozzie Albies 0-2, K
• Abraham Almonte 0-2
• William Contreras 0-2, K
• Dansby Swanson 0-2, K

Charlie Morton has made 15 starts and pitched 80.2 innings this year with a 3.68 ERA, 3.42 FIP, 1.140 WHIP and a 120 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed no runs on 4 hits over 14.2 innings while striking out 18 batters, dropping his ERA from 4.50 to 3.68. Against the Mets this season he has allowed 1 run on 3 hits over 13.0 innings while striking out 19 batters. Will the Mets break through tonight? The Mets have the following career numbers on Morton:

• Michael Conforto 1-3, HR
• Dominic Smith 2-6, HR, 3 K
• Billy McKinney 2-7, 2 2B, BB, 3 K
• Jose Peraza 1-4
• Kevin Pillar 2-11, 6 K
• Francisco Lindor 2-21, 2 2B, 6 K
• Jeff McNeil 0-2, K
• Luis Guillorme 0-2, BB
• Albert Almora Jr. 0-3, K
• James McCann 0-5, 4 K

No word yet if Eickhoff is available to pinch hit against Morton tonight.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets lost the series finale with the Phillies and the Nationals won yesterday bringing them to only games out of first place. Tonight’s game is a make up from the first series of the season that got cancelled due to the Nationals Covid outbreak, this game right now means a lot to the Nationals – win in this one game set and they are within three games of first place. For the Mets, this game is in the midst of a rough stretch that has them playing in three cities in three days.

Jerad Eickhoff will start for the Mets tonight. In his first major league start this season he allowed no runs over 4.0 innings with 3 hits, 3 walks and 3 strikeouts. A very positive first start for a pitcher who might make an extended appearance in the Mets rotation. The next day he had a pinch-hit infield single and provided one of only two hits the Mets offense could muster against the Charlie Morton and the Braves. The Nationals have seen Eickhoff before from his time with the Phillies and have the following numbers against him:

• Alex Avila 3-6, 2 HR, BB, 2 K
• Jordy Mercer 1-3, HR
• Kyle Schwarber 3-8, 2 HR, BB, 3 K
• Trea Turner 1-6, 2 K
• Ryan Zimmerman 0-2, BB
• Starlin Castro 0-4
• Gerardo Parra 0-3
• Victor Robles 0-3, 2 K

Things are a bit complicated for the Nationals today. Erick Fedde, who was supposed to start, was put on the IL yesterday for an oblique strain. As of writing, the Nationals still have not named a starter however their beat writers are suggesting three possible starters: Andres Machado, Paolo Espino and Jefry Rodriguez. Unless another starter is named, we are probably looking at a bullpen game of sorts.

Andres Machado was recalled when Fedde was put on the IL. He pitched 3.2 innings over 2 games for the Royals back in 2017 and allowed 9 earned runs from 10 hits and 3 walks. This season he has pitched 13.2 innings over 10 games with a 2.63 ERA and a 1.317 WHIP. Paolo Espino has pitched 30.2 innings over 17 games and started twice for the Nationals this year. He has a 2.35 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 0.848 WHIP and a 160 ERA+. Espino, who last pitched on Friday, has pitched against the Mets once this season, holding them hitless and scoreless in one inning of work. His first outing of the year was a 4.1 inning start where he allowed 2 runs from 5 hits and his second start of the year he pitched 5.0 scoreless innings. The third option for the Nationals, Jefry Rodriguez, has only pitched in two games this year, totaling 6.0 innings allowing 2 runs on 2 hits / 4 walks. He has allowed 16 runs, 14 earned, over 16.2 innings in Triple A this season.

Let’s Go Mets!

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!

The Mets and Phillies split the double header yesterday – both by the score of 2-1, both games going into the the 8th inning. If you like symmetry – then you loved Mets baseball yesterday! With the split and the Nationals loss, the Mets actually increased their division lead to 4.0 games, with Atlanta and Philly tied at 5.0 games out.

The Mets will now turn to deGrom to clinch at least a series split. Jacob has pitched 72.0 innings over 12 starts with just some insane numbers. He has a 0.50 ERA, 0.86 FIP, 0.514 WHIP, 773 ERA+. His WHIP and ERA are just incomprehensibly low. In 72 innings he has struck out 117 batters while walking only 10, giving him a career high in K/9 at 14.6 and K/BB at 11.70 (his next highest was 5.85 in 2018). In his last five starts and 27.0 innings dating back to May 31st he has allowed 0 runs and only 3 walks while striking out 43 batters. Hitters are hitting .080/.110/.102 in that stretch. His first start of the season was against the Phillies in Philly where he allowed no runs from 3 hits and 2 walks in 6.0 innings of work. The Phillies have the following numbers against him:

• Ronald Torreyes 2-3, 2B
• Bryce Harper 11-39, 2 2B, 2 HR, 10 BB, 14 K
• Rhys Hoskins 4-19, 2 2B, 4 BB, 7 K
• Andrew McCutchen 6-25, BB, 8 K
• Odubel Herrera 7-34, BB, 9 K
• J.T. Realmuto 4-27, 2B, 10 K
• Travis Jankowski 0-5, 2 BB
• Alec Bohm 0-6, 4 K
• Brad Miller 0-1

The Mets bats will look to play like their Wednesday selves and not their Friday selves against Zach Eflin today. In 14 starts and 84.0 innings this season he has a 4.39 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 1.274 WHIP and a 90 ERA+. He is leading the league in hits at 97 but has a low walk rate of 1.1 BB/9 which is probably why his run numbers aren’t crazy. His is H/9 at 10.4 isn’t terribly higher than his career mark of 9.7 as the lowest he’s ever had in a season is 9.1. Anyway, he’s coming off of his worst start of the season against the Giants where he allowed 7 runs, 6 earned over 5.0 innings from 9 hits and no walks (and four homers). He faced the Mets back at the start of May and allowed 2 runs in 6.0 innings from 10 hits and no walks (there’s a trend here!). The Mets have the following career numbers on Eflin:

• Kevin Pillar 5-9, 2B, HR, BB, K
• Michael Conforto 10-29, 2 2B, 3 HR, BB, 5 K
• Luis Guillorme 1-2
• Dominic Smith 4-12, 3 2B, BB, 4 K
• Pete Alonso 3-12, HR, 3 K
• Jeff McNeil 6-22, 2 2B, 3B, 2 BB, 3 K
• Francisco Lindor 0-4, K
• James McCann 0-3, K

Let’s Go Mets!

Game Two! The Mets and Phillies continue their four game end of June series today with a double header! The Mets turn to David Peterson to lead to the Mets on the mound. Peterson has pitched 13 games and tossed 57.1 innings with a 5.31 ERA, 4.60 FIP, 1.370 WHIP and a 73 ERA+. He’s coming off of solid start against the Nationals where he allowed 1 run from 2 hits and 3 walks in 4.2 innings. In his las two starts he has allowed only 1 run in 10.2 innings.

Peterson’s first two starts this season where against the Phillies. In his first start, he allowed 6 runs over 4.0 innings from 7 hits and 2 walks. He followed that up with a 1 run performance over 6.0 innings from 3 hits while striking out 10. That start was at Citi Field. The Phillies have the following numbers against Peterson:

• Rhys Hoskins 6-10, 2 2B, 2 HR, BB, 2 K
• Bryce Harper 4-9, 2B, BB, 3 K
• J.T. Realmuto 5-8, 2B, 3 BB, K
• Andrew McCutchen 1-9, HR, BB, 2 K
• Alec Bohm 1-7, HR, 3 K

The Mets bats will end their long Friday against Matt Moore. Moore, the long time Tampa Bay Ray, has spent time with the Giants, Rangers, Tigers and now the Phillies since 2016. This year he has pitched in 9 games, starting 3, pitching 18.1 innings with a 7.36 ERA, 6.65 FIP, 1.909 WHIP and a 89 ERA+. Tonight will be his first game in the majors since May 20th. His first game of the season was a start against the Mets where he allowed 2 runs from 4 hits and 4 walks over 3.1 innings. Matt Moore has also started 5 games for the Phillies’ Triple A team, Lehigh Valley, where he posted a 4.66 ERA over 19.1 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Jonathan Villar 3-5, 2B, HR, K
• Francisco Lindor 8-14, HR, BB, K
• Jose Peraza 1-3, BB
• Michael Conforto 1-6, BB, 3 K
• Pete Alonso 0-1, BB, K
• Albert Almora 1-6
• James McCann 1-7, 2 K
• Kevin Pillar 1-13, 2 K
• Jeff McNeil 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets picked up a critical win on Wednesday – splitting the series with the Braves. The Phillies had a devastating, loss on Wednesday. The NL East has essentially collapsed with the Phillies backsliding, the Braves stalling in neutral and the Nationals surging. The Phillies go into this weekend and four games against the Mets desperate to get back on track. The Mets go into the weekend hoping to prove that they are healthy and push the Phillies deep into the cellar of the division.

Taijuan Walker will start the first game for the Mets. Over 13 starts and 74.1 innings this season, he has a 2.42 ERA, 3.01 FIP, 1.049 WHIP and a 160 ERA+. He’s coming off of a rough start against the Nationals where he allowed 4 runs from 10 hits and no walks in 6.1 innings in a game the Mets eventually lost 6-3. He’s faced the Phillies twice this year. The first time at home he allowed 1 run over 4.1 innings with 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 8. His second time, in Philly, he allowed 4 runs from 7 hits and a walk in 6.0 innings. Walker has the following numbers against Philly:

• Ronald Torreyes 3-3, 2 2B
• Alec Bohm 4-6, 2B, HR, 2 BB
• Rafael Marchan 0-1, BB, K
• J.T. Realmuto 0-1, K
• Andrew McCutchen 2-11, 2B, 5 K
• Rhys Hoskins 1-5, 3 K
• Bryce Harper 1-7, BB
• Brad Miller 0-4, 2 BB, 2 K
• Odubel Herrera 0-3

The Mets bats broke out on Wednesday and they’ll try to keep that going against Aaron Nola. Nola has pitched in 15 games and 85.1 innings this year with a 4.22 ERA, 3.64 FIP, 1.219 WHIP and a 94 ERA+. Nola is coming off of his worst start of the season against the Giants where he allowed 6 runs over 2.1 innings from 6 hits, 3 walks and 2 homers. He faced the Mets in back to back starts in April where he allowed 4 runs over 9.0 innings from 13 hits and 3 walks while striking out 12. The Mets have the following career numbers against Nola:

• Francisco Lindor 2-4, 2B, BB
• Pete Alonso 7-25, 2B, 3 HR, BB, 7 K
• Luis Guillorme 2-5, BB, K
• Kevin Pillar 3-7, 2 K
• Dominic Smith 9-32, 6 2B, HR, 12 K
• Jeff McNeil 7-25, 2B, HR, 3 BB, 6 K
• Jonathan Villar 4-18, 2 2B, 3 BB, 5 K
• Michael Conforto 7-40, 3 2B, HR, 5 BB, 15 K
• Jose Peraza 3-13, 2 K
• James McCann 1-5, K
• Albert Almora 0-4, BB, K
• Billy McKinney, 0-3

Let’s Go Mets!

Well that was a clunker of a game last night for the Mets. The Mets lost their 6th game out of their last 8, but they still have a 4 game lead in the division! And if the Mets win today, they’ll split the series with the Braves and guarantee a 4 game lead for another day (possibly even increase their division lead).

Last night was more of the same for the Mets. They lost another pitcher to injury, this time Stroman – but the bullpen behind him was able to keep the game intact. The bullpen allowed a 3-run homer and that was it. They were striking out players left and right, Loup tossed 3.0 innings. The bullpen did everything they could to keep the Mets in the game – the Mets just couldn’t hit. The first hit in the game came on a Jerad Eickhoff infield single (twice the Mets used starting pitchers as pinch hitters) and the Mets didn’t get another hit until James McCann ripped a double with two outs in the 9th inning. But the Mets get Michael Conforto back tonight. Pete Alonso had the day off yesterday so hopefully things start to turn around for the offense.

The Mets are calling up Tylor Megill tonight on short rest. There was apparently talk for a while about using Megill in tonight’s game at least as a spot starter but with everything happening to the Mets right now it is very easy to see the Mets using this as an audition for a longer stint. The Mets drafted the righty round 8 during the 2018 draft out of Arizona. Across Double and Triple A this year Tylor has made 8 starts, tossing 40.1 innings with a 3.35 ERA and a 1.091 WHIP. He’s been impressive in the minors this year and if he has an effective start, he’ll probably top out around 5.0 innings.

The Braves can’t escape the injury bug either and had to recall Kyle Wright for today’s start. Originally Max Fried was scheduled to pitch but a blister has sent him to the IL. Wright will make his second major league start this year, his first since April 16th. In that start he allowed 2 runs from 3 hits and 4.1 innings while walking 2 and striking out 5 against the Cubs. He has made 8 starts and pitched 38.1 innings in Triple A this year with a 3.76 ERA, 1.617 WHIP. Wright faced the Mets twice last year allowing no runs over 9.2 innings from 6 hits and 5 walks. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Kevin Pillar 1-1
• Dominic Smith 3-6, HR, BB
• Jonathan Villar 1-2, 2B
• Jeff McNeil 4-7, 2 2B
• Pete Alonso 0-4, 2 K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets will attempt to clinch the series split against the Braves today after a mixed bag of results yesterday. The Mets beat the Braves in the first game and Jacob deGrom pitched 5.0 innings. The Mets bats went silent in the second game and lost 1-0. They had a terrible 6th inning where Villar got hurt and then Pereaza & Lindor both ran themselves out. Then they couldn’t push a run across in the bottom of the 7th despite loading the bases with one out. Further more – the Mets released updates throughout the day that Gsellman would be out for 6-8 weeks, Lucchesi had a serious UCL tear and Familia was heading to the IL for his hip. Just a rough day with injuries.

But the Mets have faced a mountain of injuries before this season and somehow pushed through – and they’ll attempt that again tonight behind Marcus Stroman. Stroman has made 14 starts and pitched 84.1 innings this year with a 2.35 ERA, 3.52 FIP, 1.043 WHIP and a 165 ERA+. In his last three starts he has pitched 20.0 innings allowing 4 runs, 3 earned, a 1.35 ERA with opponents hitting .194/.256/.306 against him. He missed the Braves earlier this season and the Braves have the following career numbers against him:

• Pablo Sandoval 1-1, BB
• Kevan Smith 2-4, HR, K
• Dansby Swanson 4-8, BB, 2 K
• Ozzie Albies 4-9, K
• Freddie Freeman 0-6, 3 BB, K
• Guillermo Heredia 1-6, K
• Ronald Acuna Jr. 0-5, BB, 3 K
• Abraham Almonte 0-8, 3 K

The Mets bats will try to break out of their funk against Charlie Morton. In 14 starts and 73.2 innings Morton has a 4.03 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 1.208 WHIP and a 109 ERA+. The last time the Mets saw him – Morton was struggling. He had a 5.08 ERA on the season and every great start he had was followed by a terrible start. He allowed 1 run over 6.0 innings against the Mets and including that game, he has a 2.86 ERA over 6 starts. He’s coming off of his best start of the season where he allowed no runs over 7.2 innings against the Cardinals from 3 hits and no walks. The Mets have the following numbers on Morton:

• Dominic Smith 2-4, HR, 2 K
• Billy McKinney 2-5, 2 2B, 2 K
• Jonathan Villar 3-11, HR, 5 K
• Brandon Drury 1-4, 2B, 2 K
• Kevin Pillar 1-8, 3 K
• Jose Peraza 1-5
• Francisco Lindor 2-18, 2 2B, 5 K
• James McCann 0-2, 2 K

Let’s Go Mets!

The nightcap for the Mets and the Braves will be both familiar and new territory. Jerad Eickhoff will make his New York Mets debut – that’s new. Jerad Eickhoff will be facing the Atlanta Braves – that’s familiar for the long time Phillie.

Eickhoff joins the Mets after not playing in the majors in 2020. After the 2019 season he signed with the Padres who didn’t use him in the 2020 season, he would later sign with the Rangers who also didn’t use him in 2020. In his last season with the Phillies he pitched 58.1 innings over 12 games with a 5.71 ERA, 6.51 FIP, 1.303 WHIP and a 77 ERA+. So far in the minors he has made 8 starts and pitched 44.0 innings for the Syracuse Mets with a 5.32 ERA. With Lucchesi and Gsellman both on the IL, Eickhoff has a chance to stick around for a bit if he does well tonight (unless if he is the next player on the way if with the Mets current roster crunch). In his one start against the Braves in 2019, the Braves scored 5 runs off of 6 hits and a walk in one inning of work and they have the following career numbers against him:

• Ronald Acuna Jr. 1-3, HR, 2 K
• Ozzie Albies 4-8, 3 2B
• Freddie Freeman 10-25, 3 2B, 3 HR, 5 BB, 7 K
• Ender Inciarte 5-26, 3 K
• Austin Riley 1-1
• Pablo Sandoval 1-3, 2B, K
• Dansby Swanson 1-9, BB, 2 K

The Mets bats will try to find themselves against Ian Anderson who has made 13 starts and pitched 70.1 innings this season with a 3.58 ERA, 3.37 FIP, 1.223 WHIP and a 122 ERA+. In his last four starts he has allowed 12 runs over 19.1 innings from 12 hits and 6 walks while striking out 21 batters, a 5.59 ERA. In three of those four starts, he has allowed exactly four runs, in the other start, he shut out the Phillies over 7.0 innings. One of those starts was also against the Mets! The Mets got him for 4 runs over 4.0 innings from 7 hits and a walk in a game the Mets eventually won 13-2. The Mets have the following numbers against Ian:

• James McCann 3-3, 2B, HR
• Jonathan Villar 1-3, HR, K
• Jose Peraza1-2
• Francisco Lindor1-3, K
• Dominic Smith 1-5, K
• Pete Alonso 0-2
• Billy McKinney 0-3, K
• Tomas Nido 0-2, 2 K

Let’s Go Mets!