213 Miles From Shea

The Mets are down to their last hope! Last night they squeaked out a win in extra innings after a less-than stellar start by Noah Syndergaard. But the Nationals and Brewers both won (with the former clinching a playoff berth) so now the Mets have to hope for the Brewers to lose the rest of the week while the Mets go on a winning streak. Highly unlikely but still mathematically possible.

Jacob deGrom will take the mound for the Mets. He is 10-8 over 31 starts and 197.0 innings with a 2.51 ERA, 2.72 FIP, 0.990 WHIP (league leading) and a 162 ERA+ (his second highest in his career next to last year’s absurd 218). Jacob also leads the league in strikeouts at 248. Since May 22nd deGrom has pitched 22 games and 145.0 innings with a 1.99 ERA. In his last three starts he has allowed 1 earned run over 21.0 innings from 10 hits and a walk while striking out 28. Opponents are hitting .139/.162/.181 against him in this stretch. In 5 starts already against the Marlins this season he has allowed 11 runs, 10 earned over 31.0 innings, a 2.90 ERA. The Marlins have the following numbers against him:

• Starlin Castro 12-37, 2 2B, 2 BB, 5 K
• Miguel Rojas 7-29, 3 BB, 4 K
• Neil Walker 4-20, 2 BB, 4 K
• Lewis Brinson 4-18, 2B, 6 K
• Martin Prado 3-13, 2B, BB, 5 K
• Jorge Alfaro 3-10, HR, BB, 5 K
• Curtis Granderson 0-4, 2 BB, 3 K

The Mets bats will try to keep their season alive against Robert Dugger who is in his rookie season. He is 0-3 over 6 starts and 32.1 innings with a 4.45 ERA, 5.72 FIP, 1.299 WHIP and a 96 ERA+. He’s coming off of his second worst start of his career, where he allowed 4 runs over 5.0 innings from 3 hits and 2 walks. His worst start was his major league debut against the Mets. The Mets tagged him for 6 runs over 5.0 innings from 5 hits and 4 walks including 2 homers. The Mets have the following batting lines from that game:

• Pete Alonso 1-3, 2 K
• Michael Conforto 0-1, BB
• J.D. Davis 0-1, BB
• Todd Frazier 0-2
• Jeff McNeil 1-3, HR
• Amed Rosario 2-3, R
• Jacob deGrom 1-2, 2 RBI

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets really put themselves in a tough spot. They dropped the first game of the series against the Marlins last night, which lowered their elimination number to 2. The Mets loaded the bases in the first inning, but couldn’t bring anyone home. In the next few innings they allowed 2 runs before Matz allowed his first career grand slam in the 6th inning making it 6-0 Marlins. Amed Rosario responded with a grand slam of his own but a defensive miscue by the Mets in the next frame made it 8-4 and the Mets would never recover.

So Noah Syndergaard has to put the team on his back tonight. He is 10-8 over 30 starts and 185.2 innings with a 4.22 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 1.223 WHIP and a 96 ERA+. The last three starts have not gone well for Noah – he’s allowed exactly 4 earned runs in each start. In his last 5 games, which includes a 7.0 inning shutout performance, he has allowed 22 runs over 25.2 innings. In two starts against the Marlins this season he has allowed 4 runs over 14.0 innings from 10 hits and a walk while striking out 12. The Marlins have the following numbers against him:

• Starlin Castro 4-18, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Miguel Rojas 4-15, BB, 3 K
• Neil Walker 4-11, 2B, 3 K
• Martin Prado 2-8, BB, 3 K
• Curtis Granderson 1-7, 2 K
• Jorge Alfaro 2-5, 3B, 3 K
• Lewis Brinson 1-3

The Mets bats draw a Marlins 2019 All Star tonight – Sandy Alcantara who is 5-14 over 30 starts and 184.1 innings with a 4.00 ERA, 4.61 FIP, 1.329 WHIP and 106 ERA+. September has been an interesting month for Sandy. His first and last start were rough, allowing a combined 9 runs over 14.0 innings. Between those two starts he threw a complete game shutout and had an outing where he allowed 1 run over 7.0 innings. He is 1-2 over 4 starts against the Mets this year posting a 3.51 ERA from allowing 10 runs from 22 hits and 8 walks in 25.2 innings of work. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Michael Conforto 4-17, HR, BB, 2 K
• Jeff McNeil 4-14, HR, 2 BB
• Pete Alonso 1-8, HR, BB, 3 K
• Brandon Nimmo 1-9, 2B, 3 BB, 2 K
• Todd Frazier 3-10, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Amed Rosario 1-9, 2 BB, 2 K
• Robinson Cano 3-9, 2B
• J.D. Davis 3-7, 2B

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets won yesterday, but so did the Brewers therefore the Mets’ elimination number dropped down to 3. The Mets window is continuing to shrink but if they win tonight, a new opportunity could open – while the Brewers have gone a 4 game winning streak, winning 8-2 of their last 10, the Nationals have gone 5-5 in their last ten. The Nationals have played two less games than the Brewers and if they lose today, they become the team that the Mets end up chasing.

None of this matters if the Mets don’t win though. Steven Matz takes the mound tonight and he is 10-9 over 30 games and 28 starts with 149.1 innings and a 4.16 ERA, 4.55 FIP, 1.333 WHIP and a 98 ERA+. He’s coming off a rough start against the Rockies where he allowed 7 runs from 6 hits and 2 walks (and 2 homers) in 4.0 innings. He has a 2.87 ERA in three starts and 15.2 innings against the Marlins allowing 7 runs, 5 earned over 15.2 innings from 18 hits and 4 walks. The Marlins have the following stat lines against him:

• Starlin Castro 6-22, 2B, HR, 6 K
• Miguel Rojas 3-20, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Martin Prado 6-15, 2 BB, K
• Lewis Brinson 2-11, BB, 4 K
• Jorge Alfaro 4-9, BB, 2 K
• Garrett Cooper 0-4, BB

The Mets bats will get a look at Caleb Smith who is 9-10 over 26 starts and 144.1 innings with a 4.24 ERA, 4.86 FIP, 1.164 WHIP and a 100 ERA+. September hasn’t been the kindest month to Caleb – he’s allowed 14 runs, 13 earned, over 22.0 innings (5.32 ERA) in 4 starts and that includes a start where he tossed 6.0 scoreless innings. In two starts against the Mets he allowed 4 runs from 7 hits and 6 walks in 11.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Michael Conforto 3-10, BB, 5 K
• Amed Rosario 2-9, 2B, 4 K
• Robinson Cano 1-7, K
• Pete Alonso 0-5, BB, 4 K
• Joe Panik 2-6
• J.D. Davis 1-3, 2B, 2 BB
• Todd Frazier 0-4, BB, K
• Jeff McNeil 2-4, 2B, BB, K
• Wilson Ramos 2-4, BB
• Brandon Nimmo 0-3, 2 K

Let’s Go Mets!

Yesterday was not a good day for the Mets. They lost to the Reds 3-2, the Nationals and the Brewers both won dropping the Mets to 4.5 games out and their elimination number to 4. Things aren’t over yet but now the Mets have a very small window to make the playoffs. The only thing the Mets can do is keep winning and see what happens in other games.

Marcus Stroman was Marcus Stroman his last time out. More of that please! On the season with the Mets he is 3-2 over 9 starts and 49.0 innings with a 3.86 ERA, 4.20 FIP, 1.531 WHIP and 106 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed 1 run over 13.1 innings from 8 hits and 5 walks while striking out 13. In his last start he tossed 7.0 scoreless innings. Interestingly, he has faced the Diamondbacks and Rockies already this season when he was a member of the Blue Jays before his last two starts. This pattern holds true when you consider that the only other start he allowed 1 run in prior to his last two, his 4.0 innings against the Indians, he faced them earlier in the season also. Maybe he completely rebounds and is dominate next season playing teams he’s faced again as a National League pitcher? Anyway he hasn’t faced the Reds yet this year and they have the following numbers against him:

• Curt Casali 2-6, 2 K
• Eugenio Suarez 1-5, BB
• Freddy Galvis 1-2, BB
• Joey Votto 0-3
• Jose Peraza 0-2

Trevor Bauer had a 3.79 ERA over 24 starts and 156.2 innings before being traded to the Reds. Since the trade, he is 2-4 over 9 starts and 49.1 innings with a 6.39 ERA, 4.76 FIP, 1.419 WHIP and 72 ERA+. But his last two starts have been different. He’s allowed a combined 3 runs over 14.1 innings, mostly helped by a 1 run, 8.0 inning start against the Diamondbacks last week. The Mets have the following stats against him:

• Todd Frazier 8-25, 2 2B, HR, BB, 8 K
• Robinson Cano 5-17, 2 2B, 5 BB, 7 K
• Rajai Davis 4-16, HR, BB, 5 K
• Jed Lowrie 1-12, 2B, 6 K
• Wilson Ramos 0-3
• Rene Rivera 0-2, K
• Michael Conforto 0-1

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets did everything they had to do yesterday, but so did several teams so stress level for the Mets got a bit higher. The Cubs and Phillies both lost, bringing the former closer to the Mets and pushing the latter farther behind but the Brewers and Nationals both won, causing the Mets elimination number to drop. The Mets though had an excellent game. Jacob deGrom further padded a resume for a second consecutive Cy Young award, Alonso hit his 50th homer of the season and the Mets won decisively by a score of 8-1. Everyday is a “must win” day so they have to rev it up again.

Zack Wheeler is 11-7 over 29 starts and 180.1 innings with a 4.09 ERA, 3.50 FIP, 1.292 WHIP and 100 ERA+. In his last four starts he has allowed 4 runs over 25.0 innings from 27 hits and 7 walks which has led to some interesting stat line combinations: a 1.44 ERA with opponents hitting .276/.324/.330 against him. He’s looking to fare better against the Reds then he did earlier this season where he allowed 4 runs over 6.0 innings from 7 hits and 3 walks. The Reads have the following numbers against him:

• Derek Dietrich 4-18, 3B, 2 BB, 10 K
• Freddy Galvis 2-11, 3 K
• Jose Peaza 2-5, 2B, BB
• Scott Schebler 0-4, 2 BB, K
• Joey Votto 2-5, BB, 3 K
• Jose Iglesias 2-3, 2B

The Mets draw New Jersey native Anthony DeSclafani who is 9-9 over 29 starts and 155.2 innings this season posting a 3.93 ERA, 4.53 FIP, 1.201 WHIP and 116 ERA+. After allowing 7 runs, 6 earned in 13.0 innings across his first two September starts, he rebounded in his last start, holding the Diamondbacks to 1 run over 7.0 innings. Earlier this season against the Mets he allowed no runs over 5.2 innings in a game the Reds eventually won 1-0. The Mets have the following numbers against Anthony:

• Joe Panik 2-9, 2B, BB, K
• Wilson Ramos 2-8, 2B, K
• Michael Conforto 1-5, 2B, BB, K
• Jed Lowrie 1-4
• Pete Alonso 1-3, K
• Robinson Cano 1-3, 2B
• Jeff McNeil 1-3, 2B
• Rene Rivera 1-3
• J.D. Davis 0-2, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-2, K
• Amed Rosario 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets still have a mathematical chance, but it’s slim. However, yesterday went almost perfect for them. As the Mets were traveling to Ohio, the Nationals, Cubs and Phillies all lost. The Brewers won, so the Mets are now 3.5 games back instead of 3.0 but the Mets are now only 4.5 back of the Nationals. All the Mets can do at this point is win every game they have a chance to win and hope for the best with other teams.

Jacob deGrom will look to keep the Mets on that plan tonight. He is 9-8 over 30 starts and 190.0 innings with a 2.61 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 1.005 WHIP (league leading) and a 156 ERA+. He also leads the league in strikeouts at 239. This is the first game all season (outside of any small sample size stuff after the first start in April) that he enters leading the league in two statistical categories. In his last two starts he has allowed 1 run off 6 hits and 1 walk over 14.0 innings while striking out 19 batters. Against the Reds back on May 1st, he allowed no runs from 3 its and 2 walks in 7.0 innings. The Reds have the following numbers against him:

• Derek Dietrich 6-28, BB, 13 K
• Freddy Galvis 11-31, 8 K
• Eugenio Suarez 3-12, BB, 5 K
• Jose Peraza 3-12, 3 K
• Joey Votto 1-11, BB, 2 K

The Mets bats draw Luis Castillo who is wrapping up a fine season. He is 15-6 over 30 starts and 178.2 innings with a 3.22 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 1.136 WHIP and a 141 ERA+. The last time the Mets faced him at the end of April, he was one of the best pitchers in baseball, entering the game with a 1.23 ERA (he allowed 2 runs over 6.2 innings from 5 hits in 3 walks against the Mets, in a game the Mets eventually won 4-3). In September he has allowed 7 runs from 12 hits and 9 walks in 18.2 innings, a 3.38 ERA with opponents only hitting .176 against him, but getting on base at a .273 clip (hello Brandon Nimmo – do your thing tonight). The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Joe Panik 2-6, 3 BB, K
• Michael Conforto 0-6, 3 K
• Todd Frazier 2-5, HR
• Amed Rosario 3-4, BB
• Pete Alonso 0-3, K
• Juan Lagares 0-3
• Jeff McNeil 2-3
• Brandon Nimmo 0-2, BB, K
• Wilson Ramos 0-3, 2 K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets situation is tough right now but it didn’t get worse yesterday. Marcus Stroman was incredibly tossing 7.0 scoreless innings and the Mets offense behind Alonso, Rosario, and Nimmo came through for the Mets win. The Cubs lost but the Brewers won (now 9 wins in their last 10 games) putting both clubs in a tie for the 2nd Wild Card. The Mets now are 4.0 games out with a wild card elimination number of 8. The Mets don’t have any wiggle room but they still have a path to the post-season.

And that path includes a good start by Noah Syndergaard today. Noah is 10-8 over 29 starts and 180.0 innings this year with a 4.15 ERA, 3.53 FIP, 1.194 WHIP and 98 ERA+. He has not been effective in his last two starts allowing a combined 8 runs from 11 hits and 3 walks in 10.0 innings. In his last four starts, which includes a 7.0 innings scoreless outing, he has allowed 18 runs, 17 earned over 20.0 innings, raising his ERA from 3.71 to 4.15. One of his best starts of the season was against the Rockies where he allowed 1 hit and 2 walks in 7.0 innings. The Rockies have the following numbers against him:

• Daniel Murphy 6-24, 3 2B,3 BB, 3 K
• Charlie Blackmon 2-11, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Ian Desmond 3-10, HR, BB, 5 K
• Nolan Arenado 2-7, HR, 2 BB, K
• David Dahl 4-9, 2 2B, K
• Trevor Story 0-5, BB, K
• Yonder Alonso 3-5

The Mets bats will try to keep up last night’s energy this afternoon against Jeff Hoffman who is 2-6 over 12 starts and 56.1 innings with a 7.03 ERA, 6.45 FIP, 1.669 WHIP and 75 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed 7 runs on 9 hits and 8 walks in 11.0 innings. He faced the Mets earlier this year and allowed 6 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks in 4.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Michael Conforto 2-7, 2B, 3 BB, K
• Joe Panik 3-8, 2 2B, BB
• Todd Frazier 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 BB
• Amed Rosario 1-6, BB, K
• Pete Alonso 0-3, 2 K
• J.D. Davis 1-3, 3B

Let’s Go Mets!

On paper last night should have been a win. The Mets started the game off with a Brandon Nimmo homer, the Rockies got it back but Jeff McNeil homered to give them a 3-1 lead and later Amed Rosario doubled in a run. Then everything fell apart for Matz and the team couldn’t recover and they fell 9-4 against the Rockies on a night when the Cubs won pushing the Mets to 5.0 games back. The Mets are nearing an insurmountable number of games to come back, but they aren’t out yet.

Marcus Stroman looks to help the Mets get back on track. As a Met he is 2-2 over 8 games and 42.0 innings with a 4.50 ERA, 4.62 FIP, 1.667 WHIP and 91 ERA+. He’s coming off his best start as a Met where he allowed 1 run from 4 hits and 4 walks against the Diamondbacks in 6.1 innings of work. Stroman also already saw the Rockies in Colorado this year in an interleague series when he was a member of the Blue Jays. In that start he allowed 4 runs, 3 earned from 7 hits and no walks over 7.0 innings. The Rockies have the following numbers against Stroman:

• Yonder Alonso 2-13, BB, 4 K
• Nolan Arenado 1-3
• David Dahl 2-3
• Ian Desmond 0-3, K
• Daniel Murphy 1-3, 2B
• Trevor Story 1-3

The Mets bats will get a look a Tim Melville making his 6th start this season. Thanks to waiver wires, Melville has bounced around a lot. He made his debut with the Reds in 2016, then in 2017 he saw major league time with both the Padres and the Twins. These even aren’t all of the clubs that he has signed with over the course of his career. This year he is 2-2 over 5 starts and 22.2 innings with a 5.16 ERA, 6.48 FIP, 1.544 WHIP and a 103 ERA+. Between 2016-2017 he only had 3 starts. Melville is coming off a start where he allowed 5 runs over 3.0 innings which he did earlier this year as well. His three starts where he hasn’t given up 5 runs have been great, so all or nothing in a small sample size this year. He hasn’t faced any Mets in a major league game.

The Mets played well against the Dodgers the last two days, but the bullpen couldn’t hold it together yesterday, and the offense gave the team 0 breathing room as they fell 3-2. Now the Mets find themselves 4.0 games back in the wild card race, where they were a week ago. Over the course of two day last week, the Mets went from 4.0 games out to 2.0 games out so it can happen again, they need to pretty much win the rest of the way out. Which is easier said than done. Luckily, for the first time in forever, the Mets schedule gets a tick easier as they head into Colorado.

Steven Matz is 10-8 over 29 games and 27 starts over 145.1 innings with a 3.84 ERA, 4.41 FIP, 1.314 WHIP and 106 ERA+. He’s coming off a great start against the Diamondbacks where he held them scoreless over 6.0 innings from 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 7. In his last 7 starts he has allowed 11 runs, 9 earned over 41.2 innings, a 1.94 ERA with opponents batting .213/.282/.361 against him. Matz faced the Rockies back on June 8th and he allowed 3 runs, 2 earned over 6.0 innings while striking out 10. The Rockies have the following numbers against him:

• Charlie Blackmon 9-16, 2 2B, BB, 2 K
• Nolan Arenado 6-16, 2B, 4 HR, BB, 3 K
• Daniel Murphy 5-15, 2B, HR, BB, 3 K
• Trevor Story 5-13, 2 2B, BB, 5 K
• Ian Desmond 2-8, 2 BB, K

The Mets bats draw Antonio Senzatela for the series opener. On the season eh is 9-10 over 22 games and 108.2 innings with a 6.87 ERA, 5.36 FIP, 1.748 WHIP and 77 ERA+. After 6 consecutive starts (dating back to July 5th) of struggles (20.2 innings, 38 runs, 16.55 ERA, opponents slashing .423/.473/.660), Antonio had a strong start last time out allowing only 1 run over 6.0 innings from 4 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts. He had almost the same line against the Mets in June, allowing 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks in 6.0 innings work, just with no strikeouts. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Joe Panik 9-21, 2 2B, 2 HR
• Michael Conforto 2-4, HR, K
• Pete Alonso 0-3
• Robinson Cano 0-3
• Jed Lowrie 0-2, BB, 2 K
• Jeff McNeil 0-3
• Wilson Ramos 0-3
• Amed Rosario 1-3, 2B

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets have the Sunday night game again, this time as they try to take the series from the Dodgers. Yesterday played out exactly as advertised as Ryu and deGrom had a classic pitcher’s duel. The game was scoreless in the 8th inning as Rajai Davis, (RAJAI DAVIS!) hit a bases clearing double putting the Mets in the lead. The move was controversial because putting Davis in the game meant taking Seth Lugo out but Justin Wilson pitched a stress free 9th inning! The Mets just need to do it one more time.

Zack Wheeler looks to keep the ball rolling. He is 11-7 over 28 games and 173.1 innings with a 4.21 ERA, 3.62 FIP, 1.310 WHIP and a 97 ERA+. In Wheeler’s last three starts he has allowed 3 runs off 21 hits and 7 walks in 18.0 innings, a 1.50 ERA. Opponents are hitting .300/.359/.343 against him so if the only three runs allowed doesn’t vibe with a feeling of a lot of runners on base – you know why now. The Dodgers have the following numbers against Wheeler:

• Jedd Gyorko 1-9, 5 K
• Cody Bellinger 4-8, 4 HR, 3 K
• Joc Pederson 0-6, 2 BB, 4 K
• Justin Turner 4-8, HR, K
• Enrique Hernandez 1-6, BB
• Max Muncy 1-4, HR, 2 BB, K
• Corey Seager 1-2
• Chris Taylor 1-2, K

The Mets bats will try to score early against Walker Buehler who is 13-3 over 27 starts / 166.1 innings with a 3.14 ERA, 2.83 FIP, 1.016 WHIP and 131 ERA+. If you look at all of Buehler’s starts, he’s good for about one terrible start a month. He already has terrible start on September 2nd where he allowed 6 runs over 5.0 innings against the Rockies and bounced back against the Orioles last week, shutting them out over 7.0 innings. His bad start in May was against the Mets where he allowed 5 runs over 5.0 innings from 7 hits and a walk. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Joe Panik 2-7, 2B, K
• Pete Alonso 2-3, 2 HR
• Michael Conforto 0-2, BB, K
• Robinson Cano 0-2, BB, K
• Wilson Ramos 0-3, K
• Amed Rosario 0-3
• J.D. Davis 0-2, 2 K
• Todd Frazier 1-2

Let’s Go Mets!