213 Miles From Shea

The Mets didn’t need to go to Syracuse for pitching depth. They had the option of signing Gio Gonzalez, they could have (and still could) sign Dallas Keuchel. But they didn’t do either of these things and now two starters are potentially injured.

Although they traded away a prospect who could start this off-season, Justin Dunn, the Mets did sign a bunch of guys on NRI’s to compete for roster spots and if the injuries are minor in healing time, they could be a stop gap.

Enter Hector Santiago.

I lived in Newark for 7 years and I’ve been teaching in Newark for 8, so I have a massive soft spot for Hector Santiago who played little league in the Brick City, probably in the park across the street from where I used to live. I wrote a profile about him a few months ago, which you can read here.

Back in February I imagined Santiago as lefty reliever to compete with Daniel Zamora. As the Mets signed more lefties to NRIs it became clearer that Santiago was going to be rotation depth.

2018 MLB: 49 G, 7 GS, 102.0 IP, 4.41 ERA, 5.12 FIP, 6.37 DRA, 1.52 WHIP
Career: 238 G, 137 GS, 887.0 IP, 4.05 ERA, 4.86 FIP, 5.74 DRA, 1.37 WHIP
2019 MiLB: 6 G, 5 GS, 30.0 IP, 4.20 ERA, 1.400 WHIP

He’s not going through a renaissance at Syracuse but he’s also not deteriorating. If he gets called up, I would assume he pitches around, probably slightly worse than his stats in 2018 which isn’t the worst thing in the world if he’s making starts for two weeks or for a #5 starter. As soon as he becomes a regular, #4 starter that’s when the Mets need to panic and decide what are the goals this season.

The Mets try to avoid losing three games in a row to the Brewers this afternoon behind Jason Vargas in a game where they desperately need him to pitch deep. Last night the Mets lost in 18 innings and there was plenty of blame to go around. The Mets pitching kept them in the game, all 18 innings of it, but the offense was just flat until Alonso hit a homer to push the game into extra innings. The Mets bats would continue to be flat for another entire game of baseball until the 18th, burning lots of pitchers doing a phenomenal job along the way. Making things more difficult for the Mets, Amed Rosario‘s defensive woes continued and the umpiring of the strike zone fell apart in the 18th and the Mets ended up losing.

But it’s just one game. A game that took the Mets below .500 but still just a game. Now they have to regroup and just do better (hitters), and find that extra wind after too many innings last night (pitchers).

Jason Vargas is 1-1 over 6 games and 5 starts totaling 20.1 innings this year with a 5.75 ERA, 6.13 FIP, 1.721 WHIP and 68 ERA+. In his last three starts he has pitched 14.0 innings with a 1.93 ERA and a .180 opponents batting average dropping his ERA from a 14.21 to a 5.75. He had one start against the Brewers last year and it wasn’t good, allowing 5 runs off 6 hits in 3.0 innings. The Brewers have the following numbers against him:

• Lorenzo Cain 3-13, 2 BB, 4 K
• Tyler Saladino 2-11, 2B, 2 BB, 4 K
• Mike Moustakas 2-11, BB, 2 K
• Eric Thames 3-8, 2 2B
• Ryan Braun 0-4, BB, K
• Ben Gamel 2-3, 2B, K
• Jesus Aguilar 1-2, HR

Zach Davies is going to try to save the bullpen of the Brewers today. Over his 6 starts this season he has pitched 32.2 innings with a 1.38 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 1.316 WHIP and 317 ERA+. If those numbers look like they don’t tell the same story, it’s because he has pitched 7 innings once this year, and into the 6th twice, he’s been great but pulled early. For the Mets, they need to be patient and let him walk them. In two starts against the Mets last year, the Mets cored 9 runs off 13 hits and 4 walks in 8.1 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Michael Conforto 2-10, 2 2B, 4 BB, 2 K
• Wilson Ramos 3-6
• Todd Frazier 3-5, 2 HR
• Adeiny Hechavarria 0-4, K
• Amed Rosario 1-4
• Brandon Nimmo 3-3, 2 2B, 3B

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets dropped the first game of the series last night thanks again to a lackluster offense that is in a week long sleep. Matz was average, but kept the Mets in the game holding the Brewers to three runs, and that was all the Brewers could muster. The Mets just couldn’t get the hits to fall in a row and only pushed one run across the plate.

Because the Baseball Gods have a wonderful sense of humor, the Mets will face Gio Gonzalez for his second start of the season. His first start was also against the Mets. He did well against the Mets, as that was around the time the Mets bats’ slumber started, holding the Mets to only 2 runs off 6 hits and a walk. The Mets would go on to win the game and hopefully something similar happens today. The Mets have the following numbers against Gio:

• Juan Lagares 19-47, 3 2B, 3B, HR, 4 BB, 7 K
• Todd Frazier 6-21, 2 2B, 2 BB, 9 K
• Robinson Cano 1-12, 2 BB, 5 K
• Amed Rosario 3-13, 2 2B, 2 K
• Jeff McNeil 1-6
• Wilson Ramos 0-5, BB, K
• Brandon Nimmo 1-5, K
• Pete Alonso 1-3, 2B

Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard were both struggling going into this week and put together incredible starts. Jason Vargas and Steven Matz have been steady their last several starts. Zack Wheeler is next on the list to find himself. He’s had some bright games punctuate through the darkness, but not enough leading to a 5.05 ERA, 3.57 FIP, 1.402 WHIP and 76 ERA+ through 6 starts and 35.2 innings this year. In one start against the Brewers last year he allowed 4 runs over 6.0 innings. The Brewers have the following numbers against Wheeler:

• Christian Yelich 5-18, HR, 2 BB, 5 K
• Gio Gonzalez 0-9, 5 K
• Yasmani Grandal 2-9, HR, 2 K
• Lorenzo Cain 3-5, BB
• Travis Shaw 0-5, BB, 2 K
• Jesus Aguilar 2-3, HR
• Ryan Braun 0-3, K
• Mike Moustakas 1-2, HR
• Hernan Perez 2-3, 2B

Let’s Go Mets!

Yesterday was the Noah Syndergaard show and the Mets sure needed it. Going into the game yesterday both Diaz and Lugo were unavailable in the pen. Combined with Familia on the IL the top 3 late inning relievers were out on the Mets roster. In general the bullpen was overtaxed and Syndergaard desperately needed a positive start after his last three.

Noah Syndergaard ended up tossing a complete game shutout, holding the Reds to 4 hits and hit a solo homer which ended up being the only run the Mets scored all game. He was the entire game.

Now the Mets head to Milwaukee to avenge their lost series last weekend. Steven Matz opens tonight. He is 3-1 over 6 starts and 29.1 innings with a 3.68 ERA, 4.72 FIP, 1.091 WHIP and a 105 ERA+. In his last two starts he’s allowed 3 runs over 13.0 innings and if you take his terrible start this year, he’s actually allowed only 8 total runs, 6 earned over 29.1 innings. His last start, 2 runs over 7.0 innings, was against the Brewers who have the following numbers against him:

• Christian Yelich 5-18, K
• Hernan Perez 2-14, HR
• Ryan Braun 3-11, 2B, HR, K
• Lorenzo Cain 2-10, 2 BB, 2 K
• Jesus Aguilar 1-7, 2B, BB, K
• Zach Davies, 1-5, K
• Orlando Arcia 1-6, K
• Tyler Saladino 2-5, 2 BB, K

The Mets will get another look at Brandon Woodruff, who lasted started against the Mets. Brandon is 3-1 over 6 starts and 31.1 innings this year with a 5.17 ERA, 3.59 FIP, 1.468 WHIP, and 84 ERA+. His last start against the Mets was his best of the season, allowing 1 run over 5.0 innings off 6 hits and a walk. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 2-3
• Robinson Cano 0-3, K
• Jeff McNeil 1-3
• Wilson Ramos 1-3
• Michael Conforto 0-1, BB, K
• JD Davis 1-3, K
• Brandon Nimmo 2-2
• Amed Rosario 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets will go for the series split this afternoon as they take on the Reds for the final game of a 4 game set. Last night was a vintage deGrom night. He was masterful, he allowed no runs and the Mets scored no runs for him. With the offense only mustering 4 hits on the night, and the bullpen allowing a run in the 9th, the Mets lost by a very frustrating score of 1-0.

Now the Mets will turn to Syndergaard who, like deGrom, really needs a positive start today. He is 1-3 over 6 starts and 34.0 innings this year with a 6.35 ERA, 3.70 FIP, 1.471 WHIP and 62 ERA+. In his last three starts he has allowed 16 runs, 14 earned over 15.0 innings. In one start against the Reds last year he allowed 4 runs over 6.1 innings from 6 hits and a walk. The Reds have the following numbers against Noah:

• Derek Dietrich 7-22, 2 2B, 2 K
• Matt Kemp 1-14, 6 K
• Eugenio Suarez 4-15
• Joey Votto 2-14, BB, 6 K
• Tucker Barnhart 0-8, 2 K
• Jose Peraza 3-7, 2B, K
• Yasiel Puig 1-6, K
• Scott Schebler 0-4, 2 BB, K

The Mets bats are on a week long journey to find themselves. It’s unclear if they have been found but the players will go looking again today with the help of Tyler Mahle. He’s 0-3 over 5 starts and 28.0 innings with a 4.50 ERA, 3.86 FIP, 1.393 WHIP and a 100 ERA+. In his last three starts he has allowed 13 runs over 17.0 innings, a 6.88 ERA. The last time Tyler faced the Mets was in 2017, in his third ever major league start, where he allowed 3 runs over 4.0 innings from 6 hits and 4 walks. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Keon Broxton 0-3, K
• Juan Lagares 0-2
• Brandon Nimmo 1-1, 2B, BB
• Dominic Smith 1-1, BB

Lets Go Mets!

If you’re a pessimist, yesterday’s game alternated between being disappointing and satisfying. Before the game, all we knew was Vargas was going to start and if needed, Familia was going to have to pitch a 6-out save. Well Vargas started and he was good. He allowed only 1 run, a homer to the last batter he faced in the 6th, going toe to toe with ace Luis Castillo. The Mets then scratched out a run and went into the 8th with a 1 run lead for the rare 6-out save.

Things at this point looked good. Familia somehow got 3 outs on 7 pitches. Things should be great. The Mets then added one more run. Fantastic. Breathing room. Into the 9th. Two quick outs. Wonderful.

And then everything collapsed and somehow over an excruciating long amount of time the Mets lost the lead completely. But they rallied back, got the win and now head into a pivotal game.

Tonight is pivotal because the bullpen needs rest and the ace of the staff has the ability to give them said rest except he has not looked sharp as of late. He is 2-3 over 5 starts and 26.0 innings this year with a 4.85 ERA, 3.70 FIP, 1.385 WHIP and 82 ERA+. Over his last three starts he has pitched 13.0 innings allowing 14 runs. He had one start against the Reds last year where he held them to 4 hits and 1 walk over 6.0 scoreless innings. The Reds have the following numbers against deGrom:

• Derek Dietrich 6-26, BB, 13 K
• Scooter Gennett 6-19, 2 2B, HR, BB, 6 K
• Yasiel Puig 3-17, 2 HR, 2 BB, 5 K
• Matt Kemp 4-16, 2 2B, 3 K
• Jose Peraza 3-9, 3 K
• Joey Votto 1-8, BB, 2 K

The Mets bats will try to get going against Anthony DeSclafani who is 1-1 over 5 starts and 25.1 innings this season with a 4.26 ERA, 5.02 FIP, 1.263 WHIP and 106 ERA+. He’s been great in his last two starts allowing 1 run over 12.0 innings from 6 hits, 4 walks and 12 K’s. It’s been a while since the Mets have faced Anthony. The last time was in 2016 where the Mets tagged him for 2 runs, 3 earned off 7 hits and 2 walks in 6.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Wilson Ramos 2-8, 2B, K
• Michael Conforto 1-4, 2B
• Keon Broxton 1-2
• Juan Lagares 1-1

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets just couldn’t squeak out a couple more runs early last night against the Reds and it ended up costing them the game as Diaz allowed the winning run for the Reds on a go-ahead homer in the 9th inning. Wheeler had one bad inning that allowed 4 runs and limited the damage to just that and Lugo/Familia had clean innings behind him. The Mets bats just couldn’t get a hit when it counted and now they have to face one of the strongest pitchers on the Reds staff.

Luis Castillo 3-1 over 6 starts this season and 36.2 innings. He has a 1.23 ERA (league leading), 2.54 FIP, 0.955 WHIP, 369 ERA+ (league leading) and a 0.2 HR/9 (league leading). This is a tremendous improvement from last year where he posted a 4.30 ERA, 4.32 FIP, 1.220 WHIP and 98 ERA+ in 31 games and 169.2 innings. He made one start against the Mets last year where he allowed 2 runs off 3 hits and a walk in 5.2 innings of work. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Keon Broxton 1-5, BB, 2 K
• Michael Conforto 0-2, BB, K
• Todd Frazier 1-2
• Tomas Nido 0-2
• Amed Rosario 1-2
• Jason Vargas 0-1

The Mets will hope for a longer outing from Vargas tonight. He was effective in his last start, but still short on innings. Over 5 games and 4 starts this season he has a 7.20 ERA, 6.40 FIP, 1.933 WHIP and 56 ERA+ in 15.0 innings of work. In his last two starts he has allowed 2 ER over 8.2 innings, a 2.08 ERA. He faced the Reds twice last year and it wasn’t pretty, allowing 7 runs off 9 hits and 2 walks in 4.1 innings. The Reds have the following numbers against Vargas:

• Jose Iglesias 0-8, 3 K
• Eugenio Suarez 4-7, 2 2B
• Matt Kemp 2-4
• Jose Peraza 2-4
• Luis Castillo 0-2
• Joey Votto 0-0, BB

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets look to make it two in a row today and take the opener of the series as they welcome the Reds to town. Yesterday the Mets avoided a sweep thanks to a stellar performance by Steven Matz who dominated all day. His only mistake was a 2-run homer in the 7th inning that tied the game and the bats bailed him out immediately tacking on a run in the bottom of the 7th and two runs in the 8th. Then Lugo came in and struck out the side and Diaz had a 1-2-3 9th to close the door.

Zack Wheeler gets the start for the Amazin’s today. He’s 2-2 over 5 starts and 29.2 innings with a 4.85 ERA, 3.64 FIP, 1.348 WHIP and 82 ERA+. He is coming off of an amazing start where he shutout the Phillies over 7.0 innings while striking out 11 and provided most of the early offense in that game. Overall in his last three starts he has a 2.25 ERA over 20.0 innings with 24 K’s. Wheeler made one start against the Reds last year holding them to 1 run off 4 hits and 3 walks over 6.0 innings. The reads have the following numbers against him:

• Derek Dietrich 4-18, 3B, 2 BB, 10 K
• Alex Wood 0-5, 3 K
• Tanner Roark 1-4, 2 K
• Matt Kemp 1-3, K
• Jose Peraza 1-2, BB
• Yasiel Puig 1-3, K
• Joey Votto 1-3, 2 K

The Mets get a look at the new Reds pitcher, but old foe, Tanner Roark who was traded to the Reds this off-season and is having his best season since 2016. In 5 starts and 25.0 innings he has posted a 3.24 ERA, 3.81 FIP, 1.600 WHIP and 140 ERA+. Without reading too much into his game logs, I imagine his high WHIP is leading to lots of pitches thrown and early exits despite effective performance. In his last three starts he has tossed 15.2 innings with 14 K’s and 6 BB’s while posting a 1.72 ERA (despite opponents hitting .271 against him). Tanner started against the Mets 5 times last year pitching 30.0 innings allowing 13 runs leading to a 3.90 ERA. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Michael Conforto 4-23, 2 2B, HR, 4 BB, 7 K
• Juan Lagares 3-17, 2 2B, BB, 3 K
• Todd Frazier 2-11, HR, 6 BB, 3 K
• Amed Rosario 3-13, 3B, HR, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 4-9, HR, 3 K
• Robinson Cano 3-6, 2B
• Zack Wheeler 1-5, 2B, 3 K
• Jeff McNeil 2-6, HR, K
• Wilson Ramos 2-6

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets look to avoid a sweep today against the Brewers after dropping last night’s game despite coming back late. Again for the Mets starting pitching was a problem and again for the Mets a key member of their bullpen exasperated an issue ultimately putting the game out of their grasp. On the positive side of things, Edwin Diaz continued his dominating season striking out the side in his only inning of work, Alonso hit his 9th homer of the season and Amed hit his second.

The Mets turn to Matz today to help turn things around. On the season he is 2-1 over 5 starts and 22.1 innings with a 4.03 ERA, 5.01 FIP, 1.209 WHIP and 99 ERA+. He is coming off of a strong start where he held the Phillies to 1 run over 6.0 innings from 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6. He was effective in two games against the Brewers last year holding them to 4 runs, 3 earned over 11.1 innings from 7 hits and 5 walks. The Brewers have the following numbers against Matz:

• Christian Yelich 4-16, K
• Hernan Perez 2-11, HR
• Ryan Braun 3-8, 2B, HR
• Lorenzo Cain 2-7, 2 BB
• Zach Davies 1-5
• Jesus Aguilar 1-4, 2B
• Gio Gonzalez 0-3

The Baseball Gods have a tremendous sense of humor. The two teams in the running for Gio’s services when he became a free agent last week were the Mets and the Brewers but the Mets ultimately passed on Gio. The official reason was something like the Mets see Gio as only a marginal upgrade over Vargas (and if you do a quick search on that phrase on twitter you’ll be inundated with stats that prove otherwise). So Gio’s first major league start in 2019 is against the team that passed him up. Last year he split time with the Nationals and Brewers tossing 27 games over 145.2 innings with a 4.21 ERA, 4.16 FIP, 1.444 WHIP and 100 ERA+. Specifically with the Brewers he started 5 games, 25.1 innings with a 2.13 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 0.947 WHIP and 196 ERA+. He was quite good against the Mets last year holding the Amazin’s to 4 runs in 17.2 innings despite allowing 21 hits and 5 walks. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Juan Lagares 19-46, 3 2B, 3B, HR, 3 BB, 7 K
• Todd Frazier 4-19, 2 2B, 2 BB, 9 K
• Travis d’Arnaud 4-19, 3 2B, BB, 4 K
• Robinson Cano 1-12, 2 BB, 5 K
• Amed Rosario 2-11, 2B, 2 K
• Keon Broxton 1-6, 2 BB
• Michael Conforto 0-3, BB
• Jeff McNeil 1-3

Let’s Go Mets!

I wish I could give you a recap of last night’s game more personal than analyzing a box score, but the Mets made the bizarre decision to force last night’s game in rather than doing a split admission double header today, so the game started around 10 pm. My best guess is the Mets were worried about (financially motivated by) the stress on their infrastructure having a game in the ballpark that would let out tomorrow at the same time people would be queing up for the Noah Syndergaard bobblehead. Anyway the Mets stunk it up last night with the bright spots being McNeil, Cano and Nimmo all collecting two hits in the game. deGrom struggled and then Oswalt struggled after and then 7 innings went by the the Mets allowing 9 runs.

Hopefully today is much better as Syndergaard is pitching (I don’t remember the last time that a pitcher started on their bobblehead day, that’s nifty). He’s 1-2 over his 5 starts this season in 29.0 innings leading to a 5.90 ERA, 2.94 FIP, 1.276 WHIP and 66 ERA+. It’s interesting how the peripheral stats are all telling a different story for Syndergaard, it suggests at minimum a return to his mean performance soon. In two starts against the Brewers last year he allowed 4 runs, 3 earned over 11.1 innings with a 2.38 ERA. The Brewers have the following numbers against him:

• Christian Yelich 3-17, 2B, 6 K
• Lorenzo Cain 3-13, BB, 4 K
• Yasmani Grandal 1-8, hR, BB, 3 K
• Ryan Braun 1-6, 2 K
• Mike Moustakas 1-6, K
• Travis Shaw 2-5, HR
• Jesus Sguilar 1-4, 2 K

The Mets bats will get a look at Brandon Woodruff tonight who is 2-1 over 5 starts and 26.1 innings with a 5.81 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 1.481 WHIP and a 76 ERA+. He’s coming off of his worst start of the season where he allowed 5 runs from 7 hits and 3 walks over 5.2 innings which was on the heals of his best start of the season where he allowed 2 runs over 5.2 innings. He has never faced the Mets before and the only batter on the Mets who has seen him in a major league game is Wilson Ramos who is 1-3.

Let’s Go Mets!