213 Miles From Shea

What an improbable three days for the Mets. There’s a glass half full way of looking at the last couple of days and then there is the “typical Mets way of looking at things” also known as glass half empty way. The Mets split the series with the first place Braves! They could have easily won the two games they lost. They won the two games they had no business winning (one without a starter and the other with Jason Vargas). The Mets suffered several injuries to critical players. At least two of the injuries may not be that bad. There was a fire at Citi Field.

It’s been a week Mets fans, let’s go play four games with the Cubs!

Seth Lugo makes a return to the rotation tonight for the ailing Mets. He is 1-1 over 20 games this year logging 32.2 innings with a 2.48 ERA, 3.24 FIP, 1.010 WHIP and 153 ERA+. He dominated in his relieving role this year and is being rewarded for it. Maybe he plays with a chip on his shoulder for being sent to the bullpen in the first place? Maybe he plays with a chip on his shoulder for taking the loss a few nights ago? He made a start against the Cubs last September and it was terrible, probably his worst start of the year. Maybe he plays with a chip on his shoulder about that? In that start he allowed 8 runs, 7 earned over 3.0 innings from 9 hits and a walk. The Cubs have the following numbers against Lugo:

• Bryant 1-5, 2B
• Baez 2-4
• Rizzo 2-4, HR
• Heyward 1-3
• Almora 0-2
• Schwarber 2-2, 2B

The Mets bats will try to keep waking up against Jose Quintana who is 5-4 over 10 starts and 52.2 innings with a 4.78 ERA, 4.69 FIP, 1.481 WHIP and 85 ERA+. His WHIP is over 200 points higher than his career numbers, which is indicative of the type of season he has been having. In his last three starts, he has had two terrible starts (4.2 IP 6 ER and 4.1 IP 4 ER) sandwiched around a brilliant 7.0 innings of 1 hit baseball against the Reds. He faced the Mets last September and allowed 2 runs off 6 hits and a walk in 7.0 innings). The Mets have the following numbers against Quintana:

• Cabrera 6-25, 2B, BB, 7 K
• Bautista 2-22, 2 HR, 8 K
• Reyes 4-11, 2B
• Gonzalez 2-6
• Rosario 1-3
• Mesoraco 0-1

Mets on the 10 Day DL against Quintana:

• Cespedes 10-18, 2 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 10 RBI, BB
• Flores 1-3, 2B

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets are simultaneously living in a space where they cannot catch a lucky break and they cannot execute and it came to a head last night. Hours before the game Noah Syndergaard was sidelined to the DL with a finger issue. During the game (the third in a row that has had a rain issue), while Matz was on a roll, he got sidelined with a finger issue. This is where things fell apart for the Mets. The Mets had to use the bullpen late into the night the previous day and the bullpen last night could not string together 6 innings allowing under 5 runs. They should be able to do that, but they couldn’t.

Now the Mets are going to need to rely on Jason Vargas, on short rest, to give the bullpen rest. He is 1-3 on the year over 20.1 innings with a 10.62 ERA, 6.51 FIP, 2.164 WHIP and 36 ERA+. After a good start in Miami where he allowed no runs over 5.0 innings and only 2 hits with a walk while getting 7 whiffs, he had a terrible start in Milwaukee on Saturday where he allowed 5 ER over 3.0 innings from 6 hits and 2 walks. Amazingly, the game was tied when he left at 5-5 and then the Mets imploded and lost 17-6. His second start of the season was against the Braves who got 11 hits in 4.2 innings against him leading to 6 runs. The Braves have the following numbers on Jason:

• Suzuki 10-41, HR, 3 BB
• Markakis 8-31, 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB
• Flowers 1-7, HR, BB
• Flaherty 3-6, HR
• Culberson 2-5
• Albies 1-3
• Freeman 0-2

The Mets bats will try to get their pitchers more than enough run support, whatever that means, against Julio Teheran tonight. Julio is 4-2 over 11 starts and 60.0 innings with a 4.20 ERA, 5.30 FIP, 1.233 WHIP and 92 ERA+. In his last three starts he has allowed 13 runs off 15 hits and 9 walks in 17.0 innings. However, his best two starts this season have been against the Mets where he has held them scoreless in 14.0 innings allowing a total of 6 hits and 3 walks. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Bruce 7-34, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 BB
• Cabrera 9-29, 3 2B, 2 BB
• Reyes 6-29, 2 3B, 2 BB
• Gonzalez 6-24, 2B, HR, 3 BB
• Conforto 4-17, HR, BB
• Bautista 1-8, 2B
• Rosario 0-6
• Mesoraco 0-4

Batting Stats against Teheran from Mets Players on the 10 Day DL:

• Cespedes 4-23, BB, 10 K
• Flores 3-21, HR, 3 BB
• Lagares 4-21, 5 K
• Frazier 3-17, 2B, HR

Let’s Go Mets!

Yesterday was a bizarre day of Mets baseball where most events that occurred could be described as “bizarre bad” or “bizarre strange” and a few as “bizarre, but it worked out for the Mets in the end.” Jacob deGrom started the day with a masterful start. At one point the skies opened over him and the teams played on, at another point it rained, the tarp was pulled out, and then everyone watched a tarp in sunny weather for over 20 minutes. Jacob came back from the rain delay and mostly dominated. Seth Lugo came in, gave up the tying run, then Mesoraco pulled the Mets ahead in the ninth before Lugo blew it for good in the 10th.

Mets fans then got stew about that loss for a while as a rain delay pushed the start for the night cap all the way to 10 pm. The Mets got a rough start from Conlon who only lasted 2.0 innings, surprisingly got 3.0 great innings from Robles and the Mets managed to win the game. In other words, yesterday the Mets lost a game they had no business losing and then won a game they had no business winning.

The Mets will now turn to Steven Matz to give some rest to the bullpen. He is 2-3 on the year over 42.2 innings with a 3.80 ERA, 5.64 FIP, 1.289 WHIP and 100 ERA+. After a horrid start against the Diamondbacks where he allowed 4 runs from 6 hits and a walk in 4.0 innings, Matz was great his last time out in Milwaukee where he held the Brewers scoreless in 6.0 innings, the only game the Mets won that weekend. He hasn’t faced the Braves yet this year but last last year he held the Braves to 1 run from 5 hits and a walk over 7.0 innings. The Braves have the following numbers against him:

• Freeman 4-13, 2B, BB
• Markakis 3-13, 2B, BB
• Flowers 2-10, 2B
• Inciarte 2-6
• Blair 0-3
• Camargo 2-3
• Swanson 1-3, 2B

The Mets bats will see Anibal Sanchez today. Maybe. He is supposed to come off the DL today but between his health and the weather tonight, there are plenty of reasons to abandon that plan. This year he has a 1.29 ERA over 14.0 innings before getting injured. Last year he was 3-7 for Detroit over 28 games and 17 starts totaling 105.1 innings with a 6.41 ERA, 5.33 FIP, 1.595 WHIP and 72 ERA+. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Reyes 9-37, 2B, 5 BB
• Cabrera 5-23, HR, 2 BB
• Bautista 5-19, 2B, HR, 3 BB
• Bruce 2-11
• Gonzalez 1-8
• Conforto 1-3, HR

Let’s Go Mets!

This is asking for trouble – I’m writing this preview before the first game gets played today. With the amount of rain and the Mets not naming a starter yet for the afternoon, this could easily become a waste of an article.

The Mets are going for the bullpen game this afternoon using either Lugo or Gsellman to start the game, I guess depending on how the first game goes. Then they could possibly turn to PJ Conlon, so lets look at his only major league start. Conlon’s debut happened as a spot start for deGrom when he missed a start for his elbow. Conlon allowed 3 runs off 4 hits and 2 walks in 3.2 innings of work. In the minors this year he has posted a 6.58 ERA over 39.2 innings. To be fair, only Flexen is having a good year in the Las Vegas rotation right now.

The Mets bats will close the night with Brandon McCarthy who is 5-2 over 10 starts and 52.0 innings with a 4.67 ERA, 4.30 FIP, 1.577 WHIP and 83 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed 2 runs in 11.2 innings while striking out 13 batters. He faced the Mets as a member of the Dodger pitching staff last year holding the Mets scoreless in 6.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Cabrera 3-11, 2B, HR, 2 BB
• Gonzalez 6-12, 2 B, HR, BB
• Bruce 3-10
• Reyes 0-9, BB
• Mesoraco 3-5
• Bautista 1-4, HR
• Flores 1-3

Let’s Go Mets!

Here we go! Double Header day in Atlanta due to rain earlier in April and it’s supposed to rain today! The Mets are planning to use a bullpen game in the 2nd game and deGrom in the opener. Do both games get played today? Who knows! Both game previews will be published back to back so if pitchers get flipped around on either side, read both and you’ll be covered!

The Mets are trying pull themselves together after a tough series in Milwaukee. After winning Thursday’s game, they lost Friday in extras, got routed on Sunday, and then fell apart late on Sunday. Now they have to go from the first place Brewers to the first place Braves.

Jacob deGrom is 4-0 over 10 games and 58.1 innings with a 1.54 ERA, 1.89 FIP, 0.994 WHIP and 246 ERA+. In his last 6 starts he has tossed 33.1 innings with 47 K’s posting a 0.27 ERA. Opponents are hitting .179 against him in that stretch and slugging only .205. This streak started against Atlanta where he held them scoreless over 7.0 innings allowing 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 10. It continued against Atlanta where he struck out 6 in 4.0 innings before leaving the game early due to injury. The Braves have the following numbers against deGrom:

• Freeman 9-33, 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB, ( K
• Markakis 8-27, HR, BB
• Inciarte 5-22, 2B, 2 BB
• Flowers 3-9
• Swanson 2-7
• Albies 0-7, BB, 4 K
• Acuna 0-2

The Mets bats will get a look at Max Fried who is 0-2 over 4 games this year, making his first start of the season today. So far he has pitched 6.0 innings allowing 5 hits and 3 walks leading to 4 runs. One of these innings was against the Mets where he allowed a hit and a walk with no runs while striking out the side. He made a full start against the Mets last season on a doubleheader day pitching 5.1 innings, 7 hits leading to 2 runs, 1 earned. If for some reason one of the games doesn’t happen, my gut says Fried gets bumped out of the start today and McCarthy will go ahead. The Mets have the following numbers against Fried:

• Nimmo 2-4, 2B, BB
• Cabrera 1-3
• Conforto 0-1
• Flores 0-1
• Gonzalez 0-1

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets scored 3 runs in the first inning yesterday. If the game ended right after the top of the first frame, the Mets would have won! But the game went on for 17 more frames and the Mets lost 17-6. The pitching was off in just about every way imaginable and ultimately if the offense scores 6 runs, that team should win the ball game. Anyway the Mets will get out of Miller Park today, which stinks for Mets fans in attendance as tomorrow is $1 Hot Dogs at Miller Park and at least that has an almost 0% chance of disappointment, unlike the Mets.

Maybe Zack Wheeler can get things going on the right path today! Wheeler is 2-4 over 8 games and 44.0 innings with a 5.32 ERA, 3.97 FIP, 1.500 WHIP, 71 ERA+. His line from his last start is confusing. He allowed 3 runs, 1 earned, over 6.0 innings from 7 hits and no walks while striking out 9. In reality, he pitched a great game but Reyes misplayed at least two balls behind him, one that should have ended an inning where the Marlins plated two more runs. Last year he allowed 2 runs from 10 hits and a walk in 6.1 innings against the Brewers who have the following numbers against him:

• Yelich 2-15, HR, 2 BB
• Sogard 3-4
• Anderson 1-3
• Braun 0-3
• Cain 2-3
• Franklin 2-2, BB
• Shaw 0-3
• Thames 0-3

The Mets bats will get a look at veteran Jhoulys Chacin who is having a better than career average season for the Brewers. The long time Rockies pitcher is 3-1 over 11 starts and 57.0 innings with a 3.32 ERA, 4.30 FIP, 120 ERA+ and 1.316 WHIP. In the month of May he has tossed 23.1 innings with a 1.54 ERA. In April he faced the Mets and allowed only 1 run over 4.0 innings in a game the Mets eventually won. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Gonzalez 8-22, 2B, HR, 3 BB
• Cabrera 2-12, HR, 3 BB
• Conforto 5-12, HR, 2 BB
• Bruce 3-10, 2B, 2 BB
• Flores 4-10, 2B, 2 BB
• Nimmo 2-3, 3B

Let’s Go Mets!

Last night’s game was terrible, and hopefully the Mets can move on. On the positive side, Rosario and Conforto continued their offensive resurgence but the Mets scoring three runs (three comeback runs) wasn’t enough as the bullpen imploded in the 10th inning and allowed a walk-off walk. Now the Mets turn to Jason Vargas to get back on the winning path.

On the season Jason Vargas is 1-3 over 4 games and 17.1 innings with a 9.87 ERA, 6.57 FIP, 2.077 WHIP, and a 39 ERA+. His last start was by far the best of the season as he held the Marlins scoreless through 5.0 innings from 2 hits and a walk while striking out 7. The difference between last time out and his first three starts? Last time he hit his spots on the corners. In his first three starts he was missing spots on the edges, coming over the plate with not electric stuff. He doesn’t have the speed variance of a Bartolo Colon but if Vargas is going to be successful tonight, he is going to have to paint a Rembrandt. The Brewers have the following numbers against Vargas:

• Cain 2-11, 2 BB
• Saladino 1-9, 2 BB
• Thames 3-8, 2 2B
• Franklin 1-4, HR
• Braun 0-3
• Villar 1-3

The Mets bats will try to wake up against Chase Anderson, who is 4-3 over 9 games and 51.1 innings with a 3.86 ERA, 6.01 FIP, 1.130 WHIP and 104 ERA+. He is coming off a good start after two bad starts. His last start he went 6.0 innings allowing 2 runs. Before that he allowed 9 ER over 10.2 innings from 11 hits and 6 walks. One of his best starts of the year was against the Mets where he allowed 1 run over 6.1 innings off 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5. The Mets have the following numbers against Anderson:

• Gonzalez 9-21, 2 2B, HR, 5 BB
• Bruce 1-17, BB, 9 K
• Frazier 0-10, BB (DL)
• Confortion 1-7, HR, BB
• Cabrera 1-7, BB
• Reyes 2-8
• Cespedes 2-5, 2B (DL)
• Mesoraco 1-2, HR

Let’s Go Mets!

Wednesday was a terrible night for the Mets. Thursday was an incredible night for the Mets. The offense in both games was rooted in the same person though. The Mets sole run on Wednesday came from a solo shot by Brandon Nimmo. Yesterday Nimmo went 4-4 at the plate scoring to runs and adding a walk to boot. His four hits included two doubles and a triple and he raised his OPS to .991. In addition to Nimmo, Matz was fantastic pitching 6.0 innings, allowing no runs from 4 hits and 3 walks, getting out of jams and keeping cool.

Syndergaard looks to keep the good times going. He’s 4-1 over 10 game sand 58.2 innings with a 2.91 ERA, 2.54 FIP, 1.193 WHIP, 129 ERA+. His last start was one of the best of the season where he allowed 1 run off 6 hits and a walk in 7.0 innings. In mid-April he faced the Brewers allowing 1 run, none earned, over 5.1 innings while striking out 11. The Brewers have the following numbers against Syndergaard:

• Yelich 2-14, 2B, 6 K
• Cain 2-10, BB
• Braun 1-6
• Villar 0-6
• Perez 3-5
• Anderson 1-3
• Shaw 0-2

The Mets bats will get a look at Junior Guerra who is 3-3 over 8 games and 42.1 innings with a 2.98 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 1.228 WHIP and 134 ERA+. In his last two starts he allowed 3 runs over 10.1 innings from 7 hits and 6 walks. These two good starts come off two, back-to-back, horrible starts where he allowed 9 runs over 10.0 innings. Ultimately he is trying to find his groove from April where he finished the month with a 0.82 ERA over 4 starts. The last time he faced the Mets was almost a year ago to the day where he allowed no runs over 6.0 innings from 4 hits and 3 walks. The Mets have the following numbers against Junior:

• Bruce 0-4, 2 BB
• Cabrera 1-6
• Flores 2-6
• Gonzalez 0-4
• Mesoraco 1-3
• Cespedes 1-3, HR (DL)
• Conforto 0-3

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets dropped two in a row as they head into Milwaukee to play the Brewers. It has been a frustrating two night as a lack of offense (both nights) and defense (two nights ago) played the major roles in the Mets loss. It is easy to get frustrated at Familia for allowing 2 runs last night in the 9th inning, but if you look at the Mets pitching staff as a whole, we all would be very happy with the team allowing only 2 runs. Last night is all about the lack of hitting that has been plaguing the Mets for a while now but has been exasperated since Frazier and Cespedes both went on the DL together.

Steven Matz looks to move the Mets in the right direction tonight. He is 1-3 over 8 games and 36.2 innings with a 4.42 ERA, 5.89 FIP, 1.309 WHIP and 86 ERA+. After two, strong, back to back starts where he allowed 2 runs in 11.0 innings from 8 hits and 5 walks while striking out 8, Matz took a step back in his last outing allowing 4 runs from 6 hits and a walk (and two homers) over 4.0 innings. He faced the Brewers earlier this year and allowed 4 runs, 3 earned from 3 hits and 2 walks in 5.1 innings, his second longest outing of the year. The Brewers have the following numbers against Steven:

• Yelich 3-14, K
• Perez 2-8, HR
• Villar 2-7, 3 K
• Braun 2-5, 2B, HR
• Cain 1-4, 2 BB, 2 K
• Broxton 2-5, 2 K
• Shaw 0-3

The Mets bats will continue their month long finding themselves journey against Zach Davies who is 2-3 over 6 games and 34.0 innings with a 4.24 ERA, 4.88 FIP, 1.265 WHIP and 95 ERA+. Davies will be making his first start since April 29th from a rotator cuff injury, so I’m sure he will be watched carefully tonight by the Brewers staff. In his last three starts before the injury he was on a roll posting a 2.00 ERA across 18.0 innings of work. His last bad start was against the Mets on April 13th where he allowed 5 runs from 7 hits and 2 walks, including 2 homers in 4.1 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Davies:

• Bruce 1-15, HR, 2 BB
• Conforto 2-9, 2 2B, 3 BB
• Gonzalez 4-12
• Cabrera 5-9, 2 2B
• Cesepdes 5-9, HR (DL)
• Frazier 3-5, 2 HR (DL)
• Flores 0-2
• Rosario 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets are 0-1 in the José Bautista era as the Marlins snapped the Mets’ 4 game winning streak last night. Wheeler did a lot better than his line suggests as two of his three runs came after a critical José Reyes error on the field. Reyes’ fielding, coupled with an offense that struggled to string hits together led to a 5-1 loss.

Luckily Jacob deGrom is here to make us all feel better. Jacob is 4-0 over 9 games and 51.1 innings with a 1.75 ERA, 1.82 FIP, 1.013 WHIP and 219 ERA+. In his last five starts he has allowed 1 run over 26.1 innings from 17 hits and 8 walks while striking out 39 batters leading to a 0.34 ERA. His worst start of the season came in Miami, in a game the Mets eventually won, where he allowed 4 runs from 6.0 innings, 7 hits and 1 walk. The Marlins have the following numbers against deGrom:

• Dietrich 4-19, BB, 9 K
• Castro 6-15, BB
• Bour 7-15, 2B,2 HR, 2 BB
• Rojas 4-16, BB
• Prado 3-13, 2B, BB
• Realmuto 2-12
• Maybin 0-9
• Anderson 1-1, BB

The Mets bats are still on a journey to find themselves. Will they do it against Dan Straily tonight? Dan is 2-0 over 4 starts and 20.0 innings with a 3.60 ERA, 6.57 FIP, 1.450 WHIP and 102 ERA+. He is coming off by far his best start of the season where he shutout Altanta over 7.0 innings allowing 3 hits and 3 walks. He was great in three games against the Mets last season where he held the Mets to 3 runs over 15.1 innings (1.76 ERA). Surprisingly, the discrepancy between his ERA and FIP/WHIP this year was also featured against the Mets last year as the Mets only scored 3 times despite getting 8 hits and 10 walks. The Mets have the following numbers against Dan:

• Reyes 2-11, 4 BB
• Cabera 3-8, 2 2B, BB
• Gonzalez 0-5, 2 BB
• Bruce 1-6, HR
• Flores 1-6

Lets Go Mets!