213 Miles From Shea

The night sky before the Piazza Retirement Ceremony was beautiful. Picture was taken 7/29/16.

The Mets steamrolled the Phillies last night 10-0 as they opened up a four game set. Flores opened the game with a three run homer and the Mets never looked back as Conforto and Granderson added homers. Walker had a huge night with 4 hits and 3 runs in his first strong game since returning at the end of July.

Seth Lugo is 5-3 over 11 games and 10 starts and 63.1 innings with a 4.55 ERA, 4.65 FIP and 1.342 WHIP. He was average in his last start allowing 4 hits and 2 walks over 5.2 innings leading to 3 runs. Homers have hurt him in his last three starts where he has allowed 2 homers in each start. He hasn’t faced the Phillies yet this season but last year he tossed 5.0 innings against them allowing 4 hits and 2 walks leading to 3 runs. The Phillies have the following numbers against Seth:

• Hernandez 1-2, 3B, BB
• Franco 1-2
• Galvis 0-2
• Herrera 0-2
• Morgan 0-2
• Rupp 1-2

The Mets bats draw rookie Nick Pivetta who is 4-7 over 16 games and 84.0 innings with a 5.89 ERA, 5.12 FIP and 1.429 WHIP. He tossed a good game against the Mets at the start of July where he allowed 1 hit (a solo homer) over 7.0 innings with 4 walks. The solo shot was the only run he allowed. He’s coming off a poor start where he allowed 8 runs, 6 earned from 7 hits and a walk over 2.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Nick:

• Cabrera  0-3
• Cespedes 0-2, BB
• Nimmo 0-3
• Reyes 0-2
• R Rivera 0-1, BB

Let’s Go Mets!

The night sky before the Piazza Retirement Ceremony was beautiful. Picture was taken 7/29/16.

After being on the road for 10 games, and then home for 5 games, the Mets are back on the road today! This might be the shortest road trip possible mile wise as the Mets will travel down 95 and play 4 games in Philly and then play two games in the Bronx.

Jacob deGrom will take the mound for the Mets today. He is 12-5 over 22 starts and 144.2 innings with a 3.36 ERA, 3.67 FIP and 1.168 WHIP. Most pitchers on the Mets right now would take the line from deGrom’s last start but he’s probably frustrated by it as it was not-deGrom like. He allowed 5 hits and 3 walks over 5.0 innings leading to 3 runs against the Dodgers. Against the Phillies this year he has allowed 3 runs off 9 hits and 3 walks in 13.0 innings. His last start against the Phillies was one of the better starts this season where he allowed only 1 run off 3 hits and a walk in 7.0 innings while striking out 12. The Phillies have the following numbers against Jacob:

• Herrera 4-21
• Galvis 6-19
• Hernandes 2-10, 3 BB
• Franco 2-12
• Rupp 1-8, HR, 2 BB
• Blanco 1-5

The Mets bats will try to find positive consistency against Vince Velaquez who is 2-6 over 14 starts and 71.0 innings with a 4.82 ERA, 5.34 FIP and 1.465 WHIP. The last two numbers are significantly higher than his career numbers (4.23 FIP, 1.354 WHIP). His last two starts have been better than his average numbers as he has allowed 9 hits and 2 runs over 12.0 innings. He faced the Mets in back to back starts in April where he allowed 8 runs off 10 hits and 7 walks in 11.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Vince:

• Cabrera 5-11, 2B, BB
• Cespedes 2-8, 2B, HR, 2 BB
• Granderson 0-7, 2 BB
• Walker 2-11, BB
• d’Arnaud 1-9
• Bruce (yes, I know he’s traded his numbers are important here) 3-9, 2B, HR
• Conforto 4-7, 2 HR, BB

Let’s Go Mets!

The night sky before the Piazza Retirement Ceremony was beautiful. Picture was taken 7/29/16.

The night sky before the Piazza Retirement Ceremony was beautiful. Picture was taken 7/29/16.

The Mets snapped their losing streak yesterday as they beat the Rangers 5-4. Tonight they will go for the two game sweep! Yesterday the Mets took the lead early thanks to solo first inning homers from Conforto and Cespedes (d’Arnaud would later add a homer). Flexen was able to hold the Rangers back enough of 5.2 innings and the Mets won!

Rafael Montero is 1-7 over 22 games and 8 starts with 62.1 innings with a 5.78 ERA, 4.42 FIP and 1.765 WHIP. Montero was trending positively for about a month and he’s slipped back in his four starts. In his last 4 he has pitched 23.1 innings with a 5.79 ERA. That might seem like he’s pitching at his average rate this season, but remember he started the season off terribly, and then pitched well for a month to sink his numbers in a positive direction. The only Ranger who has seen Montero in a game is Mike Napoli who has a hit in one AB.

The Mets bats draw Martin Perez who has been with the Rangers since he debuted as a 21 year old in the 2012 season. This year he is having his worst in his career sitting at 5-10 over 117.0 innings with a 5.46 ERA, 4.80 FIP and 1.667 WHIP. For comparison,  his career line is 4.51 ERA, 4.80 FIP and 1.456 WHIP. His numbers are more inflated as of late since he has allowed 15 runs in his last 9.0 innings of work. Only three members of the Mets have seen Perez:

• Cespedes 5-13, 2B, 3B, 2 BB
• Cabrera 3-5, 2 2B
• Bruce 1-3

Let’s Go Mets!

The day off yesterday was necessary to get a mental break from the Mets this past weekend. They had a tall task with the Dodgers who are playing historically great baseball and the Mets are playing whatever the opposite of that is. The expected outcome occurred and they were swept. Now they welcome the Rangers in town for a two game series (they are doing a 4 game home/away series this year) before hopping down 95 to the Phillies this weekend.

Chris Flexen gets the nod for today’s game as he makes third career start. He is 0-1 over 6.0 innings allowing 13 hits and 5 walks leading to 9 runs, 8 earned. Not to make excuses, but there was a lot working against Chris in his last start. For starters, he was in Colorado vs a better than average Rockies team that was able to get 8 hits and a walk in 3.0 innings, leading to 5 runs. He also had a blister issue on his hand that caused him to leave the game early (the bullpen shut down the rest of the game and the Mets won).

The Mets bats will get a look at Andrew Cashner. Cashner started his career off in 2010 with the Cubs and was part of the Rizzo trade the Padres. He was then part of the Cosart trade in 2016 and ended up with the Marlins before signing with the Rangers this off season. He is 7-8 over 18 starts and 107.0 innings with a 3.36 ERA, 4.40 FIP and a 1.346 WHIP. He is coming off back to back good starts where he allowed 2 ER over 13.0 innings. Last year he allowed 3 runs off 8 hits and a walk over 5.0 innings against the Mets which led to 3 runs. The Mets have the following numbers against Cashner:

• Granderson 3-11, 2B, HR, BB
• Walker 2-10, 2 2B
• Bruce 2-7, 2B
• Conforto 1-5, BB
• Flores 1-6
• Reyes 2-3
• Cabrera 1-3
• Cespedes 1-3, HR

Let’s Go Mets!

Today starts about a week of pictures from eve of Piazza’s number retirement. Picture taken 7/29/16.

The Mets made up some nifty graphics for the retirement ceremony. Picture taken on 7/30/16.