213 Miles From Shea

There are three teams in baseball with 7 wins on the young season: the Dodgers, Giants and New York Mets. There are also only three teams with a run differential over +20: the Dodgers, the Giants and the New York Mets. The Dodgers lead the pack with a +27, followed by the Mets at +26 and the Giants at +23.

Tonight the Mets will start a four game set with the Giants in one of the marquee matchups on the young season. The Mets enter the series coming off of their third consecutive series win. The Giants come to New York after sweeping the Guardians in Cleveland.

Tylor Megill takes the mound for the Mets tonight. In his first two starts this season and 10 1/3 innings of work he has allowed zero runs from six hits and zero walks while striking out 11. Megill made two, very different, starts against the Giants. In San Francisco he allowed only one run from five hits and two walks over six innings. In the very next start back in New York, he allowed seven runs from 11 hits over 3 2/3 innings. The Giants have the following numbers against Megill:

• Brandon Belt 3-5, 2 HR, BB, K
• LaMonte Wade Jr. 3-6, 2B, HR
• Brandon Crawford 0-5, 2 K
• Tommy La Stella 1-5, K
• Joc Pederson 0-4, BB, K
• Mike Yastrzemski 1-3, HR, BB
• Wilmer Flores 2-3, 2B, K

The Mets bats will get their first look at the veteran Alex Cobb tonight who is pitching in his first season with the Giants. In his first start this year he allowed two runs from four hits and two walks over five innings while striking out 10. Last season he made 18 starts for the Angels and pitched 93 1/3 innings with a 3.76 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 1.264 WHIP and a 118 ERA+. The Mets have the following numbers on Alex Cobb:

• Robinson Canó 10-28, 2B, 4 HR, 2 BB, 4 K
• Eduardo Escobar 3-11, HR, BB, 4 K
• Francisco Lindor 3-8, 3 K
• Mark Canha 1-6, 2 K
• Starling Marte 1-2, 2B
• Brandon Nimmo 0-3, 3 K
• James McCann 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets lost a close one yesterday and now have a rubber game today to get a series win against the Diamondbacks.

Yesterday the Mets got amazing pitching from Carlos Carrasco but couldn’t support him at the plate. The Diamondbacks were able to put up a three spot against the Mets late and Starling Marte did his best, responding with a two run homer, but the rest of the offense just couldn’t push the Mets over the line.

David Peterson will look to get the Mets back into the win column tonight. He pitched in long relief after Taijuan Walker’s injury early in the season. Peterson was able to pitch four innings allowing three hits, two walks and nothing else. Last season he made 15 starts pitching 66 2/3 innings with a 5.54 ERA, 4.78 FIP, 1.395 WHIP and a 73 ERA+. In 2020 Peterson pitched in 10 games, 9 starts, totaling 49 2/3 innings with a 3.44 ERA, 4.52 FIP, 1.208 WHIP and a 125 ERA+. The drop in performance last year was reflected in a jump in H/9 (6.5 to 8.6) and HR/9 (0.9 to 1.5).

Peterson pitched against Arizona twice last year and let’s just say he’ll be looking for revenge today. In his first start he allowed three runs from three hits and three walks over 1 2/3 innings of work. In his second start, in Arizona, he allowed five runs from three hits and three walks while recording only one out. The Diamondbacks have the following numbers against him:

• Carson Kelly 0-1, 2 BB, K
• Christian Walker 2-2, BB
• Nick Ahmed 0-1, BB, K
• Sergio Alcantara 0-1, BB
• Pavin Smith 1-1, BB
• Ketel Marte 1-1, HR
• Josh Rojas 1-1

The Mets bats will get a look at Humberto Castellanos this afternoon. Humberto was originally signed by the Astros in 2015 and made his major league debut in 2020. The Diamondbacks picked him up on waivers the following year. This will be his first start this year but he’s already pitched in relief twice allowing three runs, two earned from 5 hits and a walk in three innings. Humberto is starting because the Diamondbacks are switching things up one week into the season. Originally Caleb Smith had a spot in the rotation, he faltered in the first start and the Diamondbacks sent him into the bullpen.

Humberto last year split time between being a starter and a reliever. Overall he pitched in 14 games and made 7 starts totaling 45 2/3 innings with a 4.93 ERA, 5.01 FIP, 1.380 WHIP and a 86 ERA+. As a starter only he pitched 34 innings with a 5.56 ERA and a 1.441 WHIP. He has never faced the Mets and the only Met who has faced him, Mark Canha (0-2, 2 K), is currently on the Covid IL list.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets fired on all cylinders yesterday for the series opener and they will look to keep it going this afternoon in Flushing!

Carlos Carrasco is on the mound for the Mets today. In his first start of the season last week he allowed one run from two hits over 5 2/3 innings. Last year the most difficult inning for him was the first inning, and last week that’s where he allowed a solo homer. After that though he fell back into a rhythm and it was one of his best starts as a New York Met. Carrasco missed the Diamondbacks when the Mets played them last year. Between playing in the American League for a long time and the way the Diamondbacks have constructed their roster in recent years, only two players on the current team have seen Carrasco in a major league game:

• Ketel Marte 2-4, BB, K
• David Peralta 0-1

Zac Gallen will make his 2022 debut this afternoon after his first start of the season last week was scratched due a cut on his thumb. Last season he made 23 starts and pitched 121 1/3 innings with a 4.30 ERA, 4.25 FIP, 1.294 WHIP and a 98 ERA+. This was a significant jump from 2019 (split between the Marlins and Diamondbacks) and 2020. Those seasons Gallen had a 2.81 and 2.75 ERA, respectively. He also had an ERA+ of 156 and 164. One of his better starts last year was against the Mets where he allowed two runs, one earned, over siz innings of work from two hits and four walks while striking out 5. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 1-7, 2 BB, 5 K
• Jeff McNeil 1-9, 2B, 3 K
• Robinson Canó 2-5, 2B, 2 K
• Dominic Smith 0-4, 2 BB, K
• Mark Canha 0-4, BB, 2 K
• James McCann 0-5, 3 K
• Francisco Lindor 1-3
• Brandon Nimmo 0-2, BB, K
• Travis Jankowski 1-2, 3B, K

Gallen will have to compete with a Mets lineup that smacked the ball a lot yesterday. Francisco Lindor hit two home runs and now has a 1.161 OPS on the early season. Starling Marte collected three hits including his first homer on the season. Joining Marte with three hits was Travis Jankowski who has a small-sample size 1.292 OPS.

Let’s Go Mets!

For the first time in 2022, the Mets are coming home!

The Mets have a lot to celebrate today during their home opener. Before the game there will be a ceremony revealing the statue of Tom Seaver in front of the ball park. Today is also the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s historic major league debut, breaking the color barrier.

The Mets are returning home after taking three games in a four game set from the Nationals and two games in a three game set from the Phillies. They currently have a +15 run differential and they will look to expand that differential today as they take on the Diamondbacks.

On the hill for the Mets is Chris Bassitt who is coming off of a great Mets debut. In his first game of the season he held the Nationals to three hits and one walk while striking out eight batters of six innings of work. Chis faced the Diamondbacks twice last year. In April he allowed two runs from two hits and five walks over five innings of work. In June he also allowed two runs, but this time over seven innings. The Diamondbacks have the following numbers against him:

• Ketel Marte 2-13, 2 BB
• David Peralta 3-8, 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
• Christian Walker 3-6, HR
• Nick Ahmed 0-3, BB, K
• Madison Bumgarner 1-2, HR, BB, K
• Carson Kelly 1-3, K
• Josh Rojas 0-3, K

The Mets draw the veteran Zach Davies in the series opener. Davies, a long time pitcher with the Brewers is now on the Diamondbacks after stints with the Padres and the Cubs the last couple of years. In his first start this season he allowed two runs from four hits and three walks over five innings. Last year he posted a 5.78 ERA, 5.45 FIP, 1.601 WHIP and a 74 ERA+ over 148 innings. This includes 75 walks which led the league. In his only start against the Mets last season he allowed two runs on five hits and two walks over four innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Starling Marte 10-28, 2 2B, 3 BB
• Eduardo Escobar 3-14, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
• Travis Jankowski 3-10, 3B, 5 K
• Brandon Nimmo 3-6, 2 2B, 3B, K
• Pete Alonso 0-4, BB
• Jeff McNeil 1-4
• James McCann 2-3, BB
• Mark Canha 1-3
• Francisco Lindor 1-2, HR, K
• J.D. Davis 2-2, 2B

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets and Phillies wrap up their three game series afternoon with a rubber game! On Monday, the Mets blew a 4-run lead in 8th inning and lost the game 5-4. Last night, Edwin Díaz returned from the bereavement list and locked down the ninth inning for a 2-0 Mets win.

Max Scherzer will be on the mound for the Mets. In his first game as a Met he allowed three runs over six innings from three hits and a walk while striking out 6. The only blemish on the day was a long homer hit by Josh Bell. Scherzer faced the Phillies four times last year pitching 22 innings allowing three runs from 13 innings (1.23 ERA) and struck out 28 batters. In an odd twist – all four starts where in Philly! The Phillies have the following numbers against Max Scherzer:

• Odubel Herrera 16-54, 4 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 6 BB, 10 K
• J.T. Realmuto 5-50, 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 15 K
• Jean Segura 8-25, HR, BB, 5 K
• Rhys Hoskins 1-23, 2B, BB, 12 K
• Bryce Harper 3-12, 2 2B, HR, 4 BB, 8 K
• Alec Bohm 2-10, 5 K
• Nick Castellanos 1-9, 2B, 4 K
• Didi Gregorius 1-8, 2 K
• Johan Camargo 2-7, 2 K
• Kyle Schwarber 1-4, 3 BB, 2 K

The Mets will get a look at Aaron Nola today. In his first start of 2022 he allowed four runs from four hits (including two homers) over six innings. Last season he made 32 starts and pitched 180 2/3 innings with a 4.63 ERA, 3.37 FIP, 1.129 WHIP and a 90 ERA+. This includes four starts against the Mets where he pitched 20 innings allowing only 5 runs runs off 19 hits and 5 walks while striking out 33 batters. The Mets have the following numbers against Nola:

• Brandon Nimmo 9-29, 3B, 10 BB, 12 K (.487 OBP)
• Dominic Smith 9-34, 6 2B, HR, 13 K
• Jeff McNeil 8-29, 2B, HR, 3 BB, 8 K
• Pete Alonso 10-29, 2 2B, 3 HR, 3 BB, 8 K (1.130 OPS)
• Francisco Lindor 3-9, 2 2B, BB, 2 K
• Starling Marte 3-10, 5 K
• Eduardo Escobar 1-3, 2B, K

Let’s Go Mets!

The baseball season is a marathon, and certainly worth it to remind yourself of that after last night. The Mets dropped their second straight game by blowing a lead in the 8th inning. This time the Mets had to work around a surprise injury to Taijuan Walker which knocked him out in the second inning. David Peterson did a great job in long relief but the Mets just hit a wall again late.

Tylor Megill will look to reverse that trend as the Mets take on the Phillies for game two tonight! Megill pitched beautifully on Opening Day holding the Nationals to three hits and nothing else over 5 innings of work. Megill faced the Phillies once last season, allowing four runs from five hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings. His weak point last year was the long ball and he allowed two homers in that outing. The Phillies have the following numbers on Tylor:

• Odubel Herrera 2-3, 2B, HR
• Jean Segura 1-3
• Alec Bohm 1-2, 2B
• Bryce Harper 0-2, K
• J.T. Realmuto 2 K
• Nick Maton 0-1

The Mets will get a look at an old friend tonight in Zack Wheeler who will be making his 2022 debut. Wheeler’s debut tonight will be unusual – it’s a true 2022 debut. Wheeler did not pitch in any spring training games this season. He felt soreness in his shoulder during the winter and that essentially put a giant pause in his off-season ramp up. He threw a bullpen session over the weekend and feels good to go, so here were are!

Wheeler had a tremendous season last year making 32 starts and pitching a league leading 213 1/3 innings with three complete games and two complete game shutouts (both league leading). He posted a 2.78 ERA, 2.59 FIP, 1.008 WHIP and a 150 ERA+ while recording 247 strikeouts. The 247 strikeouts was also league leading and over 50 strikeouts more than his previous career high. In five starts against the Mets last year he pitched 34 1/3 innings allowing 8 runs (2.10 ERA) from 27 hits and 6 walks while striking out 37 batters. The Mets have the following numbers against Wheeler:

• Brandon Nimmo 7-25, 2 2B, 5 K
• Jeff McNeil 3-19, BB, 5 K
• Dominic Smith 8-20, 2B, 5 K
• Pete Alonso 6-17, 2B, 3 K
• James McCann 3-14, 2 K
• J.D. Davis 5-13, 2 2B, HR, 5 K
• Francisco Lindor 4-12, 2B, 2 K
• Eduardo Escobar 2-9, 3 K
• Starling Marte 2-9, 2B, K

Let’s Go Mets!

If I told myself the Mets would win three of the first four games of the season, I would be ecstatic.

However, because of the way the Mets lost yesterday (leaving several runners on base, multiple defensive miscues in the bottom of the 8th, etc.) I feel fairly bummed. That being said, it was a good opening weekend for Mets baseball and there were a lot of positives for the Mets to build on.

Tonight the Mets head into Philly for the second series of the year. Philadelphia had a busy off-season keeping up with the Braves in Mets including signing former Mets Jeurys Familia and Brad Hand. Their lineup is now designed for their ballpark they play in – power over defense. In general, there’s a lot of hype around the Phillies.

Taijuan Walker makes the start for the Mets tonight. Overall last season he pitched in 30 games, 29 starts, totaling 159 innings with a 4.47 ERA, 4.57 FIP, 1.182 WHIP and a 90 ERA+. Last year was a tale of two seasons for Walker. Before the All-Star break, he pitched 94 2/3 innings with a 2.66 ERA and 1.056 WHIP. After the break he pitched 64 1/3 innings with a 7.13 ERA and a 1.368 WHIP. The big change was the home run. Prior to the break he only gave up six but after the break he gave of 20 homers in considerably less innings.

Walker faced the Phillies five times last season, totaling 26.1 innings and posting a 3.76 ERA. He faired worse at Citizens Bank Park where he allowed seven runs over 12 innings. The Phillies have the following numbers against him:

• Didi Gregorius 4-16, 2B, 2 K
• Bryce Harper 3-14, 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
• Alec Bohm 4-10, 2B, HR, 2 BB, K
• Kyle Schwarber 5-10, 5 HR, BB, K
• Jean Segura 3-10, HR, K
• J.T. Realmuto 3-8, HR, 2 K
• Odubel Herrera 0-8, K
• Rhys Hoskins 1-7, 4 K
• Nick Castellanos 2-6, HR, 2 K

The Mets bats will get their first 2022 look at Ranger Suarez. Last season he split time as a reliever and a starter. Overall he pitched in 39 games, starting 12, pitching 106 innings with a 1.36 ERA, 2.72 FIP, 1.000 WHIP and a 308 ERA+. As a starter he pitched 65 2/3 innings with a 1.51 ERA and 1.081 WHIP. He pitched against the Mets three times last season, including a start, totaling to 4 2/3 innings allowing 2 runs, 1 earned from 3 hits and 4 walks while striking out 7. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Brandon Nimmo 2-6, 2 BB, K
• Pete Alonso 0-3, 2 BB, K
• Starling Marte 1-5, BB, K
• Dominic Smith 1-4, K
• Eduardo Escobar 2-3, 2B, HR
• Jeff McNeil 0-2, K
• Francisco Lindor 0-1

Let’s Go Mets!

Two different baseball clichés are converging this afternoon in DC. First, good teams beat bad teams. That’s what the Mets have done all weekend. Second, it’s difficult to sweep a four game set. That’s what the Mets are going to attempt to do this afternoon.

The Mets clinched the series win yesterday thanks to a terrific Mets debut by Chris Bassitt who shut the Nationals offense down for 6 innings and thanks to Pete Alonso‘s first career grand slam. Now the Mets will try the difficult task, even against teams like the Nationals, and complete the four game sweep.

Carlos Carrasco will make his 2022 Mets debut. Last season Carrasco was hampered by a hamstring injury and at the end of the season had surgery to remove a bone fragment in his elbow. It was just a difficult season all around. He started 12 games and tossed 53 2/3 innings with a 6.04 ERA, 5.22 FIP, 1.435 WHIP and a 67 ERA+. Homeruns crushed him last year as he gave them up at a clip of 2.0 per nine innings, 0.9 points worse than his career numbers. He made one start against the Nationals last season where he allowed four runs in one inning. However, the weather was terrible and the game was suspended and completed the next day. The Nationals have the following numbers against Carrasco:

• Alcides Escobar 9-42, 2B, 6 K
• Nelson Cruz 11-30, 3 2B, 4 HR, BB, 9 K
• Ehire Adrianza 2-13, 4 K
• Dee Strange-Gordon 2-11, BB, 2 K
• Josh Bell 2-7, 2B, 3 K
• Maikel Franco 2-6, 2B, K
• Riley Adams 1-1
• Carter Kieboom 0-1
• Victor Robles 1-1
• Juan Soto 1-1, HR

The Mets bats will look to keep grinding against Erick Fedde. Fedde pitched in 29 games, 27 starts, last season totaling 133 1/3 innings. He posted a 5.47 ERA, 4.66 FIP, 1.440 WHIP and a 74 ERA+. Fedde pitched a ton against the Mets last season – five times! Over those five games he pitched 24.1 innings and allowed 29 hits, 18 runs (14 earned – 5.18 ERA) and 9 walks while striking out 21 batters. The Mets have the following numbers against Fedde:

• Brandon Nimmo 5-19, 3 BB, 3 K
• Pete Alonso 6-12, 2 2B, 4 BB, K (1.278 OPS)
• Dominic Smith 2-15, BB, 3 K
• Jeff McNeil 5-12, 2B, 2 BB, K
• Francisco Lindor 2-10, K
• Eduardo Escobar 2-8, K
• J.D. Davis 2-5, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Starling Marte 1-6, 2B, K
• Travis Jankowski 2-5, 2B, HR, K

Let’s Go Mets! Get that four game sweep!

The Mets look to win their third game in a row tonight as they take on the Nationals again in DC.

Nationals pitchers hit Mets batters three times on Opening Day with James McCann getting plunked twice and Pete Alonso having a scary moment getting hit on the batting helmet flap. Last night Steve Cishek lost control of a pitch inside and hit Francisco Lindor in the face. Thankfully Lindor’s X-Ray’s were negative and he cleared concussion protocols. The benches did clear as Showalter made it clear he was going to defend his team no matter what the intent was.

Anyway, on to today’s game! Chris Bassitt makes his Mets debut tonight! Bassitt was acquired in a trade with the Athletics pretty much right after the lockout. He is also the third member of the Athletics to come over to the Mets this off-season, joining his teammates Starling Marte and Eduardo Escobar. Last season Bassitt pitched in 27 games and logged 157 1/3 innings with a 3.15 ERA, 3.34 FIP, 1.055 WHIP and a 130 ERA+. He did not face the Washington Nationals last season however, because of the way the Nationals reconstructed their roster this off-season, there are seven batters who have faced Bassitt previously:

• Nelson Cruz 4-11, 3 2B, 2 BB, 2 K
• Alcides Escobar 4-11, 2B, 2 BB, K
• Dee Strange-Gordon 1-5, 2B, BB
• Josh Bell 2-3, 2 HR, K
• Maikel Franco 1-3, K
• Ehire Adrianza 1-2, 2B, K
• Cesar Hernandez 0-1, K

The Mets bats tonight will face one of the Nationals pitching prospects, Joan Adon, who is ranked as the 8th overall prospect in the Nationals system by the MLB prospect website. His write up notes that he has mid-90’s fastball complemented by a low-80’s slide and high-80’s changeup. Because of everything that has been happening with the Mets getting hit by pitches, it’s notable that he struggles with control. He pitched one game in the majors last year against the Red Sox where he allowed two runs from six hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings while striking out nine (and hitting one). Over three levels of minor league baseball last season he made 21 starts and pitched 105 innings with a 4.97 ERA and 1.276 WHIP.

One of the batters Joan will have to deal with tonight is Jeff McNeil, who is the only hitter in baseball right now with five hits. Obviously, this is an incredibly small-sample size but I just wanted to highlight it. (Mainly because I was able to draft him in round 23 of a 24 round draft in a league with 4-5 diehard Mets fans).

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets winning on Opening Day is one of the greatest traditions in the sport, and the Mets kept it alive last night with a 5-1 win over the Washington Nationals.

Tonight the Mets will have a chance to guarantee at least a series split as they take on the Nationals for second of four games this weekend. The game tonight is also the first of the season on AppleTV+. MLB, in a move that in my opinion demonstrates at best how out of touch the league is with fans and at worst how greedy the league is, has signed contracts with AppleTV+ and Peacock this year giving them exclusive games. Each service gets one to two games per week exclusively on their platform, even in regional markets. Access to the game tonight will be free though!

Max Scherzer will take on Josiah Gray. Scherzer will make both his long awaited Mets debut and his DC homecoming in the same start. He got a well-deserved standing ovation and tribute video when announced last night. One of the players who came from the Dodgers trade last year for Scherzer was Josiah Gray! So we will also be treated to a head to head matchup of players in the same trade.

Max Scherzer made 30 starts last season and tossed 179 1/3 innings with a 2.46 ERA, 2.97 FIP, 0.846 WHIP (league leading) and a 166 ERA+. He also led the league in H/9 (6.0) and BB/9 (1.8). After being traded he made 11 starts for the Dodgers where he was better in nearly every statistical category. There are very few current Nationals who have seen Scherzer in an official major league game before:

• Cesar Hernandez 11-48, 4 2B, 2 BB, 13 K
• Alcides Escobar 12-41, 2B, 2 HR, 7 K
• Nelson Cruz 8-21, 2B, HR, 6 K
• Josh Bell 3-7, 2 2B, 3 BB, K
• Ehire Adrianza 1-3

Josiah Gray had a 5.48 ERA, 6.00 FIP, 1.358 WHIP and 75 ERA+ over 14 games (13 starts) and 70 2/3 innings of work last season. Gray started once against the Mets back on September 5th where he allowed 6 runs over 3 innings from 7 hits and a walk. He also made three starts this spring, totaling 9 2/3 innings, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) from 13 hits and 5 home runs. Due to a combination of Josiah Gray only pitching in 14 games in his career, most as a National, and the Mets rebuilding their roster this off-season, only five Mets have seen Gray in an official game:

• Pete Alonso 2-2, 2B
• Francisco Lindor 0-1, BB
• Patrick Mazeika 0-2, K
• Jeff McNeil 0-1
• Taijuan Walker 0-1

And out of those five Mets players, only three of them will face Gray tonight.

Let’s Go Mets!