The Mets are at the precipice of living the same week three times in a row. For the first three weeks in June the Mets have started each week losing two games, then they win the third game of a series to avoid the sweep. Then they win the opener of the second series, but drop the next game. The last two weeks the Mets won the last game of the series, and the Mets hope to do that again tonight, making three weeks of mediocre .500 baseball. Not falling any further behind, not gaining any ground. Purgatory for three weeks. Hopefully the Mets can hit Zack Wheeler and put yesterday’s disastrous performance behind them.
It’s been a rough season for David Peterson who has made seven starts over 15 games totaling 64 innings with a 5.91 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 1.625 WHIP and a 70 ERA+. At the end of May Peterson had a great outing against the Marlins, holding them to one hit and no runs over four innings. Since then Peterson has allowed nine runs from nine hits and three home runs over 6 2/3 innings. The Phillies have the following career stats against Peterson:
- Alec Bohm 9-28, 2 2B, 2 HR, BB, 6 K
- Bryce Harper 10-27, 2 2B, HR, 4 BB, 7 K
- Derek Hill 0-3, BB, K
- Rafael Marchan 2-2
- Brandon Marsh 2-5, HR, K
- J.T. Realmuto 3-25, 2B, 4 BB, 5 K
- Kyle Schwarber 4-27, 2B, HR, 3 BB, 14 K
- Edmundo Sosa 6-9, 2B, HR, K
- Bryson Stott 0-3, BB, K
- Trea Turner 5-25, 2 2B, 2 BB, 7 K
Zack Wheeler has picked up right where he left off returning from injury this season. Over 10 starts he has pitched 62 2/3 innings with a 2.01 ERA, 3.39 FIP, 0.846 WHIP and a 221 ERA+. Wheeler had one poor start against the Dodgers on May 29th where he allowed four runs over six innings. Since then he ahs allowed only three runs over 19 innings spread over three starts. He has struck out 22 batters in that stretch. The Mets have the following career stats against Wheeler:
- Francisco Alvarez 0-4, BB, 2 K
- Brett Baty 4-12, HR, 2 K
- Bo Bichette 3-11, 2 K
- Marcus Semien 4-18, 2B, HR, BB, 5 K
- Zack Short 0-2
- Juan Soto 14-54, 2 2B, 3 HR, 16 BB, 16 K
- Luis Torrens 1-2
- Mark Vientos 4-12, 2B, 4 K
- Eric Wagaman 1-3, HR, 2 K
- Jared Young 1-2, K
Three Things To Watch For:
- Contain the top of the Phillies lineup. Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper combined to go 10-for-15 on Saturday with a double, a triple and four home runs. The rest of the Phillies lineup had five hits, which isn’t nothing, but not the onslaught the Mets experienced. The Mets made the decision before yesterdays game to announce David Peterson as the starter, rather than using an opener. Peterson needs to set the tone tonight in the first and not let tonight’s game be a continuation of yesterday’s game.
- Mark Vientos. Mark Vientos is starting to heat up! He has a six game on-base streak now despite only starting three of this six games. Over this stretch he has gone 6-for-17 at the plate with two home runs, slashing .353/.368/.706. He has solid numbers against Wheeler.
- The bullpen is ready to take over. The Mets bullpen should be ready to take over for Peterson tonight after Pérez, Myers and Zack Short pitched after Peralta to salvage what was left of the game. Brooks Raley has been on a roll for the Mets this season with a 2.00 ERA over 27 innings spread over 30 games. He has a 208 ERA+, which will probably regress at some point.
Let’s Go Mets!
