213 Miles From Shea

First, I hope you are ok! The storm last night in the area was absolutely crazy. I’m not even sure if today’s game will happen while the region gets itself back together.

Outside of the storm, the last 48-hours have been fairly insane for the Mets. The Mets swept the Marlins in a doubleheader on Tuesday, including an improbable 6-5 comeback win the first game. The Braves lost on Tuesday and Wednesday – so the Mets are only 5.0 games out with a month left! We can’t have too much positivity though (the universe won’t allow it) – the Mets GM Zack Scott was arrested DUI charges back in June and it became public yesterday. So things are fairly insane around the team.

Carlos Carrasco looks to put some sanity back in our lives tonight. Cookie has made 6 starts, totaling 23.1 innings with a 6.94 ERA, 5.04 FIP, 1.286 WHIP and a 58 ERA+. He is coming off by far his best start as a Met, where he held the Giants to 2 runs on 3 hits over 7.0 innings (the Mets still lost because the offense was asleep). Earlier this season he faced the Marlins, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and no walks over 4.1 innings. The Marlins have the following numbers against him:

• Joe Panik 1-1
• Alex Jackson 1-2, 2B, K
• Bryan De La Cruz 1-2
• Jesus Aguilar 2-7, 2B, BB, K
• Jorge Alfaro 1-3, 2 K
• Brian Anderson 1-4
• Sandy Leon 0-1
• Isan Diaz 0-2
• Jazz Chisholm Jr. 0-2
• Lewis Brinson 0-2, 2 K
• Miguel Rojas 0-1

The Mets bats will face off against rookie pitcher Zach Thompson, making his 14th start this season. In his first 13 games and 62.2 innings, he has a 3.16 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 1.117 WHIP and a 131 ERA+. He’s coming off of an average start against the Reds where he allowed 5 runs, 3 earned, over 5.0 innings from 6 hits and a walk. Overall, his ERA jumped from 2.33 at the end of July to 3.16 – August was a bit rough for him. This includes a start against the Mets where the Mets scored 3 runs, 2 earned, over 4.0 innings from 3 hit sand 2 walks. Thompson hasn’t broken 80 pitches once this month, and it seems like the secret to beating him is running up the pitch count. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Dominic Smith 1-2, 2B, K
• Pete Alonso 0-1, BB
• Javier Bàez 1-4, K
• Michael Conforto 0-1, BB
• Brandon Nimmo 0-3
• Jonathan Villar 0-2, K
• Jeff McNeil 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

Well that was a storybook afternoon!

The Mets had a massive, 6-5 come back win against the Marlins to start off the day. The Mets were down most of the afternoon, and entered the 9th inning down 5-1 after leaving runners on in the 8th inning. Nimmo started things off with a two run homer. Bàez came up with the tying run on with two outs (you can’t make this up!), got a hit and then scored the winning run! Hopefully that turns everything between a group of fans and him around.

Now the Mets have an opportunity for the double header sweep!

Trevor Williams will make his second start for the Mets today and pitch in his fourth game. As a Met, Williams has pitched 8.2 innings allowing 1 run off 4 hits and 4 walks while striking out 5 (1.04 ERA, 3.74 FIP, 0.923 WHIP and a 396 ERA+). This is a dramatic improvement compared to his time with the Cubs where he pitched in 13 games, 12 starts, totaling 58.2 innings posting a 5.06 ERA, 4.53 FIP, 1.534 WHIP and an 83 ERA+. Only two players on the Marlins roster have seen Williams in a major league game:

• Jesus Aguilar 0-5, BB, 5 K
• Miguel Rojas 0-3, K

Edward Cabrera will pitch in his second major league game this today. The rookie is coming off of his major league debut back on the 25th where he allowed 3 runs from 4 hits and 3 walks from 6.1 innings. This includes two homers. In the minors this year he made 13 starts and pitched 61.1 innings with a 2.93 ERA with a 1.141 WHIP. This will be Edward’s first start against the Mets.

Let’s Go Mets

The Mets are on a two game winning streak and that should be the story around the team, but it’s the Mets so there needs to be a controversy. After Sunday’s win, Javier Bàez revealed that that the thumbs down celebration he and others (Pillar, Lindor, etc) have been doing was to boo back at the fans for booing them. Whatever. It’s ridiculous for fans to boo their own team anyway, this wasn’t a big deal. However the story blew up and yesterday was filled with statements from players, Steve Cohen. All the typical things when something dumb and small gets super dumb and large when it comes to the Mets.

So that’s the backdrop the Mets come into today’s historic game with. The first game of the day is a continuation of a game from 142 days ago, which broke the record of 126 games set in 1995. There is a Marlins player on first base and if Taijuan Walker keeps him off the base paths, Marcus Stroman’s ERA will actually go down today.

Although it’s not really a start, Walker is essentially making his 25th start of the season today. Over his first 24 games and 129.2 innings, Walker has a 3.82 ERA, 4.30 FIP, 1.149 WHIP and a 105 ERA+. In his last start he allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, over 6.0 innings against the Giants. However, that stat line hides that Walker was doing tremendously well and was pulled out of the game after getting into trouble in the 7th inning. Loup who came in behind him, immediately allowed two runs to score which were charged to Walker. Walker has faced the Marlins twice this year. Back on April 8th he allowed 2 runs from 4 hits and 2 walks over 6.0 innings. On August 3rd he allowed 4 runs from 8 hits and 2 walks over 5.2 innings. The Marlins have the following numbers against Walker:

• Jesus Aguilar 2-5, 2B, BB, K
• Jorge Alfaro 0-2, BB
• Brian Anderson 1-7, 3 K
• Lewis Brinson 1-3, K
• Jazz Chisholm Jr. 0-1, BB, K
• Bryan De La Cruz 3-3
• Isan Diaz 2-3, HR
• Alex Jackson 1-3, HR, K
• Miguel Rojas 1-8, 2B

As of writing, it is unclear which Marlins pitcher will be going first, so here are write ups for both players.

Elieser Hernàndez will pitching in 6th major league game this season today. Over 22.1 innings he has a 3.63 ERA, 5.40 FIP, 1.075 WHIP and a 114 ERA+. He’s also made 6 starts in the minors this year and has posted a 2.63 ERA over 24.0 innings with a 0.625 WHIP. He’s been pitching regularly in the rotation with the big league team since August 15th, logging 15.0 innings allowing 8 runs, only 6 earned (3.60 ERA). This will be Elieser’s first game against the Mets.

Edward Cabrera will pitch in his second major league game this today. The rookie is coming off of his major league debut back on the 25th where he allowed 3 runs from 4 hits and 3 walks from 6.1 innings. This includes two homers. In the minors this year he made 13 starts and pitched 61.1 innings with a 2.93 ERA with a 1.141 WHIP. This will be Edward’s first start against the Mets.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets won a game!

The game looked a bit dicey for the New York Mets, but they won! After an on-field ceremony honoring Jerry Koosman, the Mets 2-0 to the Nationals early. Defensively, the Mets were just missing catches. But the Mets clawed back to tie the game thanks to two solo homers by Kevin Pillar who is now third on the Mets with homers at 12. (Caveat: homers hit by players while wearing a Mets uniform). The Nationals took the lead in the 7th on a wild pitch but then Michael Conforto hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the 7th to put the Mets up for good.

Can the Mets build on the power explosion this afternoon? They’re facing Erick Fedde today who has given up 1.2 homers per 9 innings. Over 21 starts and 102.2 innings, Fedde has a 4.91 ERA, 4.31 FIP, 1.412 WHIP and a 79 ERA+. He’s coming off of his best start since July 21st. His last time out he allowed 1 run over 6.1 innings from 6 hits and a walk while striking out 10 against the Marlins. In his 5 starts before that he allowed 17 runs, 16 earned, over 24.1 innings. That includes a start against the Mets where he allowed 2 runs over 4.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Javier Báez 1-1, 2 BB
• Michael Conforto 5-11, 2B, HR, 3 K
• Jeff McNeil 5-10, 2B, 2 BB, K
• J.D. Davis 2-5, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Pete Alonso 3-9, 2 2B, 3 BB, K
• Jonathan Villar 2-8, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 3-16, 2 BB, 3 K
• Francisco Lindor 1-5
• Dominic Smith 1-15, BB, 3 K
• Kevin Pillar 0-2, K

Tylor Megill gets the start for the Mets today. In 12 starts and 59.2 innings he has a 4.07 ERA, 4.24 FIP, 1.274 WHIP and a 98 ERA+. He’s coming off of his worst start in his career against the Giants where he allowed 7 runs over 3.2 innings from 11 hits. The majority of August has been tough for Tylor where his only good start was also against the Giants where he held them to 1 run over 6.0 innings in San Francisco. This will be his first start against the Nationals and no one on the Nationals roster has seen him in a major league game.

Let’s Go Mets!

Stop me if you’ve heard this one – the Mets lost a winnable game last night.

The Nationals beat the Mets 2-1. Rich Hill pitched the best he has in a while for the Mets, allowing only 2 runs over 5.0 innings. Hembree, Castro, Famila and Díaz all pitched scoreless innings of relief. But the Mets bats just couldn’t get it done against the Nationals pitching. Javier Báez hit a solo homer and the Mets scattered three other hits throughout the game. Hopefully the Mets can turn things around today.

Marcus Stroman gets the start for the Mets. In 26 games and 145.1 innings he has a 2.85 ERA, 3.47 FIP, 1.115 WHIP and a 110 ERA+. In his last four starts he has pitched 23.1 innings allowing 8 runs (3.09 ERA) from 17 hits and 7 walks while striking out 28. This includes facing two of the best offenses in the league (the Dodgers and the Giants) where he allowed 5 runs over 13.0 innings. He also started against the Nationals this month and held them to 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks over 5.1 innings in a 7-inning game. The Nationals have the following numbers against Stroman:

• Juan Soto 2-4, 2B, HR, BB, K
• Victor Robles 2-5, 2B, BB, K
• Carter Kieboom 1-2
• Yadiel Hernandez 2-4, K
• Gerardo Parra 1-3, SB
• Alcides Escobar 2-15, 3B, HR, 5 K
• Riley Adams 0-1, BB, K
• Josh Bell 1-7, 2 BB, 2 K
• Luis Garcia 0-2, K

The Mets bats face off against Sean Nolin today, making his third start this season. In his first two starts he’s allowed 7 runs over 7.0 innings from 14 hits and 3 walks. His first start was the worst of the two, and came against the Mets! The Mets tagged him for 4 runs over 3.0 innings from 8 hits including a homer. The Mets have the following stats against Sean:

• Brandon Nimmo 1-2, HR, K
• J.D. Davis 2-2
• Dominic Smith 2-2
• Jonathan Villar 1-2
• Michael Conforto 1-2
• Jeff McNeil 0-2,, K
• Pete Alonso 0-2
• Tomás Nido 0-1

Let’s Go Mets!

Carlos Carrasco gave the Mets his best start of the season last night, pitching 7.0 innings allowing 2 runs (that came on a homer in the first inning), yet it wasn’t enough. The Mets offense was still stuck in neutral and despite Alonso’s two run homer, the Mets ended up losing 3-2. Swept by the Giants, in a series where the Mets could have easily won at least two if not all three games, the Mets look to rebound against the Nationals this weekend at Citi Field.

Rich Hill has made 25 appearances this season, totaling 122.0 innings with a 4.13 ERA, 4.79 FIP, 1.205 WHIP and a 95 ERA+. Things have been way worse though with the Mets. In 6 games and 26.2 innings, Hill has a 5.06 ERA, 5.65 FIP, 1.350 WHIP and an 80 ERA+. This includes an outing against the Nationals where Hill restarted a game that was suspended in the 2nd inning. In that outing he allowed 3 runs over 3.0 innings from 4 hits and 3 walks. The Nationals have the following numbers against Hill:

• Juan Soto 2-4, HR, BB, K
• Ryan Zimmerman 7-14, 2B, 2 HR, BB, K
• Luis Garcia 1-2, 2B
• Victor Robles 2-6, 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
• Carter Kieboom 1-2, K
• Yadiel Hernandez 0-2, 2 BB
• Alcides Escobar 2-5, BB, K
• Josh Bell 2-9, 2B, 3 K
• Riley Adams 0-1
• Gerardo Parra 0-2, 2 K

The Mets bats will look to find themselves against Paolo Espino. He’s pitched in 28 games this season, making 12 starts totaling 75.2 innings with a 4.28 ERA, 4.68 FIP, 1.203 WHIP, and a 91 ERA+. In his last four starts he has allowed 15 runs over 14.1 innings. The only start where he allowed less than 3 runs was against the Mets but he only pitched one inning before the game was called for rain and the Mets scored a run anyway. The Mets have the following career numbers against Espino:

• Dominic Smith 2-3
• Pete Alonso 2-4, 2B, K
• Patrick Mazeika 1-2
• Jeff McNeil 1-4, K
• J.D. Davis 0-1, BB
• Kevin Pillar 0-2, K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-2
• Javier Báez 0-3, K
• Francisco Lindor 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

Last night was a rough one for the Mets. Taijuan Walker gave the Mets a sparkling start while the Mets offense was just being the Mets offense. Then, in the 7th inning, Walker got in a bit of trouble with two runners on (assisted by some poor defense behind him) and Rojas took him out of the game. Walker clearly did not want to be removed. Loup, who has been great of late, came in and immediately allowed two runs to score. At that point the Mets were down 3-2 and despite having multiple opportunities to score later in the game, they couldn’t get it done.

So the Mets will turn to Carlos Carrasco to put them back on the right path. Carrasco has made 5 starts and pitched 16.1 innings with an 8.82 ERA, 5.68 FIP, 1.653 WHIP and a 46 ERA+. He’s coming off of a start against the Dodgers where he allowed 3 runs over 5.0 innings from 3 hits and a walk, it was his best start since August 4th and lowered his ERA down from 10.32. This will be Carrasco’s first start against the Giants this year. The Giants have the following career numbers against Carlos:

• Curt Casali 1-5, 2B, K
• Brandon Crawford 1-8, 2B, K
• Buster Posey 0-2, BB, K
• Kris Bryant 1-6, 2 K
• Brandon Belt 0-5, BB, 4 K

Alex Wood gets the start against the Mets tonight. Over 22 starts and 120.1 innings this year he has a 4.11 ERA, 3.64 FIP, 1.222 WHIP and a 101 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed 4 runs over 11.2 innings from 11 hits and 3 walks while striking out 15 batters. This is a tremendous improvement over the three starts before that. In those three starts he has allowed 14 runs, 13 earned, over 15.0 innings. This will be Wood’s first start against the Mets this season who have the following career numbers against him:

• Javier Báez 4-10, 2 2B, BB, 2 K
• Kevin Pillar 1-3, 2 BB
• J.D. Davis 1-3
• Brandon Drury 2-11, 2 K
• Michael Conforto 1-8, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-2, 2 K
• Jonathan Villar 0-2
• Jeff McNeil 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

Around 6 PM last night, I was starting to wonder if the Mets were about to start something special. They had a good win on Sunday. They activated Francisco Lindor the first time in a month. The Giants were starting one of their weaker starters in the rotation. Maybe the Mets can get a little magic going in Queens, make a run for it this month.

Then the game happened. Tylor Megill had a real bump in the road start against hone of the best offenses in the league. The Giants starter had a great start against the Mets offense which seemed stuck. Oh well.

The Mets could always turn it around tonight though as they turn to Taijuan Walker. In 23 starts and 123.2 innings of work, Walker has a 3.86 ERA, 4.28 FIP, 1.181 WHIP and a 104 ERA+. Walker has faced the Dodgers in back to back starts, first holding them to only 1 run over 6.2 innings, in a game the Mets eventually lost 2-1. Then his last time out he allowed 4 runs over 6.0 innings, in a game the Mets eventually lost 4-1. It’s no secret Walker has struggled since the All-Star Break but recently the Mets bats have given him no help, scoring a combined 2 runs overall in the last three games he’s started. The Giants have the following numbers against Walker:

• Brandon Belt 2-7, 3B, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
• Austin Slater 1-2, BB, K
• Kris Bryant 2-4, K
• Tommy La Stella 1-2, K
• Brandon Crawford 4-15, 2 2B, BB, 5 K
• Wilmer Flores 1-3
• Buster Posey 2-8, BB, K
• Curt Casali 0-3, K

The Mets bats will get a look at Johnny Cueto tonight. Cueto has made 19 starts and pitched 104.0 innings with a 3.89 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 1.279 WHIP and a 107 ERA+. August has not been the friendliest month for Cueto. At the start of the month he made two starts allowing 7 runs, 5 earned, over 10.1 innings from 11 hits and 5 walks. He was then placed on the injured list with a right flexor strain and is making his first start of the IL tonight. The Mets have the following numbers against Cueto:

• Kevin Pillar 4-6, HR, K
• Brandon Drury 7-10, 2B, 3 BB, 2 K
• Jonathan Villar 2-11, 2B, 2 BB, 4 K
• Francisco Lindor 0-2, BB
• Javier Baéz 0-12, 5 K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets have faced the Dodgers, then the Giants, then the Dodgers and finally the Giants. After this series, the Mets schedule gets a bit more favorable if they want to make an improbable, last month run at the division title. On Sunday the Mets avoided the season and series sweep from the Dodgers. The Mets opened up with three quick runs in the first inning against David Price. The Dodgers eventually got two runs back but then the Mets started tacking on insurance runs. Was it a blip? Was it a start of a run for the Mets? We’ll find out tonight.

Tylor Megill has made 11 starts totaling 56.0 innings with a 3.21 ERA, 3.56 FIP, 1.161 WHIP and a 125 ERA+. He’s coming off of his best start since the end of July, where he held the Giants to 1 run over 6.0 innings from 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6 (in a game the Mets won 6-2). The Giants have the following numbers against Tylor:

• Wilmer Flores 1-1
• Darin Ruf 1-1
• LaMonte Wade Jr. 2-3, 2B
• Alex Dickerson 1-2, K
• Mike Yastrzemski 0-1, BB
• Brandon Belt, 0-2, BB, K
• Curt Casali 0-2, K
• Kris Bryant 0-3, 2 K
• Brandon Crawford 0-3
• Tommy La Stella 0-3, K

The Mets bats will get a look at rookie Sammy Long tonight. Over 8 games and 4 starts, Long has pitched 28.1 innings with a 5.72 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 1.271 WHIP and a 74 ERA+. Long saw consistent time in the majors from the start of June to the start July, came back for two games at the end of July and pitched a game in the middle of August. In that start, he pitched 2.0 innings allowing 1 runs from 2 hits and a walk while striking out 4. There was a three start stretch at the end of June where he pitched 15.0 innings allowing 10 runs from 15 hits. This will be Long’s first start against the Mets.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets had another tough loss yesterday and now face both the series and season sweep today. Yesterday, Hill and Castro let a combined 4 runs runs score over the first 5.0+ innings of the game (for Hill, it was three solo homers that did the damage) but the rest of the bullpen pitched well enough to keep the Mets in the game. Pete Alonso hit a two-run bomb in the 7th to bring the Mets within one but the Mets couldn’t complete the comeback. The Mets left 9 men on base as their free fall continued.

Marcus Stroman will look to put a stop to the fall this afternoon. In 25 starts and 139.1 innings he has a 2.84 ERA, 3.53 FIP, 1.120 WHIP and a 141 ERA+. His last time out he pitched 7.0 innings, only his 2nd time he’s pitched beyond the 6th inning since June 22nd. In that game he allowed 3 runs from 5 hits while striking out 9, but the Mets bats could only score two runs, so the Mets lost 3-2 (which honestly feels like the theme of the Mets for the last couple of weeks). This will be his first and only start against the Dodgers this season who have the following numbers against him:

• Justin Turner 2-3, K
• Trea Turner 2-5, 2 BB, 2 K
• Albert Pujols 5-14, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Corey Seager 0-3, BB, K

The Mets draw David Price in the series finale. This year he has pitched in 31 games and made 10 starts totaling 59.2 innings with a 3.62 ERA, 4.03 FIP, 1.341 WHIP and a 109 ERA+. As a starter this year he has pitched 37.1 innings with a 3.62 ERA and a 1.152 WHIP. It’s a bit surprising that his WHIP is lower as a starter and his ERA is nearly the same (his ERA as a reliever is 3.63). In Price’s last three starts he has pitched a total of 14.0 innings with a 3.86 ERA. This will be his first and only time facing the Mets this season who have the following numbers against him:

• Kevin Pillar 3-33, 2B, HR, BB, 8 K
• Brandon Drury 1-7, 2 BB, 2 K
• Jonathan Villar 4-21, 4 K, 3 SB
• Chance Sisco 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!