213 Miles From Shea

The Mets and Nationals cannot win with the weather this week – but at least the Mets actually won a game.

Yesterday was supposed to be a doubleheader with the conclusion of Tuesday’s game first, followed by a 7-inning game. The Mets bats woke up for the first game and kept coming back. Down 4-1? Came back. Down 7-4? Came back. The Mets ended up scoring the go-ahead run in the 8th and Edwin Díaz only needed 8 pitches in the 9th to lock the game down. Since the Mets offense finally showed some life, the universe responded with rain and now we have a double header today.

The Mets as a team have played a ton of double headers and Marcus Stroman has made a lot of double header starts. This will be his 7th time this year starting a double header shortened game. He’s also the starting pitcher in the suspended game the Mets play at the end of the month – I’m anxiously awaiting to see if his spot lines up with that start too. Anyway, Stroman allowed 2 runs from 5 hits and a walk in his last outing. The Mets would love for Stroman to get between 5-7 innings and give the bullpen a bit of rest. Stroman faced the Nationals back on April 24th, although that was a very different team, and he allowed 5 runs, 4 earned over 4.0 innings from 8 hits and 2 walks. The Nationals have the following numbers against Stroman:

• Juan Soto 2-3, 2B, HR, K
• Yadiel Hernandez 2-2
• Victor Robles 1-2, BB
• Alicides Escobar 2-12, 3B, 3 K
• Josh Bell 1-5, 2 BB, K

The Nationals selected the contract yesterday of Sean Nolin, who is now making the start! Nolin last pitched in the major leagues back in 2015 for the Athletics where he made 6 starts and logged 29.0 innings with a 5.28 ERA, 5.13 FIP, 1.621 WHIP and a 75 ERA+. Nolin’s career was derailed by injuries – he couldn’t play baseball in 2016 and 2017. This past season, across two levels of the minors this year he has pitched in 12 games and made 9 starts, totaling 48.1 innings with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.262 WHIP. It’s a pretty amazing story to come back to the majors after so much time away.

Let’s Go Mets

The Mets and Nationals play a 7-inning night cap tonight after finishing up yesterday’s game in full. The Mets are no stranger to double headers, already playing over a dozen of them this year. They also have the exact same scenario as today’s game happening again on at the end of the month.

The Mets as a team have played a ton of double headers and Marcus Stroman has made a lot of double header starts. This will be his 7th time this year starting a double header shortened game. He’s also the starting pitcher in the suspended game the Mets play at the end of the month – I’m anxiously awaiting to see if his spot lines up with that start too. Anyway, Stroman allowed 2 runs from 5 hits and a walk in his last outing. The Mets would love for Stroman to get between 5-7 innings and give the bullpen a bit of rest. Stroman faced the Nationals back on April 24th, although that was a very different team, and he allowed 5 runs, 4 earned over 4.0 innings from 8 hits and 2 walks. The Nationals have the following numbers against Stroman:

• Juan Soto 2-3, 2B, HR, K
• Yadiel Hernandez 2-2
• Victor Robles 1-2, BB
• Alicides Escobar 2-12, 3B, 3 K
• Josh Bell 1-5, 2 BB, K

The Nationals are going with a bullpen game based on the first game today – and I’m currently writing this article while Rich Hill allowed a triple to make the game 4-1. The Nationals selected the contract today of Sean Nolin, who may see time today, or this week. Nolin last pitched in the major leagues back in 2015 for the Athletics where he made 6 starts and logged 29.0 innings with a 5.28 ERA, 5.13 FIP, 1.621 WHIP and a 75 ERA+. Across two levels of the minors this year he has pitched in 12 games and made 9 starts, totaling 48.1 innings with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.262 WHIP. It’s a pretty amazing story to come back to the majors after so much time away.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets and Nationals started a game last night despite the wall of thunderstorms moving across the state of New Jersey. Generally, storms like last night weaken as they travel across the state, but that did not happen last night and once they hit Citi Field it was over.

As the skies were darkening over Citi Field, the Nationals took and early 3-run lead against the Mets, hitting a homer against Carrasco. The Mets were able to scratch a run back in the bottom of the first off of back to back doubles by Alonso and Smith. At this point the rain was really coming down but for some reason play was allowed to continue into the start of the 2nd inning with the Nationals getting a lead off hit.

This will be a 9-inning game today followed by a 7-inning game, which is the league policy when one game gets suspended due to rain (the Mets have a similar situation coming up on August 31st).

Rich Hill will get the start for the suspended game today. Overall this year he has made 22 starts and pitched 110.1 innings with a 3.92 ERA. As a Met he has made 3 starts and pitched 15.0 innings with a 4.20 ERA, 5.44 FIP, 1.133 WHIP and a 62 ERA+. His last start was his best by far as a Met where he allowed 1 run, unearned, over 5.0 innings holding the Marlins to only 3 hits. But the Mets offense couldn’t help Rich out.

Joe Ross will be resuming the game for the Nationals. He has made 19 starts and pitched 103.0 innings this year with a 4.02 ERA, 4.43 FIP, 1.214 WHIP and a 96 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed 8 runs, 7 earned, over 10.2 innings. Joe’s two starts against the Mets this year have been quite different. In his first start he allowed only 1 run over 6.0 innings. In his next start he allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, over 4.1 innings. This season Michael Conforto has homered off of Ross and Francisco Lindor (who is obviously not playing today) has hit two homers off of him.

The Mets need a win. Full stop.

The Mets were decimated by Zack Wheeler over the weekend who cut through the team like they’ve been in a multiple week slump (which is true). Javier Báez also injured his hip in the game, as of yesterday he was listed as a day to day but that means the Mets are possibly down Lindor, Báez, Guillorme and Peraza at short stop. Hopefully the Mets were able to use yesterday’s day off to take a deep breath before heading into this series with the Nationals.

Carlos Carrasco will make his third start of the season tonight. So far he has allowed 3 runs over 8.1 innings from 8 hits and 1 walk while striking out 9. Carrasco made it to 62 pitches is his last outing and all of the damage came in the 5th inning when it looked like he just ran out of gas. This is Carrasco’s first start against the Nationals this year and the Nationals have the following of career numbers against him:

• Gerardo Parra 3-4, 2B, K
• Josh Bell 2-6, 2B, 3 K
• Alicides Escobar 8-41, 2B, 6 K
• Adrian Sanchez 0-1, K
• Tres Barrera 0-1
• Andrew Stevenson 0-1, K
• Ryan Zimmerman 0-2

The Mets will face off against a bright spot for the Nationals this season – Paolo Espino. Espino has pitched in 25 games and made 9 starts totaling 66.1 innings with a 3.66 ERA, 4.24 FIP, 1.101 WHIP and a 106 ERA+. As a starter only he’s pitched 42.2 innings with a 3.80 ERA & a 1.195 WHIP. He’s coming off of a rough start against the Phillies where he allowed 6 runs from 8 hits over 5.0 innings. In his only start against the Mets this year, he held the Mets scoreless, scattering 5 hits over 5.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Dominic Smith 1-2
• Jeff McNeil 1-3, K
• Pete Alonso 1-3, K
• J.D. Davis 0-1, BB
• Kevin Pillar 0-2, K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-1
• Javier Báez 0-3, K
• James McCann 0-1

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets try to avoid the sweep today in Philadelphia. On Friday the Mets lost the division lead, yesterday, the offense couldn’t get anything going until the 9th inning, scored 3 runs but couldn’t overcome the 5-0 hole they started the inning in. Now the Phillies have Zack Wheeler, competing for a Cy Young, up against the Mets. The Mets need a spark, they need something to get going again!

Taijuan Walker gets the start for the Mets. In 20 games and 105.0 innings this year he has a 3.86 ERA, 4.08 FIP, 1.229 WHIP, and a 102 ERA+. Since the All-Star break, baseball has been a struggle for Walker. He has allowed 21 runs, 20 earned, over 15.0 innings from 26 hits and 10 walks. Seven of the 13 homers he’s allowed this year have been in his last 4 starts. Walker has started against the Phillies three times allowing a run over 4.1 innings, then 4 runs over 6.0 innings (his first bad start of the year on May 1st) and then 1 run over 5.0 innings. Here’s hoping he can channel the good starts against the Phillies today who have the following career numbers against him:

• Nick maton 2-3, 2B, 2 BB
• Ronald Torreyes 3-5, 2 2B, K
• Alec Bohm 4-8, 2B, HR, 2 BB, K
• J.T. Realmuto 1-3,K
• Jean Segura 2-5, K
• Didi Gregorius 4-14, 2B, 2 K
• Brad Miller 0-4, 2 BB, 2 K
• Bryce Harper 1-9, BB, K
• Rhys Hoskins 1-7, 4 K
• Odubel Herrera 0-6, K
• Andrew Knapp 0-4

The Mets draw Zack Wheeler in the series finale today. In 22 starts he’s pitched 147.0 innings (league leading) and recorded 170 strikeouts (league leading) with a 2.57 ERA, 2.49 FIP, 1.034 WHIP and a 155 ERA+. He’s been a bit more human in his last two starts, allowing 7 runs over 14.1 innings from 15 hits and 3 walks. The first two times the Mets faced him this year they did fine, scoring 7 runs against him in 13.1 innings from 17 hits. The last time the Mets faced Wheeler, Wheeler was able to hold the Mets to 4 hits and no runs over 7.0 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against Wheeler:

• J.D. Davis 5-12, 2 2B, HR, 4 K
• Pete Alonso 5-11, 2B, K
• Dominic Smith 8-17, 2B, 3 K
• James McCann 3-9, K
• Michael Conforto 4-17, 2 2B, BB, 5 K
• Jeff McNeil 3-13, BB, 4 K
• Jonathan Villar 3-13, 3 K
• Brandon Nimmo 4-18, 2B, 4
• Kevin Pillar 1-10, BB, 3 K
• Javier Báez 1-8, 3 K

Let’s Go Mets!

For the first time in about 90 days the Mets wake up not in first place.

The Mets lost 4-2 to the Phillies last night and now the Phillies have a half game lead in the east. The offense was the issue for the Mets last night, mustering up only 5 hits and scoring 2 runs. Even with Edwin allowing 2 runs at the end of the game, which gave the Phillies their buffer, the offense has to do a better job of keeping the Mets in the game.

Tylor Megill goes for the Mets tonight. In his first 8 starts and 40.1 innings pitched he has a 2.68 ERA, 3.54 FIP, 1.116 WHIP and a 148 ERA+. He allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, in 5.0 innings in his last start, his worst of his career but the numbers hide what actually happened. His stuff was off at the start of the game, leading to a grand slam. After that he returned to the pitcher the Mets know and have seen this whole season – the Mets bats just didn’t bail him out. This will be his first start against the Phillies and no one on the Phillies roster has seen him in a major league game.

Ranger Suárez? The Phillies changed their rotation recently as way to shake things up, moving Matt Moore and Vince Velasquez out of the rotation and Ranger in. In 28 games, and 1 start, Suárez has pitched 43.1 innings with a 1.04 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 0.831 WHIP and a 167 ERA+. In his first start on Monday he allowed no hits and one walk in 3.0 innings while totaling 33 pitches. He’s broken 40+ pitches three times this season too, just as an FYI. In two games against the Mets this year he has allowed 2 runs, 1 earned over 2.0 innings from 3 hits and a walk. The Mets have the following career numbers on Suárez:

• Kevin Pillar 2-3, 2B, HR
• Brandon Nimmo 2-5, BB, K
• Dominic Smith 2-5, BB, K
• Michael Conforto 2-8, 2 K
• Pete Alonso 0-2, BB
• Jeff McNeil 0-2, K

Let’s Go Mets! Let’s get the division lead back!

This has been a rough week for the Mets, and yesterday it got a whole lot worse. The Mets lost to the Marlins, unable to capitalize on situations throughout the game (same as several other games this week) and the Marlins broke through in the 8th, leaving the Mets in the dust. Later in the day the Phillies won and now the Mets have only a half game lead heading into a series in Philadelphia. If there was ever a time for the Mets to bounce back, it’s right now.

Marcus Stroman gets the start for the Mets. Over 22 games and 122.0 innings, Stroman has a 2.80 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 1.131 WHIP and a 140 ERA+. He was having a great start his last time out against the Reds until the wheels came off in the 6th inning and he ultimately allowed 4 runs over 5.2 innings in a game the Mets lost 7-1. He’s already faced the Phillies three times this year. He faced the Phillies in back to back starts to start 2021 and he was phenomenal, allowing 1 run over 12.0 innings from 7 hits and 2 walks. In late June the Phillies got the best of him for 4 runs, 2 earned, from 5 hits and 3 walks over 3.0 innings. The Phillies have the following career numbers against Stroman:

• Travis Jankowski 2-5, 2B, K
• Andrew Knapp 1-2, K
• J.T. Realmuto 5-12, BB, K
• Didi Gregorius 9-36, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
• Brad Millar 9-37, 2B, 3B, HR, 4 BB, 12 K
• Jean Segura 6-18, 3 K
• Odubel Herrera 1-4, BB, K
• Ronald Torreyes 2-10, 2 K
• Rhys Hoskins 1-11, 2 BB, 3 K
• Alec Bohm 0-9, 3 K
• Bryce Harper 0-8, 3 K

The Mets bats will try to break out of their slump against one of the newest Phillies – Kyle Gibson. Gibson, a 2021 All-Star, had a league leading 2.87 ERA and 154 ERA+ when he was with the Rangers this season. In his first start as a Phillie he allowed 2 runs from 5 hits and 2 walks over 6.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Gibson:

• Brandon Nimmo 2-3, 2B, HR, K
• Michael Conforto 4-5, 2B, HR, BB
• Kevin Pillar 4-11, 2 2B, HR, 3 BB, 4 K
• J.D. Davis 1-2, 3 BB, K
• Jonathan Villar 6-11, 2B, BB, K
• James McCann 6-25, BB, 6 K
• Brandon Drury 0-2, K
• Jeff McNeil 0-2, K
• Pete Alonso 0-3, 2 K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets stopped the slide! Because of a Javier Baez slide!

The Mets found their way back to the win column last night with a 5-3 lead over the Marlins and they look to repeat their success in an early afternoon game today. The Mets found multiple runs in the same inning (3 of them!) when they capitalized on Marlins miscues in the 2nd inning. Between the 5th and 6th inning they let the fish tie the game but were able to score some runs late and hold the lead. The game wasn’t perfect and they still left too many runners on, but it was a huge improvement from the last several days.

Rich Hill will make his third start for the Mets tonight. In his first two Mets starts he has allowed 7 runs over 10.0 innings from 10 hits and 3 walks. Overall on the season he has made 21 starts and pitched 105.1 innings with a 4.10 ERA, 4.74 FIP, 1.177 WHIP and a 97 ERA+. Hill’s first start of the season was against the Marlins where they got him for 4 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks in 4.0 innings of work. The Marlins have the following career numbers against Hill:

• Miguel Rojas 1-1, 2B, BB
• Jesus Aguilar 1-2, HR, BB
• Joe Panik 4-10, 2 BB, K
• Jazz Chisholm 0-1, BB, 2 SB
• Lewis Brinson 0-2

The Marlins have made a solid amount of roster moves this week due to injuries and in those moves recalled Braxton Garrett. Garrett has pitched in 5 games this season, starting 4, totaling 22.2 innings with a 4.37 ERA, 4.57 FIP, 1.544 WHIP and a 95 ERA+. He had two normally spaced out turns in the rotation between July 18th and the 24th. On the 18th he allowed 3 runs over 4.1 innings and his last time out, before being sent down, he did great! Garrett allowed only 2 runs over 7.0 innings to the Padres. Today will be his first career game against the Mets.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets slide continued last night after a 5-4 loss to the Marlins. Taijuan Walker, similar to his last start, had periods where he looked like the same pitcher before the All-Star game and periods where he struggled to keep the ball in the ball park. The offense also played similar to their previous starts – getting on base frequently and then nothing. Hopefully the offense swings back today and the Mets can find their way to the win column.

The Mets turn to Carlos Carrasco tonight to put the Mets back on the right path. He made his Mets debut last Friday on black jersey night and did great. The first batter he faced hit a solo homer, and after that he allowed only two more hits, no additional runs and only one walk over 4.0 innings while striking out 4. Carlos also reached 58 pitches on the evening as he continues to build back his arm strength. A few Marlins have seen Carrasco before:

• Brian Anderson 1-2
• Jesus Aguilar 1-5, BB, K
• Sandy Leon 0-1
• Jorge Alfaro 0-1, K
• Miguel Rojas 0-1

The Mets will get their first look at rookie Zach Thompson today. Thompson has made 8 starts and pitched 38.2 innings with a 2.33 ERA, 3.29 FIP, 1.086 WHIP and a 177 ERA+. In June he had a three start stretch where he allowed 1 earned run, 3 total, over 15.0 innings. Since then he has had a 3.05 ERA over four starts. The only person on the Mets roster who has faced Zach is Javier Baez! Who went 0-2 with a strikeout.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets will turn to Taijuan Walker to turn the ship around tonight in Miami. Last night was another rough game for the Mets as they lost to the Marlins 6-3 in a very winnable game. Megill had a rough first inning, allowing a grand slam, but that was his only mistake of the game. After that inning the Mets continuously got runners on base but couldn’t bring them home. Coupled with a late scratch with Nimmo and a Covid scare with Miguel Castro, things don’t feel great in Metsville right now. Hopefully today will be better!

Taijuan Walker has made 19 starts and pitched 99.1 innings this year with a 3.71 ERA, 3.88 FIP, 1.198 WHIP and a 106 ERA+. His line in his last start hide what was happening. He allowed 5 runs in 5.0 innings but in the first three innings he looked as good as he has at any point this season. But the 4th and 5th inning count and now in his last three starts he has allowed 17 runs, 16 earned, over 9.1 innings. His first start this season was against the Marlins and he allowed 2 runs over 6.0 innings from 4 hits and 2 walks. The Marlins have the following numbers against Walker:

• Jesus Aguilar 1-3, K
• Miguel Rojas 1-5, 2B
• Joe Panik 4-15, BB, 2 K
• Jazz Chisholm Jr. 0-1, BB, K
• Brian Anderson 1-5, 2 K

For the second straight day the Marlins named their starter pretty late in the day. Nick Neidert gets the start for the fish tonight. He’s pitched in 6 games, made 5 starts and has 25.0 innings logged this season with a 3.96 ERA, 5.92 FIP, 1.560 WHIP and a 105 ERA+. He last pitched in the majors on July 21st and allowed only 1 run on 3 hits over 5.0 innings, his longest outing of the season. His first start of the year was against the Mets way back on April 8th. He allowed only 1 run over 4.1 innings from 3 hits and 5 walks, a game the Mets won 3-2.

Let’s Go Mets!