213 Miles From Shea

The Mets look to make it two in a row tonight against the Reds! If you forget about the 7th inning last night, the Mets looked great building 6 runs mostly from hit after hit after and then later two solo shots from Plawecki and McNeil. Syndergaard shut the Reds down for 6 innings allowing no runs but the wheels came off in the 7th as he allowed a run and left with the bases loaded (and all of those runners eventually scored) but the Mets didn’t lose the game completely and now look to Vargas to keep it going.

Jason Vargas is 2-7 over 11 games and 47.0 innings with a 8.23 ERA, 6.16 FIP, 1.787 WHIP and 46 ERA+. His first start back from the DL was bad but wasn’t 2018 bad for Vargas as he allowed 4 runs over 5.0 innings against the Braves and tied a season high for strikeouts at 7. He actually lowered his ERA with that outing. In May he allowed 4 runs over 4.0 innings from 6 hits and 2 walks. The Reds have the following numbers against Vargas:

• Suarez 3-6, 2B
• Peraza 1-3
• Barnhart 2-2, 3B
• Castillo 0-2
• Gennett 0-2
• Hamilton 0-2
• Votto 0-0, BB, HBP

The Mets will send Sal Romano out to the mound tonight. He is 6-9 over 23 games and 21 starts over 116.0 innings with a 5.12 ERA, 5.24 FIP, 1.422 WHIP, 81 ERA+. He’s coming off a rough start in Detroit where he allowed 4 runs over 5.1 innings off 8 hits. Earlier this season he allowed only 1 run against the Mets in 6.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Sal:

• Nimmo 2-8, 3B
• Rosario 2-7
• Flores 0-6, 2 K
• Bruce 0-3
• Mesoraco 0-3
• Conforto 1-2, 2B
• Jackson 0-1, BB

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets will look to bounce back from dropping three games of four against the Braves this weekend, yesterday being a frustrating day. It was the second start this season where Corey Oswalt made one mistake that ruins the day for him, and otherwise he was great. I hope the Mets try to roll the dice with him again, but if Reyes is a model (and Bruce, and Bautista), the Mets will probably go with Vargas. Matt Harvey returns to Queens today as well! He doesn’t line up to pitch against the Mets but at least we can stare at him in the dugout. Romantic.

Noah Syndergaard goes for the Amazin’s today. He is 6-2 over 14 games and 81.2 innings with a 2.98 ERA, 2.72 FIP, 1.224 WHIP and 127 ERA+. In his first start back from hand, foot and mouth disease he allowed 3 runs over 7.0 innings and in three starts since returning in July he has posted a 2.65 ERA over 17.0 innings. The Reds have the following numbers against him:

• Suarez 4-12
• Votto 0-11, BB, 5 K
• Hamilton 1-6
• Barnhart 0-5
• Gennett 1-5

The Mets bats draw Homer Bailey who is 1-8 over 14 games and 76.2 innings with a 5.87 ERA, 5.62 FIP, 1.513 WHIP, and a 71 ERA+. He has been much better since he returned in July allowing 4 runs over 14.2 innings lowering his ERA from 6.68 to 5.87. Against the Mets in May he allowed 6 runs over 4.0 innings from 8 hits and a walk. The Mets have the following numbers against Homer:

• Reyes 2-10, 2B, BB
• Nimmo 1-5, BB
• Plawecki 2-6, 2B, HR
• Frazier 1-4
• Jackson 1-4, HR
• Conforto 1-3, HR
• Flores 1-3, 2B
• Rosario 1-1, 2B

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets look for the series split today as they take on the Braves this afternoon in Queens. After dropping the first two games of the series, everything went right in Flushing last night for the Mets. Zack Wheeler was fantastic, shutting out the Braves over 7.0 innings and the bullpen kept that true behind him including a quick ninth inning by Gsellman featuring three ground outs that all went to McNeil. Speaking of McNeil, the second basemen who should be playing every day went 4-4 with a double last night.

Corey Oswalt returns for what seems like his bi-weekly cross country flight to the Mets. On the season he is 1-2 over 6 games and 5 starts with a 5.27 ERA, 5.26 FIP, 0.988 WHIP and 73 ERA+. Like always when Oswalt pitches, its worth noting he has done better for the Mets when he is pitching on regular rest and that doesn’t often happen for him. His WHIP is the sign of his potential, being supported by games like a July 9th outing against the Phillies where the only hit he allowed was a bases clearing double to a pitcher that brought in 3 runs. In his last two starts as a Met he has allowed 3 runs over 10.0 innings from 5 hits and 2 walks.

Julio Teheran is 8-7 over 115.0 innings and 21 starts this season with a 4.46 ERA, 5.34 FIP, 1.261 WHIP and 87 ERA+. He had two great back to back starts in July where he allowed 1 earned run over 13.0 innings. He’s followed that up with back to back starts allowing 12 runs, 10 earned over 9.1 innings all to the Marlins. So far against the Mets this year he has been lights out allowing 2 runs over 21.0 innings in three different starts. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Reyes 6-29, 2 2B, 2 BB
• Flores 3-21, HR, 3 BB
• Conforto 4-17, HR, BB
• Frazier 3-17, 2B, HR
• Bautista 1-10, 2B
• Plawecki 0-11
• Rosario 1-9, 3B
• Nimmo 1-4, 3 BB
• Mesoraco 0-4, BB

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets look to bounce back after last night’s typical deGrom start where deGrom went 8.0 innings, allowed only two runs and the only run the Mets scored was the one that deGrom pushed across the plate himself. Poor Jacob, we don’t deserve him. Anyway the Mets will see Kevin Gausman make his Braves debut tonight as we send out the not-traded Zack Wheeler for the first time after the deadline.

Zack Wheeler is 5-6 over 120.1 innings in 20 starts posting a 4.11 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 1.288 WHIP, and a 93 ERA+. His last start was great as he allowed no runs over 6.0 innings and now in his last two starts he has allowed 2 runs over 13.0 innings. His only start against Atlanta this year was pretty bad as he allowed 6 runs over 5.2 innings and was probably his last bad start (he’s posted a 2.96 ERA over 51.2 innings and 8 games since then). The Braves have the following numbers against him:

• Freeman 8-16, 2 2B, 2 HR, 10 BB (.667 OBP)
• Flowers 2-4, HR
• Albies 0-3
• Inciarte 2-3
• Makakis 2-3
• Swanson 1-3, 2B

For the Orioles this year Gausman pitched 124.0 innings over 21 games with a 4.43 ERA, 4.59 FIP, 1.379 WHIP and 94 ERA+. His last start against the Rays was a positive bounce back allowing 2 runs over 7.0 innings. In his two starts before that he allowed 10 runs over 9.2 innings from 15 hits and 4 walks. The following Mets have seen Gausman in action:

• Bautista 6-26, 2B, HR, 3 BB
• Jackson 2-10, 2 2B
• Reyes 4-10, 2B
• Frazier 0-5
• Conforto 0-3
• Flores 1-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets are coming off another loss, this time to the Braves as they play the second game behind their ace. The highlight for the Mets yesterday happened early as Nimmo hit a homer but after that it was a pretty quite night for the Mets. Bobby Wahl, from the Familia trade, looked good in his first outing with the big league squad.

Will the Mets score for Jacob deGrom tonight? Trends say no but lets hope. Jacob is 5-6 over 21 games and 138.1 innings with a 1.82 ERA (league leading), 2.26 FIP (league leading), 0.976 WHIP and 209 ERA+ (league leading). He’s looked more human in his last two starts allowing 6 runs, 5 earned over 15.0 innings while striking out 15. Those numbers of course would be great for pretty much every other pitcher. In his last start against the Braves in June he allowed 1 run over 7.0 innings while striking out 7. The Braves have the following numbers against him:

• Freeman 11-38, 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 10 K
• Markakis 9-33, HR, BB, 5 K
• Inciarte 6-29, 2 2B, 2 BB, 7 K
• Swanson 3-13, 2B, 3 BB
• Albies 2-13, 4 K
• Flowers 4-11, HR, 3 BB
• Duvall 0-2, 2 K

The Mets bats will get to see Anibal Sanchez who is 5-3 over 14 games and 13 starts over 78.0 innings with a 3.00 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 1.090 WHIP and 130 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed 8 runs, 7 earned over 12.1 innings from 13 hits and 5 walks against the Nationals and the Dodgers. In his last start against the Mets at the end of May, he allowed 4 runs over 4.0 innings but it was also his return from the DL. The Mets have the following numbers against Anibal:

• Reyes 9-39, 5 BB
• Bautista 6-20, 2 2 B HR, 4 BB
• Frazier 1-16, 2 BB
• Jackson 3-7, 2B
• Conforto 1-4, HR
• Nimmo 1-2

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets return home today after dropping both games in Washington, one more significantly than the other. Yesterday the Mets lost by a much more normal 5-3 where Syndergaard had a solid return to the lineup and Reyes, who came in for an injured Evans, some how hit two homers.

Tonight its Vargas again who is 2-6 over 10 games and 42.0 innings with a 8.36 ERA, 6.64 FIP, 1.786 WHIP and 46 ERA+. Last time was his first time back since landing on the DL and he allowed 3 runs over 4.1 innings from 3 hits and 3 walks. Honestly, his line should have been worse as he received a couple of great defensive plays. His second start of the season this year was against the Braves and they hit him hard tagging him for 6 runs from 11 hits and 2 walks in 4.2 innings including 3 homers. The Braves have the following numbers against him:

• Suzuki 10-43, HR, 3 BB, 6 K
• Markakis 8-33, 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 8 K
• Flowers 1-7, HR, BB
• Flaherty 3-6, HR
• Albies 1-5
• Freeman 1-4
• Acuna 2-3, HR

The Mets bats will get another look at Mike Foltynewicz who is 7-7 over 112.1 innings with a 3.04 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 1.193 WHIP and 128 ERA+. He is still having a career year where his numbers in each of those categories are better than they have ever been, thus earning a spot in the All-Star game this year. That being said, the last four starts for him have been rough. He has allowed 18 runs over 23.1 innings which is an ERA of 6.94. His ERA going into this patch was 2.02. He last time he faced the Mets this year he held them scoreless and to only 2 hits over 5.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him

• Conforto 1-4
• Bautista 2-4
• Flores 2-4, 2B
• Jackson 0-2
• Reyes 0-3
• Mesoraco 1-2
• Rosario 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The tradeline passed and the Mets didn’t make a trade outside of the two they already did. Last year’s Mets were similar with players being shipped out for minor league arms and cash throughout August. The difference this year is the players the Mets have to do that aren’t as valuable or movable as last year’s. For example: Granderson, Bruce were on big contracts expiring in 2017. This year only Mesoraco and Blevins have a contract like that. There is a chance Bautista clears waivers but if he doesn’t the Mets lose a lot of negotiating power to make the trade. I don’t buy the line “if the Mets were offered something of value, they would have taken it”, I don’t see how the Mets get more value in this scenario. Even 50-100k of international signing money would be more valuable to the Mets as a whole right now than keeping Bautista on the team.

Anyway, the Mets kept the roster together saying they are looking to contend in 2019. The Mets have pretty much kept the roster together from 2015. The 2017/2018 seasons are two of the worst in the history of the franchise that is known for losing. Frustratingly, this year’s club was built to resemble the previous year’s by resigning players who were free agents back and magically for the Mets almost every free agent signing this off-season has resulted in poor play this year.

I would love to believe in this starting rotation and improved health of the team next year to lead to the Mets contending. But the other teams in the East are getting younger and better. The Mets would have to spend a lot of money smartly this off-season, which is what they haven’t done, in order to do well and the Wilpons would have to see things like the Wright insurance money as money not on the payroll. This lack of hope makes it hard for me to believe the Mets will be different next year. It’s also this lack of hope that feels different for the Mets. There aren’t star players coming up right now, it feels like the Mets are destined to be terrible to mediocre for a while.

Ultimately if the Mets are going to compete, they need to spend money. Here are some players they can spend money on next year and make a difference for 2019. It also means they need to trade players and eat salary in those trades to sign better players.

This has been the problem with the Mets since 2015, the Mets on the field just feel slightly better than the average of what’s on the market, so then they don’t make a move. Frazier blocks any new third basemen from coming in. Last year Cabrera blocks any new second baseman from coming in. The largest block of them all: some how Bruce blocks both a true center fielder from coming in and blocks a first basemen from coming in. The catching pair for d’Arnaud and Plawecki blocks the Mets from spending there. Players are going to need to get moved to other teams creatively in a way that brings back marginal talent (because they can only demand marginal talent) and the Wilpons will have to eat salary. Then the Mets will have roster space to bring in a superstar. Which is what this team lacks, especially without Cespedes.

Otherwise the Mets should really strip down, sell their assets for the best prospects possible, commit to this idea and wait out some these bad contracts.

A week ago yesterday looked like it was going to be a major day in Mets history with possible historic trades and the revealing of a vision for either contending next year or in 2021/2022. Instead, we got not vision except to expect the same Mets next year in 2019 and got a historic loss instead. The Mets lost 25-4. For positives: Jeff McNeil got a homer, played a role in the 9th inning “rally”. The Mets were already losing an embarrassing 19-1 when Jose Reyes got the call to the mound and did so bad that the Mets had to get their bullpen warming up, which defeats the purpose of having Jose pitch.

But the Mets have the return of Syndergaard today! Syndergaard comes back from missing 10 days with hand, foot and mouth disease which shortened his last start causing a dip in velocity in his last inning and shortness of breath. On the season he is 6-1 over 13 games and 74.2 innings with a 2.89 ERA, 2.57 FIP, 1.246 WHIP and 132 ERA+. In his two starts after returning from his longer DL trip he allowed 2 runs over 10.0 innings from 15 hits and 2 walks. One of those starts was against the Nationals where he allowed 1 run over 5.0 innings. The Nationals have the following numbers against him:

• Harper 6-21, 2B, 4 BB, 7 K
• Rendon 8-23, 2B, HR, B, 5 K
• Murphy 3-15, 2 2B, 2 BB
• Zimmerman 3-12, 2 2B, BB
• Turner 1-9
• Taylor 2-7
• Soto 1-3

The Mets will get to see an old friend this afternoon in Tommy Milone. Tommy pitched in 11 games for the Mets last year, including 5 starts where in 27.1 innings he posted a 8.56 ERA, 7.15 FIP, 1.756 WHIP and 49 ERA+. In his first start as a National he allowed 3 runs off 8 hits in 5.0 innings against the Marlins. There are very few Mets who are not injured right now who have seen Milone:

• Jackson 3-16, 2B, BB
• Reyes 2-6
• Bautista 0-3, 2 K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets come off a 1-0 win against the Pirates on Sunday where Wheeler did it all and head into DC where the season is slipping away from the Nationals. The Mets could be having a busy day pretty much right up to game time with the trade deadline or the Mets team could remain mostly intact. Here’s hoping something doesn’t happen that invalidates this preview between when I wrote it and first pitch!

Steven Matz is 5-8 over 20 games and 107.0 innings with a 3.79 ERA, 4.76 FIP, 1.262 WHIP and 100 ERA+. He’s coming off back to back rough starts where he allowed 9 runs over 11.0 innings from 12 hits and 3 walks. Before that he faced the Nationals where he allowed 3 runs over 6.1 innings from 8 hits and 2 walks. The Nationals have the following numbers against Matz:

• Taylor 4-17, HR, 2 BB, 7 K
• Harper 2-15, 2 BB
• Rendon 5-17, 3 HR, 8 K
• Turner 2-16, 2B, BB
• Zimmerman 1-13, HR
• Murphy 4-11, 2B, HR, BB
• Mark Reynolds 4-11, 3 2B

The Mets bats will get a look at Tanner Roark who is 4-12 (league leading in losses) from 21 games, 20 starts in 122.2 innings with a 4.55 ERA, 4.27 FIP, 1.337 WHIP, and a 93 ERA+. He is coming off one his best starts of the season where he allowed no runs over 8.0 innings before that posted an 8.31 ERA over 6 games and 30.1 innings. One of those starts was against the Mets where he allowed 4 runs from 8 hits and 2 walks in 5.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Roark:

• Conforto 4-17, 2 2B, HR, 4 BB
• Flores 3-15, 2B
• Reyes 3-12, 2 BB
• Mesoraco 1-8
• Nimmo 4-6, HR
• Rosario 1-7, 3B
• Jackson 3-4

Let’s Go Mets!

Last night was a typical Mets game with a deGrom start in 2018. Jacob gave the Mets his all and the Mets got runners on base but failed to move any home as the Mets lost 5-0. The story for today though is Zack Wheeler. As of this morning Wheeler hasn’t been traded yet so the start is happening. There’s a lot of interest in Wheeler but ultimately the Mets and other teams see two different Zacks. Other teams see the Wheeler who missed all of 2015 and 2016 and was spotty last year. The Mets see the Wheeler from 2013-14 and this year as a return to that form. So all eyes will be on Wheeler today.

Wheeler is 4-6 over 19 games and 114.1 innings with a 4.33 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 1.303 WHIP and 88 ERA+. He’s coming off a strong start where he allowed 2 runs over 7.0 innings, his best start recently came against the Pirates where he shut them out over 7.0 innings. In his last 5 starts he has posted a 3.03 ERA over 32.2 innings. The Pirates have the following numbers against Wheeler:

• Bell 1-6, 2 K
• Harrison 1-6, 2B
• Polanco 2-5, BB
• Dickerson 1-4
• Mercer 0-5
• Cervelli 2-3

The Mets will get a look at Joe Musgrove this afternoon who is 4-4 over 60.0 innings with a 3.90 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 1.317 WHIP and 103 ERA+. He’s been much better in most of his last four starts allowing 9 runs over 26.2 innings leading to a 3.04 ERA (this includes a start where he allowed 5 runs over 7.2 innings). Before this stretch his ERA was 4.59. A few Mets have had limited AB’s against Musgrove:

• Bautista 0-1
• Nimmo 0-1
• Plawecki 0-1
• Rosario 1-1
• Smith 0-1

Let’s Go Mets!