213 Miles From Shea

The Mets bats wasted another strong start yesterday, this time from Steven Matz as the Mets fell to the Rays 3-0. The Mets now will face off against the Rays in a rubber game with Chris Flexen on the mound. Flexen was recalled from Vegas before the Mets last bullpen game started by Blevins and ended by Flexen.

On the season Flexen has pitched in three games totaling 3.1 innings allowing 8 runs, only 4 earned from 9 hits and 3 walks. Last year he was 3-6 over 14 games and 9 starts totaling 48.0 innings with a 7.88 ERA. He was a nudge better as a starter with a 7.78 ERA over 41.2 innings. The only player on the Rays that has seen Flexen is Gomez who is 1-2 with a walk.

The Mets will get to see Nathan Eovaldi again who they used to face all the time. Nathan started off with the Dodgers, played for several seasons with the Marlins before joining the Yankees. He missed all of 2017 and now is with the Rays. He is 2-3 over 7 games pitching 41.1 innings with a 3.92 ERA, 4.77 FIP, 0.919 WHIP, 102 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed 2 runs over 12.0 innings from 9 hits and 3 walks lowering his ERA from 4.91 to 3.92. The Mets have the following numbers against Nathan:

• Cabrera 2-11, BB
• Bautista 1-7, 2 BB
• Frazier 2-6
• Mesoraco 0-5, BB
• Flores 1-4, 2B
• Conforto 0-3
• Plawecki 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets have now won 3 of their last 4 games and look to win three straight games today for the first time in forever. Last night the Mets got another gem of a performance from Jacob deGrom who pitched 8.0 innings allowing 1 run, and getting no run support. After a solid inning of work from Familia, the Mets ended the game on a walk-off grand slam by Jose Bautista (surprisingly, his first walk-off homer). All of the major contributors last night (deGrom, Bautista, Familia and Cabrera) have had their names in varying degrees of trade rumors.

Matz is 4-5 over 16 games and 83.1 innings with a 3.46 ERA, 4.71 FIP, 1.224 WHIP and 111 ERA+. He ended June with a bad start and an average start, but rebounded in his first start in July where he allowed 1 run, not earned, over 5.1 innings. There are several members of the Rays who have seen Matz as members of other teams:

• Hechavarria 2-6
• Ramos 2-6
• Duffy 1-3
• Smith 0-3

The Mets bats will face off against Blake Snell who is 11-4 over 108.2 innings and 18 games with a 2.24 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 1.012 WHIP, and a 176 ERA+. He is leading the league in Hits per 9 innings, only allowing 5.7. In his last three starts he is 3-0 pitching 21.1 innings allowing only 2 runs from 8 hits and 12 walks while striking out 26 leading to an ERA of 0.84. Only two Mets have seen Snell in a game. Bautista is 2-11 with a double and 4 walks. Frazier is 1-5 with a walk.

Let’s Go Mets!

One of the greatest things about the Brooklyn Cyclones: food and drink options that mirror Citi Field (mainly Arancini Bros, Nathans, Coney Island Beer). However that made it difficult to find something to eat there I haven’t had yet in Queens. So I went to their taco stand:

First off: It’s really hard to be upset at tacos. I was not upset at all wit these tacos.

Because the tacos in 2017 were attached to the nacho/burrito line, the ingredients used were the same. So great meat, cilantro etc…with nacho cheese sauce and tostito quality salsa.

The good news: the Mets come back to Queens tonight with a 2-1 record in July. The bad news: it should be 3-0 as one of the games in Toronto had an epic loss and heading into the long homestand, the Mets will be surrounded with trade rumors for the rest of the month. One of the main lightning rods for rumors, Jacob deGrom, will be on the hill tonight as the Mets match up with the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. The Mets will also get to see an old friend in Adeiny Hechavarria tonight. That’s where we are at this point of the season folks. Pumping ourselves up because we get to see Hechavarria vs deGrom tonight.

Jacob deGrom is 5-4 over 17 games and 107.1 innings and he has an ERA of 1.84 (league leading), 2.23 FIP, 1.016 WHIP and 207 ERA+ (league leading). In his last two starts Jacob has returned to Earth at bit as he has allowed 6 runs over 12.0 innings from 11 hits and 4 walks.  He faced the Rays back in 2015 where he allowed 2 runs over 6.1 innings off 6 hits while striking out 6. The Rays have the following numbers against deGrom:

• Hechavarria 4-17, 2 2B, BB
• Ramos 3-14, 2B, HR
• Gomez 4-10
• Duffy 0-6
• Smith 0-5
• Cron 1-2

The Mets bats will get a look at Ryne Stanek who is 1-2 over 23 game sand 9 starts this season pitching 27.1 innings with a 1.98 ERA, 3.18 FIP, 0.988 WHIP and 202 ERA+. His numbers are incredibly head scratching. Basically it looks like 9 times this year he’s been asked to start a game where he has pitched no more than 2.0 innings. In the middle of June he had a three start streak of not allowing any runs, but only pitching 5.0 innings. Only two Mets have seen Stanek:

• Bautista 0-1, K
• Frazier 1-1, HR

Let’s Go Mets!

Even for the standards established by the 2018 Mets – last night was a bad night up North and the Mets will try to reverse it today. Last night the Mets had a 6-1 lead off homers from Cabrera, Mesoraco and Flores plus a good start by Wheeler. Then the bullpen happened and everything fell apart. Swarzak faced 4 batters and could only get one out, Gsellman needed to get one out and not allow a game tying 3-run homer (which is exactly what he did), with two outs in the eighth the Mets allowed another 2 run homer. It was just a bad night.

Tonight Corey Oswalt will make his second start of 2018 and hopefully allow the Mets to forget last night. Last time out Oswalt was given a 3 hour heads up that he was starting the game and in Miami he allowed 6 runs over 2.2 innings. In his major league debut in April he allowed 2 runs over 4.2 innings. For Las Vegas this year he has a 5.32 ERA over 10 starts, last year he he had a 2.28 ERA in Binghamton over 24 starts.

The Mets bats draw Marcus Stroman who has a 6.02 ERA over 9 starts and 49.1 innings with a 4.18 FIP, 1.520 WHIP and 70 ERA+. But the stats do not tell the whole story. before landing on the DL after his start on May 8th, he had a 7.71 ERA. In his two starts since coming back he has allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, over 12.0 innings from 10 hits and a walk. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Frazier 4-11, HR, 3 BB
• Cabrera 2-2, 2B
• Mesoraco 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets had a terrible June, but are undefeated in July! On Sunday Matz and company defeated the Marlins, avoided the sweep and guaranteed Mets fans more than a day of not knowing the sting of defeat. Now the Mets find themselves north of the border to finish the home/away set started earlier this year with the Jays.

Wheeler will get the start for the Mets. He is 2-6 over 15 games and 88.2 innings with a 4.47 ERA, 3.67 FIP, 1.331 WHIP, 85 ERA+. He is coming off a strong start, shutting out the Pirates in 7.0 innings allowing 5 hits and a walk. It was the second 7.0 inning shutout performance in June for Zack. In May he faced the Jays and it was ugly as he allowed 6 runs over 4.0 innings from 7 hits and 3 walks. The Blue Jays have the following numbers against Wheeler:

• Donaldson 2-4, BB
• Solarte 1-3
• Granderson 1-3, 2B
• Smoak 2-3, 2B, HR
• Pillar 1-2

The Mets will get Marco Estrada who is 4-7 over 16 games and 89.1 innings with a 4.53 ERA, 4.41 FIP, 1.299 WHIP and 93 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed 6 runs, 5 earned, over 12.0 innings. He did not face the Mets back in May but some Mets have seen him in games before:

• Bruce 7 -23, 2B, 4 HR
• Frazier 7-22, 2B, 2 HR
• Reyes 5-14, 2B, 3B
• Cabera 1-8
• Mesoraco 2-8
• Cespedes 3-6, 2B
• Bautista 1-3, HR

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets lost again yesterday capping one of the worst months in the team’s history. Anthony DiComo reported yesterday that the Mets 5-21 record (.192) ranks just behind August 1982 (.172) and July 1963 (.138). Rosario was the only player to reach base twice yesterday going 1-2 at the plate and getting a walk. At least Swarzak didn’t allow any runs in relief.

The Mets will try to get things back together with Steven Matz. Matz is 3-5 over 15 games and 78.0 innings with a 3.69 ERA, 4.89 FIP, 1.244 WHIP and a 103 ERA+. He is coming off an average-good start where he allowed 3 runs over 7.0 innings from 6 hits and no walks. He hasn’t faced the Marlins yet this season but last year he shut them out over 7.0 innings in Miami. The Marlins have the following numbers against Matz:

• Prado 5-11, 2 BB
• Rojas 0-8
• Castro 0-5
• Realmuto 1-4
• Bour 0-3
• Chen 0-3
• Dietrich 0-2

Dan Straily is probably pitching against the Mets today despite throwing at a batter and getting suspended for 5 games. He is 3-3 over 11 games and 52.1 innings with a 4.82 ERA, 6.02 FIP, 1.395 WHIP and a 77 ERA+. His last start was average, allowing 3 runs over 6.1 innings from 4 hits. In the start below that he allowed 4 runs over 1.1 innings. Overall in his last four starts he has allowed 14 runs in 16.1 innings (a 7.71 ERA). One of his last good starts was against the Mets where he allowed 1 run over 6.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Dan:

• Reyes 2-11, 4 BB
• Cabrera 3-11, 2 2B, BB
• Bautista 1-9, HR, BB
• Flores 1-6
• Mesoraco 0-5
• Nimmo 1-3, HR, 2 BB
• Conforto 0-2
• Smith 0-3
• Rosario 1-2

Let’s Go Mets!

Jacob deGrom was scratched from last night’s start to take care of family matters, the Mets called on Oswalt to start and the Mets didn’t quite come to play. For most of the night the offense was off as it faced Sandy Alcantara making his Marlins debut. The only bright spots in last night’s game: Bautista got two more hits trying to show he has trade value, Rosario got 3 walks, Blevins had a clean 1.1 innings and Bashlor allowed only 1 run over 2.2 innings.

The fan base has become more and more divided about blowing up the team and trading deGrom or blowing up the team and building around deGrom. Meanwhile, Jacob still pitches. He’s 5-3 over 16 starts and 101.1 innings with a 1.69 ERA (league leading), 2.14 FIP (league leading), 1.007 WHIP and a 224 ERA+ (league leading). He is coming off his worst start in a while allowing 3 runs over 6.0 innings and it is worth remember that two runs came in after a bad call by the umpire. The first time he faced the Marlins this year in April he allowed 4 runs over 6.0 innings, his worst start of the year, and the second time he faced the fish he held them scoreless over 7.0 innings. The Marlins have the following numbers against him:

• Dietrich 4-21, BB, 11 K
• Bour 9-19, 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 6 K
• Castro 6-18, BB
• Realmuto 3-16, 5 K
• Prado 3-13, 2B, BB,  5 K
• Maybin 0-1o, BB

The Mets bats will get to see another Marlins pitcher making his Marlins debut (which will also be his major league debut) in Pablo Lopez. Pablo was part of a trade during the 2017 season that sent David Phelps to the Mariners. Lopez has posted a 1.44 ERA and 2.17 RAvg in the minors this year over 12 games and 62.1 innings. His stats include a 0.930 WHIP, 6.6 H/9, 9.5 K/9, and 5.50 K/BB. How will Lopez, who has only made 4 starts in triple A do tonight? We’ll find out.

Let’s Go Mets!

The battle for the bottom of the NL East kicks off tonight as the Mets play the Marlins in Miami. The Mets are coming off a loss (shocking) where their starter was good, their hitting was good, but Familia fell apart at the end and the Mets inexplicably didn’t have another option ready to go to get in the game as the Mets allowed the Pirates to score 4 runs in the top of the 9th and win 5-3.

With that as the back drop, Jacob deGrom takes the mound tonight. The fan base has become more and more divided about blowing up the team and trading deGrom or blowing up the team and building around deGrom. Meanwhile, Jacob still pitches. He’s 5-3 over 16 starts and 101.1 innings with a 1.69 ERA (league leading), 2.14 FIP (league leading), 1.007 WHIP and a 224 ERA+ (league leading). He is coming off his worst start in a while allowing 3 runs over 6.0 innings and it is worth remember that two runs came in after a bad call by the umpire. The first time he faced the Marlins this year in April he allowed 4 runs over 6.0 innings, his worst start of the year, and the second time he faced the fish he held them scoreless over 7.0 innings. The Marlins have the following numbers against him:

• Dietrich 4-21, BB, 11 K
• Bour 9-19, 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 6 K
• Castro 6-18, BB
• Realmuto 3-16, 5 K
• Prado 3-13, 2B, BB,  5 K
• Maybin 0-1o, BB

The Mets bats will see Sandy Alcantara’s 2018 debut today. Last year in 8 games and no starts he allowed 6 runs, 4 earned, in 8.1 innings of work from 9 hits and 6 walks when he was a member of the Cardinals. He was traded to the Marlins on December 14th in the deal that sent Ozuna to St. Louis. In the minors this year, he has posted a 3.71 ERA over 85.0 innings and 14 starts including a 1.271 WHIP, 7.8 H/9, 6.8 K/9 and a 1.88 K/BB.

Let’s Go Mets!

Tonight Zack Wheeler will take the mound against Ivan Nova for the Pirates. Wheeler is 2-6 over 14 games and 81.2 innings with a 4.85 ERA, 3.85 FIP, 1.371 WHIP and a 78 ERA+. His last start was more or less average of his season numbers where he allowed 4 runs over 7.0 innings. You could look and be worried about Wheeler, after a stretch of taking many steps forward, his lines in two of last three games don’t look good, 10 runs over 12.2 innings, but he really did perform better than his lines. Callaway deserves criticism about some decisions this year, but he has also started to move Wheeler in the right direction. Against Pittsburgh last year he allowed 3 runs over 6.0 innings from 7 hits and 2 runs. The Pirates have the following numbers against Zack:

• Bell 1-3
• Cervelli 2-3
• Frazier 0-3
• Freese 0-2
• Harrison 1-3, 2B
• Polanco 1-3

Ivan Nova is 4-5 over 14 game sand 81.1 innings with a 3.98 ERA, 3.87 FIP, 1.230 WHIP and a 99 ERA+. He is coming off his best game of the season where he held the Diamondbacks scoreless over 8.0 innings which is the second time in 2018 he has produced a line like that. Overall in June he has pitched 19.2 innings over 3 games with a 0.92 ERA. In comparison, in May, he pitched 23.2 innings over 5 games with a 7.61 ERA. Ivan Nova, the long time Yankee, hasn’t faced the Mets in a while which means most of the home grown New York Mets have never seen him. But the Mets have a good amount of players from trades and bargain bin signings over the last couple of years that have seen him:

• Bautista 9-29, 3 2B, HR, 8 BB
• Reyes 3-10, BB
• Cabrera 2-8
• Bruce 0-6, 3 K
• Cespedes 4-5, 2B, BB
• Frazier 1-5, HR
• Mesoraco 1-2, 2B

Let’s Go Mets!