213 Miles From Shea

After an extended rain delay the Mets were able to deliver a win, putting them in a position to sweep the two game set this afternoon. Last night Syndergaard led the Mets through 5.0 innings of good pitching and got the offense started with an RBI. After giving up 2 runs the Mets offense turned it on and ended up winning the game 12-2 thanks to a 4-hit game by Lagares and Mesoraco who scored 4 times and was on base 5 times (2 hits, 3 walks).

Wheeler looks to keep the Mets on the right track this afternoon. He is 2-2 over 6 games and 34.0 innings with a 5.03 ERA, 4.17 FIP, 1.441 WHIP and 77 ERA+. Zack is coming off of his best start since his first start. On May 9th he allowed 1 run from 4 hits and 3 walks in 6.0 innings while striking out 7 in a game the Mets eventually lost 2-1. Very few Blue Jays have seen Wheeler in a game:

• Grichuk 0-3
• Donaldson 1-2
• Solarte 1-1

The Mets bats will get a look at long-time Philly, now long time Blue Jay, J.A. Happ. The 35 year-old is 4-3 this season over 8 starts and 45.0 innings with a 4.80 ERA, 4.32 FIP, 1.267 WHIP and a 93 ERA+. He is coming off his worst start of the season against the Mariners where he allowed 7 runs from 10 hits and 2 walks in 3.1 innings which raised his ERA from 3.67 to 4.80. The last time he faced the Mets was in 2015 as a member of the Pirates where he held the Mets to 1 run from 7 hits and a walk in 5.1 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Happ:

• Cespedes 5-22, 2 2B, HR, BB
• Reyes 2-21, 2B, 2 BB
• Cabrera 2-9, 2B
• Gonzalez 1-6, BB
• Mesoraco 0-6, BB
• Lagares 1-3
• Flores 1-2

Let’s Go Mets!

Yesterday Vlad Guerrero Jr caused a stir with an Instagram posted tagged at JFK, not too far from Queens where the Blue Jays were coming. He has since deleted the picture and there is some reason to believe it is an identical picture from a while ago. Why lead with this? The most exciting aspect of the Blue Jays, the reason to go see them outside of a chance to Curtis Granderson again, is the promise of their young star who should be making his major league debut at any moment now.

Across the diamond in Mets land, the excitement from Friday’s comeback win was erased with a soaking, late starting Mets game on Sunday which they dropped 4-2. With thunderstorms in the forecast tonight, the Mets are literally and figuratively raining on my 2018 Baseball Parade.

Noah Syndergaard was pushed all the way back to tonight thanks to off days and rain outs. He is 2-1 over 8 games and 46.2 innings with a 3.09 ERA, 2.78 FIP, 1.200 WHIP and 125 ERA+. In the month of May he has allowed 5 runs in 12.0 innings from 16 hits and 5 walks while striking out only 8. He faced the Blue Jays all the way back in his rookie season of 2015 where he held them to 1 run and 2 hits with 2 walks in 6.0 innings while striking out 11. The Blue Jays have the following numbers against Syndergaard:

• Grichuk 0-3, BB
• Diaz 1-3
• Donaldson 0-3
• Moralez 1-3, 2B
• Solarte 1-3
• Pillar 0-2

The Mets get to see an old foe in a new place: Jaime Garcia. The long time Cardinal ended up in Atlanta, Minnesota and in the Bronx in 2017 and is now in Toronto. He is 2-2 over 7 games and 35.0 innings with a 5.40 ERA, 5.92 FIP, 1.571 WHIP and 84 ERA+. He is coming off his second best start of the season where he allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, over 5.0 innings from 3 hits and 5 walks. Between April 17th and May 3rd, he made 4 starts where each one he allowed 1 additional run over the other (so 3 runs, 4 runs, 5 runs, 6 runs). Tell that one to your friends, they will politely tell you that was interesting. His 2017 debut was against the Mets last year and he allowed 4 runs over 6.0 innings. Two months later he held the Mets to 2 runs over 7.0 innings and two months after that the Mets got him for 3 runs over 5.1 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Bruce 12-58, 2 2B, HR, 2 BB, 16 K
• Reyes 7-24, 2B, 2 BB
• Frazier 6-23, 2 2B
• Cabrera 4-14, 2 2B
• Flores 4-12, 2B, 2 HR
• Lagares 3-9, 2B
• Cespedes 1-8, 2B
• Conforto 3-7, 2 2B

Let’s Go Mets!

Jacob deGrom comes back to the Mets today, giving Mets fans a roller coaster ride that lasted about 2 weeks. He left his last start on May 2nd after 4 fantastic innings where he held the Braves scoreless with 2 hits, no walks and 6 strikeouts due to a hyperextended elbow. For the next day or so Mets fans were bracing themselves for every possible outcome: 4 weeks of no deGrom to no deGrom for at least a year. Then the Mets said, “Hey! It’s not so bad! He’ll make his next scheduled start”. Right before that start they moved deGrom over to the DL and brought up PJ Conlon to make his major league debut and promptly sent him back down because Jacob is ready to go.

In Jacob’s last three outings he has allowed no runs over 18.1 innings with 11 hits, 5 walks and 24 K’s. On the season he is 3-0 in 7 games and 43.1 innings with a 1.87 ERA, 2.09 FIP, 0.992 WHIP and 207 ERA+. This will also be deGrom’s first time against the Phillies this year. Last year he went 2-1 in 4 games over 23.1 innings posting a 3.47 ERA. The Phillies have the following numbers against Jacob:

• Herrera 5-27, 8 K
• Hernandez 3-16, 3 BB
• Franco 3-15, 2B
• Williams 2-8
• Hoskins 1-3, 2 BB
• Altherr 0-3, 2 K
• Crawford 0-2

The Mets bats draw Aaron Nola who is in the midst of his best season in his career. He is 5-1 over 8 games and 52.2 innings with a 2.05 ERA, 2.55 FIP, 0.892 WHIP, 192 ERA+. In the month of May so far he has allowed 1 run off 9 hits and a walk in 14.1 innings of work while striking out 19. His second start of the year was against the Mets where he allowed 2 runs over 5.0 innings from 4 hits and 4 walks. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Bruce 3-11, BB, 4 K
• Cespedes 4-11, 2 2 HR, BB, 3 K
• Cabrera 3-8
• Conforto 2-7, HR, BB
• Mesoraco 0-5, BB
• Nimmo 0-3, 3 BB
• Reyes 1-5
• Rosario 2-4, 2B
• Smith 0-3

Let’s Go Mets!

Last night’s Mets game looked identical to last Saturday’s game for a while. Steven Matz started both games. Matz allowed a solo shot in the first inning for both games. Matz didn’t allow any runs after that and got out of jams in both games. The Mets bats did nothing in both games. But last night featured an alternate ending. Conforto hit a two run shot in the 9th to give the Mets the lead and then Mesoraco hit a solo shot to extend the lead. Now the Mets find themselves in a situation where they can get a much needed series win.

Noah Syndergaard gets the start tonight. He is 2-1 over 8 games and 46.2 innings with a 3.09 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 1.200 WHIP and 125 ERA+. Noah is coming off a 6.0 inning outing where he allowed 2 runs in a game the Mets eventually lost 3-2. His seconds tart of the season was against the Phillies and he allowed 2 runs over 4.0 innings from 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7. The Phillies have the following numbers against Noah:

• Herrera 1-17, 3 K
• Hernandez 2-13, 3 BB
• Franco 4-15, 2B
• Altherr 1-9
• Knapp 2-5, 2B
• Hoskins 1-1, 2B, 2 BB
• Santana 1-2, 2B

The Mets bats will face Zach Eflin who will make his 3rd start of the season. He is 1-0 over 12.2 innings allowing 1 run from 7 hits and 3 walks while striking out 13. Last season he was 1-5 over 11 games and 64.1 innings posting a 6.16 ERA, 6.10 FIP, 1.415 WHIP and 69 ERA+. He made two starts against the Mets last season including his major league debut. In his major league debut (April of last year) he held the Mets to 2 runs, 1 earned over 5.0 innings. In August the Mets got 7 hits and turned them into 4 runs over 5.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Cabrera 0-9
• Reyes 3-7, 3 2B
• Cespedes 1-4, 2 BB
• Conforto 1-4, HR, BB
• Gonzalez 1-5
• Flores 1-3
• Lagares 1-3, 3B
• Smith 1-3

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets are coming off of a series loss against one of the worst teams in baseball and head into a series with a rising Philadelphia squad. The last time the Mets faced the Phillies, near the start of the season, they were falling apart, not playing well and angry at each other. Since then, they went on a run and find themselves in a competitive spot. On the flip side, the Mets were on the rise the last time these two teams met and now the Mets find themselves in free-fall, and possibly not knowing when to hit.

Steven Matz gets the nod today. He is 1-3 over 6 games and 27.2 innings with a 4.23 ERA, 5.15 FIP, 1.157 WHIP and 91 ERA+. Matz is coming off his best start of the season where he allowed 1 run over 6.0 innings from 3 hits and a walk against the Rockies in a game where the Mets lost 2-0. In his last start last August in Philly, Matz allowed 2 runs over 5.2 innings from 4 hits and 2 walks. The Phillies have the following numbers against Matz:

• Hernandez 1-3
• Herrera 0-3
• Hoskins 0-3
• Santana 0-3, K
• Franco 1-2

The Mets will open the series against Jake Arrieta who is 3-1 over 6 games and 34.1 innings this year with a 3.15 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 1.078 WHIP and 125 ERA+. After his worst start of the year on April 30th where he allowed 6 runs from 8 hits and 2 walks in 3.2 innings against the Marlins, he rebounded in his last start against the Nationals, holding them to 1 run over 6.0 innings. The Mets missed Jake in 2017 but in 2016 faced him twice. In Chicago the Mets scored 4 runs in 5.1 innings against him and then in New York they scored 1 run in 7.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Gonzalez 7-26, 2B, 2 HR, BB
• Cabrera 5-14, 2 HR
• Cesepdes 4-14, 2B, HR
• Flores 3-13, 2B
• Mesoraco 1-10, 2 BB
• Reyes 2-6, 3B
• Conforto 0-4, BB
• Lagares 0-3
• Nimmo 1-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets play a day game in Cincinnati and try to escape Ohio with a series win before heading into an off day. Before the game last night, the Mets traded Harvey for the Reds’ catcher Mesoraco. Also, Frazier landed on the DL. Also, Swarzak got moved to the 60 day DL. In the actual game, somehow Vargas allowing 4 runs over 4.0 innings was actually a better than his average numbers for 2018. (Jokes aside, once Vargas started recording outs, he was actually exactly average, but he allowed 2 runs before that even started).

Wheeler is 2-2 over 5 games and 28.0 innings this year with a 5.79 ERA, 4.60 FIP, 1.500 WHIP and 67 ERA+. His last start was the worst of this season were he allowed 8 runs from 10 hits and 3 walks against the Rockies. The last time Wheeler faced Reds was in 2014 where he held the Reds to 1 run over 6.0 innings from 5 hits and 2 walks. With Mesoraco now on the Mets, the only member of the Reds who has faced Wheeler is Billy Hamilton who is 1-3 against him.

The Mets draw Sal Romano who is 2-3 over 7 starts and 36.1 innings with a 4.21 ERA, 6.03 FIP, 1.376 WHIP and 97 ERA+. In Sal’s last three starts he has pitched 16.0 innings with a 2.25 ERA and opponents hitting .224 against him. Romano faced the Mets twice last year. First time he allowed 3 runs over 6.0 innings and the in second one he allowed 2 runs over 5.0 innings (despite allowing 8 hits). The Mets have the following numbers against Sal:

• Nimmo 1-6
• Reyes 2-5
• Rosario 1-5
• Cabera 1-2, 2B
• Flores 0-3
• Lagares 0-3

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets finally got back in the win column last night! PJ Conlon was excellent the first time through the batting order (hitters were 0-8 with a walk) but got hit hard his second time through prompting an early exit (in addition to starting his first major league game, he also picked up his first major league hit). The Mets offense though gave the team quite the cushion thanks to some long-needed power from Conforto and Gonzalez. The Reds would chip away at the Mets lead the rest of the night but would ultimately lose to the Amazin’s by a score of 7-6.

Speaking of players needing redemptive performances, tonight’s starter is Jason Vargas who has had a terrible start to 2018. He is 0-2 in his first two games as a Met allowing 15 runs from 20 hits and 5 walks, including 5 homers, in 8.1  innings. In his career he has pitched in Cincinnati twice where he has allowed 7 runs, 6 earned, over 10.1 innings from 10 hits and 6 walks. The only member of the Reds who have seen Jason in a game is Eugenio Suarez who is 1-4 against him.

The Mets bats will try to keep the offense flowing against Luis Castillo, who is coming off of his rookie season. Last year he was 3-7 over 15 games and 89.1 innings with a 3.12 ERA, 3.74 FIP, 1.075 WHIP and 141 ERA+. This year in 7 games he has struggled with a 1-4 record, 7.01 ERA, 5.20 FIP, 1.673 WHIP and 57 ERA+. He is coming off of his best start of the season against the Brewers where he pitched into the 7th inning (but didn’t record any outs) allowing 2 runs from 9 hits and a walk. He has never faced the Mets before and the only member of the Mets who has seen him is Todd Frazier who is 1-2 against him.

Lets Go Mets!

Maybe the Mets just need a change of scenery right now. For the second game in a row the Mets got a great start from their starting pitcher but could not translate it into a win with a cold offense. Yesterday the Mets went up 2-0 quick and a few winnings later it became 2-2 which it stayed for the majority of the game until the Rockies were able to pull away late and sweep the Mets. Now the Mets will travel to the Reds and hopefully find themselves.

Originally Jacob deGrom was supposed to make his scheduled start tonight but the Mets announced yesterday that deGrom was going to the DL to rest up his hyperextended elbow. It was a mystery for most of the day who would start instead and in the evening the Mets announced that P.J. Conlon, their prospect out of Ireland, will make his major league debut. Conlon is the first player from the Columbia Fireflies organization to make his major league debut and he had a Non-Roster invite to Mets camp in 2017 and 2018. In Vegas this year he has a 6.75 ERA over 5 games and 24.0 innings. The year before in Binghamton he had a 3.38 ERA in 28 games, 22 starts and 136.0 innings. At 213 Miles From Shea we have a deeper preview of him here from this past winter.

The Mets bats will try to find something positive to work with from Homer Bailey who is 0-4 over 7 games and 39.1 innings with a 4.81 ERA, 5.68 FIP, 1.246 WHIP and 83 ERA+. In his last three starts he has allowed 12 runs off 20 hits and 4 walks in 15.2 innings, a 6.89 ERA. He faced the Mets twice last year. The first time he was effective allowing only 2 runs off 4 hits and a walk in 6.0 innings. He lost the game 2-0. The next time he allowed 5 runs over 6.0 innings from 6 hits and 3 walks. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Gonzalez 11-25, 2 2B, 6 HR, BB
• Cabera 5-15, 2B, 2 BB
• Reyes 2-10, 2B
• Cespedes 1-6
• Nimmo 1-5
• Plawecki 2-6, 2B, HR
• Lagares 0-5
• Flores 1-3, 2B
• Frazier 1-2

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets need some good news today in the worst way. On Friday, after a horrible first inning by Wheeler, the Mets almost came back but fell short. Yesterday the Mets got one of the best starts of the season from Steven Matz, but the bats couldn’t string hits together and the Mets ended up scattering 6 hits and some walks but didn’t score at all, falling 2-0.

Today Noah Syndergaard looks to put the Mets back on track. He’s 2-1 over 7 games and 40.2 innings with a 3.10 ERA, 2.30 FIP (which is close to his 2.29 mark which led the league in 2016), 1.131 WHIP and 124 ERA+. He’s coming off a not Thor-like start against the Braves were he allowed 10 hits and a walk leading to 3 runs over 6.0 innings with only 3 K’s. The last time he faced the Rockies was the last game in July of 2016 where he allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, over 6.0 innings. The Rockies got 6 hits and 2 walks walks that day and struck out 6 times. It was also Mike Piazza bobble-head day. The Rockies have the following numbers against Syndergaard:

• Desmond 2-7, BB, 4 K
• Blackmon 1-5, 2B, BB
• Gonzalez 1-6, 2B
• LeMahieu 1-5, HR
• Arenado 1-3, HR
• Dahl 2-3, 2B
• Parra 1-3

The Mets bats will try to wake up against Kyle Freeland today who is 1-4 over 6 games and 34.0 innings with a 4.24 ERA, 4.37 FIP, 1.265 WHIP and 108 ERA+. He faced the Mets in Queens last year where he pitched 3.0 innings of almost perfect, clean relief walking one batter and that’s it. The Mets have the following numbers against Freeland:

• Frazier 0-2, BB
• Gonzalez 2-2
• Lobaton 0-2
• Bruce 0-1
• Cabera 0-1
• Cespedes 0-1
• Conforto 0-1
• Reyes 0-1

Let’s Go Mets!

Late last night I thought the Mets would finally give the Mets some relief from a sad, disappointing day. For a couple of innings, it looked like the Mets were going to make an incredible comeback and for 30 minutes baseball was fun again, not a twisting, painful journey through a nostalgia of hopes. The day started out with the Mets DFA’ing Harvey, ending an era of braggadocio confidence Mets fans had through 2015. Then Wheeler got off to a horrible start last night but somehow lasted 6.0 innings. The Mets bats couldn’t completely dig out of the hole and now the Mets will turn to Steven Matz.

Steven Matz, experiencing back stiffness, will make his start tonight. He is 1-2 over 5 games and 21.2 innings with a 4.98 ERA, 5.43 FIP, 1.292 WHIP, 78 ERA+. He is coming off his worst start of the season 10 days ago where he allowed 7 runs, 3 earned, over 3.1 innings from 5 hits and 2 walks against the Cardinals. Steven’s worst start of last season came against the Rockies in Queens where he allowed 7 runs from 9 hits and 1 walk while only recording 3 outs. Later in the season he had another poor start against the Rockies, but much better than his previous start, where he allowed 3 runs from 6 hits and 2 walks over 5.0 innings. The Rockies have the following numbers against Matz:

• Blackmon 5-8, 2 2B, BB
• Castro 4-9, HR
• Arenado 2-8, 2 HR
• LeMahieu 4-7, 2B
• Story 3-6, 2B
• Gonzalez 1-5, 2B
• Parra 1-3

The Mets bats will get a look at Chad Bettis who is currently performing much better than any of his career numbers. Over 6 years he has a 4.80 ERA, 1.442 WHIP, 98 ERA+. This season he has a 2.43 ERA, 1.054 WHIP and 187 ERA+ over 6 starts. April 23rd was his worst start of the season where he allowed 4 runs over 5.0 innings but he rebounded in his last start allowing 2 runs over 7.0 innings. The last time he faced the Mets was at the end of July in 2016 where he allowed 3 runs over 6.0 innings from 5 hits and 2 walks. The Mets have the following numbers against Bettis:

• Gonzalez 2-14, 2B
• Flores 0-4
• Bruce 2-4, 2B, HR
• Conforto 0-3
• Lagares 2-3, 2B, 3B
• Nimmo 1-2
• Cabera 0-1

Lets Go Mets!