213 Miles From Shea

Today’s picture of the day is Wagner Lagrange, outfielder of the Kingsport Mets, playing in Bristol on 7/6/17/

The Mets took the opener against the Reds yesterday! Matt Harvey wasn’t terrible last night and Nimmo hit two homers (including back to back blasts with Juan Lagares) leading to 7-2 win. Tonight Seth Lugo will look to keep that momentum going against Amir Garrett of the Reds.

Seth Lugo is 5-4 over 14 games and 13 starts with 77.1 innings of work posting a 5.00 ERA, 4.12 FIP and 1.435 WHIP. It is worth noting that Seth’s Lugo’s FIP is still better than his 2016 number (4.33).  Lugo’s first September start was ineffective as he allowed 4 runs of 8 hits and 2 walks in 5.0 innings of work bringing his total numbers since returning to the rotation to 6 runs, 12 hits, 2 walks in 8.2 innings. Seth Lugo has not faced any members of the Reds in a major league game before.

Amir Garrett is 3-6 over 12 games and 58.1 innings posting a 7.41 ERA, 7.28 FIP and 1.560 WHIP in his rookie season. He will be making his first start since June where he allowed 6 runs over 3.2 innings. If you look at his season numbers he either allowed 2 runs or less (7 starts) or he allowed 6 or more runs (5 times), so inconsistent. In the minors this year he pitched 67.2 innings over 14 games with a 5.72 ERA. He has not faced any members of the Mets in a major league game.

Let’s Go Mets!

Today’s Picture of the day is Rigoberto Terrazas of the Kingsport Mets playing in Bristol. Picture taken on 7/6/17.

The Mets bounced back from the trouncing they received on Tuesday with a rain shortened win on Wednesday night. Travis d’Arnaud hit a homer that was the difference maker and spot starter Gsellman technically threw a complete game with 6 innings of work allowing 3 runs, 2 earned. The Mets now match up against the Reds tonight, who they faced in Ohio last week.

The Mets are starting Harvey tonight, instead of his short rest start as previously planned yesterday. Smart Move. His last start was a mess against Houston in the first game in the double header last Saturday as he allowed 7 runs off 8 hits in 2.0 innings of work. If you are looking for positives from the game: he didn’t walk a batter and he threw only 70 pitches. The Reds have the following numbers against Harvey:

• Votto 5-12, HR, BB
• Cozart 6-11, 2 2B, HR
• Duvall 0-6, 3 K
• Barnhart 1-4, BB
• Gennett 0-3
• Hamilton 1-2
• Suarez 1-3

The Mets bats will get a look at rookie Tyler Mahle who is making his third major league start. He is 0-1 over 2 starts and 11.0 innings where he has allowed 9 hits and 4 walks with only 3 runs. His last start was way better than his first where he held the Pirates scoreless over 6.0 innings. In the minors this year he was 10-7 over 24 starts between AA an AAA tossing 144.1 innings with a 2.06 ERA and a 0.963 WHIP.

Let’s Go Mets!

Jay Bruce was the closest player to The 7 Line in St. Louis on 7/8/17.

As I write this game preview at 2 PM, the Mets have not officially announced tonight’s starter. You probably know the latest Mets drama but just in case you don’t the Mets announced over the holiday weekend, on the same day as they communicated information about surgeries to Wright, TJ Rivera and Conforto, that Harvey would start on short rest. With all the Mets injuries this year, and multiple ones to Harvey, this seemed like a bizarre, horrible idea. But the Mets stuck with it! Until last night. Suddenly the probable starter disappeared from the Mets page and still hasn’t been replaced. Normally I would try to update this post with info about the Mets starter. However, the Mets handling of players, late announcement of starters, not giving proper time for athletes to prepare and rest is enough of a game preview for this team.

On the Phillies side, Nick Pivetta gets the start.  The rookie is 5-9 over 21 games and 106 innings of work with a 6.28 ERA, 5.04 FIP and 1.538 WHIP. He is coming off a strong starter in Miami where he allowed 1 run over 6.0 innings. The Mets have seen both sides of Nick this year. In his first start against the team, on July 2nd, he allowed 1 run off 1 hit and 4 walks in 7.0 innings. Then, in August, he allowed 6 runs, 5 earned off 7 hits and 2 walks from 4.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Cabrera  0-3
• Nimmo 0-3
• Aoki 0-1
• Flores 0-2
• Reyes 0-2
• Rosario 2-2
• Smith 1-2

Let’s Go Mets!

Matt Reynolds playing 3rd the last day before the All-Star break on 7/9/17.

The Mets won a game! After losing the first three games in September to the Astros, the Mets took a step back in the right direction yesterday afternoon against the Phillies. The Mets jumped out to a 10-0 lead but as the game went on the Phillies started to evaporate it. Eventually Ramos shut the door and the Mets won 11-7. Highlight of the game: Lagares making a catch running through pigeons who made their home in the outfield.

Jacob deGrom will start tonight. He is 14-8 over 27 starts and 178.2 innings with a 3.43 ERA, 3.55 FIP and 1.170 WHIP. He was just average in his last start allowing 3 runs off 4 hits and 3 walks in 6.0 innings against the Reds. He is 2-0 against the Phillies this year over 3 games holding them to 3 runs over 19.2 innings with only 13 hits and 3 walks (1.37 ERA). The Phillies have the following numbers against him:

• Galvis 6-22, 5 K
• Hernandez 2-13, 3 BB
• Franco 3-15, 2B
• Rupp 1-10, HR, 2 BB
• Williams 2-6
• Blanco 1-5
• Hoskins 0-2
• Kelly 1-2

The Mets draw rookie Ben Lively who is 2-5 over 10 games and 59.2 innings with a 4.22 ERA, 4.89 FIP and 1.374 WHIP.  After a terrible start on August 26th where he allowed 6 runs over 5.0 innings of 5 hits and 2 walks (and 4 homers), Ben bounced back in his last start allowing 2 runs off 7 hits and 1 walk over 6.0 innings. He faced the Mets back on June 30th where he allowed 2 runs over 6.1 innings from 5 hits and 4 walks. The Mets have the following numbers against Ben:

• Cabrera 1-3
• d’Arnaud 1-3
• Flores 0-3, K
• Reyes 1-2, 3B, BB
• deGrom 0-1, BB

Let’s Go Mets!

Edgardo Alfonzo, manger of the Cyclones, coaching at 3rd base in Mahoning Valley. Taken on 7/11/17.

Today’s picture of the day features Nicholas Debora of the Brooklyn Cyclones pitching in Mahoning Valley. Picture from 7/11/17.