213 Miles From Shea

The Mets won a close one last night and now find themselves only a game out of the Wild Card Race as they continue their series with Washington. The Mets will turn to Seth Lugo who is 2-2 over 12 games and 3 starts this year pitching 34.2 innings with a 2.60 ERA while striking out 28. As a starter, he has allowed only 5 runs over 17.2 innings with a 2.55 ERA while striking out 12. He has also faced Washington earlier this season pitching 2.0 innings in relief walking 2 and allowing no hits, the Nationals have the following numbers against him:

• Espinonsa 0-0, BB
• Haper 0-1
• Murphy 0-1, K
• Ramos 0-1
• Rendon 0-1
• Robinson 0-1
• Werth 0-0, BB

The Mets bats will get to face a Rookie tonight also. Reynaldo Lopez is 2-2 over his first 5 games and starts as a major league pitcher allowing 18 runs, 15 earned over 25.1 innings (5.33 ERA). That really makes it seem worse than it is. Lopez had a rough major league debut against the Dodgers and a rough game against Baltimore before going down to the minors in late August waiting for roster expansion. His starts in between were mostly fine. He has never faced the Mets or anyone on the Mets roster.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets missed their opportunities last night and dropped their second straight game, and now they need to figure out a way to keep scoring to keep their playoff dreams alive. Robert Gsellman will make the start for the Mets tonight, he is 1-1 over two games and a start with a 3.72 ERA over 9.2 innings of work. In his first start he allowed 7 hits and 4 ER against the Phillies while striking out 5. This will be his first start against the Nationals and first time facing anyone on the Nationals roster in a major league game.

Tanner Roark will get the nod for the Nationals today. He is 14-7 over 28 games and 27 starts with a 2.87 ERA over 175.1 innings this year. Roark is is coming off of a start where he held the Phillies scoreless for 7.0 innings after allowing 8 runs, 7 earned, over 11.1 innings. In two games and a start agianst the Mets this year he is 0-1 over 9.1 innings of work allowing 5 hits and 2 runs, only one earned. The Mets have the following numbers against Tanner:

• Granderson 6-20, 4 2B
• d’Arnaud 1-11
• Bruce 0-8
• Rivera 4-11, 2B
• Cespedes 1-9, 2B
• Walker 4-9, 2 2B
• Flores 2-8, 2B
• Conforto 0-4
• K Johnson 0-5

Let’s Go Mets!

Even though the Mets dropped the final game of the series, the Mets had a successful four game set with the Marlins, taking 3 of 4, and now they welcome the Nationals to town as the Mets look to continue to chase down a wild card spot to slip into the playoffs.

Noah Syndergaard will start off the set against the Nationals. he’s 12-7 over 26 games and 25 starts and 155.0 innings with a 2.55 ERA. In his last two starts he has tossed 15.0 innings allowing only 4 hits and 1 ER while striking out 17. In three starts against the Nationals this season he is 1-2 over 3 starts and 14.2 innings with a 4.91 ERA, the Nationals have the following numbers against him:

• Harper 4-14
• Rendon 5-13
• Werth 2-11
• Revere 4-11
• Espinosa 2-10
• Ramos 3-9
• Robinson 2-6, 2 HR
• Zimmerman 1-8, 2B
• Murphy 2-7, 2B

The Mets bats will get a look at A.J. Cole tonight, who is making his 3rd major league start of the season and pitching in his 6th major league game overall in his career. So far this year he has allowed 4 ER over 5 hits in 7.0 innings against Baltimore and the followed that with 3 ER over 4 hits in 5.2 innings against the Rockies. In his first game he walked 2 and struck out 8, in his second game he walked 3 and struck 4. This will be his first time facing the Mets in his career but one Met has seen him before, Kelly Johnson, and he is 1-2 with a double and 2 RBI’s against Cole.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets go for the four game sweep of the Marlins tonight at Citi Field behind a Jacob deGrom with an extra three days of rest! After allowing a run early, the Mets came back last night on a two run shot by Flores. Then they let several scoring opportunities slip while the Marlins hung in there and eventually tied the game. In the 8th, with the bases loaded and two outs, Kelly Johnson had another clutch hit with a bases clearing double and Familia locked the game down in the 9th for his franchise record setting 44th save.

Jacob is 7-7 on the year over 23 starts and 143.0 innings with a 2.96 ERA. His last two starts were pretty awful, especially compared to his previous four. In his previous four, he allowed 2 ER over 27.2 innings. He then allowed 13 ER and 25 hits over 9.2 innings, thus the Mets gave him some extra rest. In two starts vs the Marlins this year, he allowed 7 ER over 16 hits in 10.2 innings. The Marlins have the following numbers against Jacob:

• Ozuna 7-24, 2 2B
• Yelich 9-24, 2 2B
• C Johnson 5-19, 2B
• Hechavarria 4-15, 2 2B
• Gordon 5-15
• Prado 3-11, 2B

The Mets bats draw Jose Urena in the final who is 2-5 over 22 games and 6 starts with a 5.83 ERA over 54.0 innings of work. He returned to the roster in mid-August with a dud of a game allowing 5 ER over 6.0 innings. Since then he has allowed 3 ER over 11.2 innings. In his one start this season against the Mets, he allowed 1 ER over 6.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers on Jose:

• Cespedes 0-4
• Granderson 1-4
• Cabrera 1-3
• K Johnson 0-3
• Loney 0-3
• Reyes 1-3, 3B
• Walker 1-3, HR
• Rivera 0-2
• Flores 1-1, HR

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets beat the Marlins again last night behind two Granderson homers and 4 Reyes hits! The Marlins started the game putting up two runs in the first but the Mets immediately responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame, thanks to a Cabrera jack. Now the Mets turn to Bartolo to keep the good times going against David Phelps.

Bartolo Colon is 12-7 over 27 games and 26 starts this year over 151.2 innings with a 3.44 ERA. He’s coming off of a rough start where he allowed 4 ER over 7.0 innings in a game the Mets still won, his first time in 5 allowing more than 2 ER. In one start against the Marlins this year he held them to 2 runs, 1 earned in 5.0 innings in a no-decision. The Marlins have the following numbers against Colon:

• Suzuki 34-114, 3 2B, 3B, 3 HR
• Yelich 8-28, 3 2B
• Gordon 8-23, 2B
• Prado 8-23, 2 HR
• Realmuto 5-17, 3 2B, HR
• Ozuna 3-15, 2B
• Francoeur 1-11
• Hechavarria 3-12, 2 2B

The Mets draw David Phelps who is 7-6over 55 games and 5 starts and 78.2 innings with a 2.52 ERA. In the month of August, since becoming a starter, he’s tossed 24.1 innings over 5 games with a 2.22 ERA although he is coming off of his toughest start where he allowed 4 runs, 3 earned over 3.2 innings. He has pitched 5.2 innings against the Mets this year where he has allowed 5 ER. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Cespedes 2-12, 2B
• Loney 5-15, 2 2B
• Granderson 3-13, 2B
• K Johnson 2-9, 2B, 3B
• Bruce 3-7, 2B, 2 HR
• Cabrera 3-8, 2B
• Flores 2-5, HR

Let’s Go Mets!

Cespedes the hero!

The Mets started a critical series with the Marlins last night and with the game tied heading into the 10th inning, and two outs already on the board, Cespedes crushed his 27th homer of the season, on a day where the pitching was there all night, but not necessarily the hitting. Tonight the Mets look to keep it going as Seth Lugo takes on Tom Koehler.

Seth Lugo is 1-2 over 11 games and 2 starts this season with an ERA of 2.51 over 28.2 innings. His last two outings were his two starts of the season where he first allowed 3 ER over 6.2 innings and then allowed no runs over 5.0 innings. In 1.1 innings against the Marlins in relief on July 23rd, he allowed 1 ER over 2 hits and 2 walks in 1.1 innings. The Marlins have the following numbers against Seth:

• Hechavarria 1-1
• C Johnson 0-1
• Prado 1-1
• Realmuto 0-1
• Yelich 0-1

Tom Koehler is 9-9 over 26 games and 145.0 innings with an ERA of 3.85 this season, heading for his best season season since 2014, and possibly his best season in his career. Although things haven’t been that great of late as he has allowed 9 runs, 8 earned over his last three starts and 18.0 innings of work.  He has already faced the Mets twice this year allowing 5 ER over 11.0 innings and 13 hits (4.09 ERA). The Mets have the following numbers against Tom:

• Granderson 6-28, HR
• d’Arnaud 7-17, 2 2B, HR
• Flores 4-15, 2 2B
• Cespedes 6-14, 3 2B
• Walker 3-10, 2B
• K Johnson 3-12, 2B
• Loney 3-10, 2B
• Cabrera 3-7, HR
• Reyes 1-3, HR

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets couldn’t complete the sweep yesterday as they could could get runners on the bases early, but failed to bring them home. Tonight, they welcome the Marlins to town for a critical wild card and division match-up.

The Mets will be looking at Rafael Montero tonight to make his first start of the 2016 season. In his two outings this year he allowed 3 ER and 5 hits over 2.1 innings but that was back in April. Last year he was exactly average allowing 6 runs, 5 earned over 10.0 innings while striking out 13. He’s been a different pitcher since being sent down to AA this year where he has tossed 8 games and 47.2 innings with a 4-2 record while posting an 1.70 ERA. The last time he faced the Marlins was last year where he allowed 4 runs, 3 earned over 6.1 innings. The Marlins have the following numbers against Rafael:

• Gordon 2-5, 2B
• Ozuna 1-3
• Realmuto 1-4
• Hechavarria 0-2
• Prado 0-2
• Suzuki 1-3, 3B

The Mets will get the tall task of facing Jose Fernandez who is 13-7 over 24 starts and 148.2 innings with a 2.91 ERA.  He’s coming off of a strong start where he allowed no runs over 7.0 innings but in general over his last 5 starts he has allowed 14 ER over 28.0 innings, an ERA of 4.50. Today will be his fourth start against the Mets this year, in his previous three he’s 2-0 over 19.0 innings with a 1.42 ERA. The Mets have the following numbers against Jose:

• Walker 2-13
• Bruce 2-10
• Cabrera 1-11, 2B
• Loney 3-8
• Granderson 4-9, 2 2B
• Cespedes 2-5
• d’Arnaud 1-5
• De Aza 2-5

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets have now won 6 of their last 7 games and look to sweep the Phillies today in Queens. Yesterday, after falling to the Phillies early, the Mets responded with 4 homers and 12 runs as they stomped the Phillies 12-1. Today is the beginning of an interesting stretch of pitchers for the Mets thanks to the injury bug starting with Robert Gsellman making his major league debut.

If Gsellman sounds familiar, you probably remember him in his major league debut bailing out Niese earlier in the week and he stepped in to pitch 3.2 innings of 2 hit ball while walking 3 and striking out 2 allowing no runs. He picked up his first major league win in the process. Overall this year in the minors he is 4-9 over 20 starts with a 3.99 ERA (2.71 in 11 starts in Binghamton, 5.73 in 9 starts in Vegas).

The Mets bats draw Vince Velasquez in the finale who is 8-6 this season over 22 starts and 119.0 innings with a 4.31 ERA. He’s in a rough stretch right now that has ballooned his ERA from 3.33 to 4.31 in only 3 starts. He’s allowed 19 runs over 16.1 innings over that time. Two of his first three starts of his season were against the Mets. In his first start he shut the Mets down allowing 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 9 holding the Mets to no runs over 6.0 innings. He then pitched a complete game shutout against the Padres before coming back to face the Mets where he allowed 5 runs, 2 earned over 4.1 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Vince:

• Granderson 0-4
• Cabrera 2-5, 2B
• Cespedes 1-5, HR
• Walker 0-5
• d’Arnaud 0-4
• De Aza 1-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets have now won 4 of their last 5 games after taking the series in St. Louis and the opener last night against Philly. Yesterday Colon returned to form and collected two hits as the offense woke up smacking multiple homers early and a grand slam later on to blast the game open. The rest of the field the Mets are chasing also won, but that’s ok because at this point we just need to win. Anyway, Thor looks to keep it going today against Hellickson.

Noah is 11-7 over 25 games and 24 starts in 148.0 innings of work this year with a 2.61 ERA. He’s coming off of one his strongest starts of the season where he tossed 8.0 innings of 2 hit ball in San Fransisco, in a game the Mets won 2-0. The Texan has already faced the Phillies once this year holding them to 5 hits and a run over 7.0 innings while striking out 8. The Phillies have the following numbers against him:

• Galvis 2-9, 2B, HR
• Herrera 1-9
• Howard 2-7, HR
• Franco 2-6
• Hernandez 1-5
• Rupp 1-6
• Bourjos 0-3

The Mets bats will get a look at Jeremy Hellickson who is 10-7 over 25 starts and 150.0 innings with a 3.60 ERA, easily having his best season since 2012. In his last two starts he has allowed 3 ER over 12.0 innings while striking out 15. Jeremy has already faced the Mets 3 times this year going 1-1 over 16.0 innings allowing 20 hits and 10 ER while striking out 16 batters. The Mets have the following numbers on him:

• Granderson 5-25, 2 2B, HR
• Reyes 8-24, 2B, HR
• Cabrera 5-15, 2B
• De Aza 4-16, 3 2B
• Cespedes 5-12, 2 HR
• K Johnson 1-9
• Walker 6-13, 2B, HR
• Bruce 1-8
• d’Arnaud 1-5, 2B
• Loney 2-5, 2B
• Flores 1-3, 2B

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets were able to sneak out of St. Louis last night with a series win in a crucial set with the Cardinals and now they come home to start a series against the Phillies, one they have to win in order to have a shot at the playoffs (any series at this point is a must win at this point).

Bartolo Colon is 11-7 over 26 games and 25 starts with a 3.36 ERA and 144.2 innings. He’s coming off of a good start against the Giants were he allowed 2 ER over 6.1 innings despite allowing 9 hits in a win. He’s 1-1 over 3 starts and 17.2 innings against the Phillies this season with a 2.04 ERA. The Phillies have the following numbers against Bartolo:

• Howard 6-28, 3 HR
• Galvis 5-22, 2B, HR
• Herrera 4-22
• Ruiz 7-21, 2B
• Hernandez 4-15
• Rupp 5-14
• Bourjos 4-13, 2B, 3B
• Franco 0-11
• Paredes 1-5

The Mets bats will get a crack at Adam Morgan who is 1-7 over 16 games, 14 starts and 75.1 innings with an ERA of 6.21. Since returning in mid-August, he’s had a bad start and then a good outing: 2 ER over 3.0 innings and then 1 ER over 6.0 innings. Last year he allowed 5 ER over one start against the Mets in 3.2 innings of work. The Mets have the following numbers against Adam:

• Bruce 1-1, 2B
• Cespedes 0-2
• d’Arnaud 1-2, HR
• Flores 1-2, HR
• Rivera 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!