213 Miles From Shea

Last night lived up to its billing! Jacob and Clayton were both masterful, cutting through each other’s lineups but in the end, the Mets did exactly what they needed to, capitalize on mistakes, and were able scratch out a 3-1 win. Murphy got things started with a solo shot in the 4th inning and David Wright had the clutch bases loaded single to bring in two runs that were walked on the base paths. On the pitching side, deGrom was fantastic, Clippard flustered a bit, but Familia slammed the door shut.

Tonight its Noah Syndergaard’s turn. Noah is 9-7 over 24 starts with a 3.24 ERA over 150.0 innings and 166 K’s. In his last two starts of the season he tossed 14.2 innings, 3 ER with 21 K’s (In his last four starts he has 37 K’s, its insane). He faced the Dodgers earlier this year in LA where he allowed 1 ER over 6.0 innings while striking out 6. The Dodgers have the following numbers against Syndergaard:

• Gonzalez 1-3, HR
• Kendrick 0-3
• Pederson 0-3
• Puig 0-3
• Turner 1-2, 2B
• Utley 0-3
• Ethier 0-2

The Mets bats will have another tall order tonight, this time in the right-handed Zack Greinke. He is 19-3 with a 1.66 ERA. That is a league leading winning percentage and a league leading ERA, over 222.2 innings. In his last three starts he allowed 5 ER over 22.0 innings (2.05 ERA). The first time he faced the Mets this year, he shut them out over 7.0 innings. The second time he faced the Mets, he allowed 2 ER over 7.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Zack:

• Granderson 10-52, 2 2B, 2 3B, HR
• Cuddyer 10-40, 2B, HR
• Murphy 4-13
• Duda 3-12, HR
• K Johnson 0-9
• Wright 3-9, 2B
• Flores 3-8
• Lagares 1-8,HR
• deGrom 2-5, 2B
• Plawecki 2-6, 2B
• d’Arnaud 1-3

Let’s Go Mets!

After 9 long years, we are finally here! It’s Playoff Baseball Time!

Just like in 2006, the Mets will open the Postseason with a NLDS match-up with the Dodgers. Last time, the Mets swept the Dodgers despite losing their top two pitchers before the series (Pedro going down earlier in the month and El Duque going down right before the start of the series). This time, the Mets will have a tall order with the Dodgers powerful 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation.

Jacob deGrom is 14-8 over 30 starts this season and 191.0 innings with a 2.54 ERA while striking out 205 batters. In his last two starts of the season he tossed 10 innings, 1 ER and 16 strikeouts. In one start against the Dodgers this year he shut them out over 7.2 innings while walking 2 and striking out 8. The Dodgers have the following numbers against deGrom:

• Utley 3-10
• Gonzalez 3-8, 2 HR
• Rollins 1-8
• Ethier 2-6, 3B
• Crawford 0-3
• Greinke 2-4
• Grandal 0-3

Clayton Kershaw is 16-7 over 33 starts with a league leading 4 complete games and 3 complete game shutouts and a 2.13 ERA over a league leading 232.2 innings. In his last two starts of the season he tossed 12.2 innings while recording 20 K’s, including a complete game shutout against the Giants. He faced the Mets twice in July and they both were good starts. He allowed 1 ER over 7.0 innings at the top of the month in a game the Mets eventually won 2-1. Towards the end of the month he threw a complete game shutout while striking out 11. The Mets have the following numbers against Kershaw:

• E Young 4-16
• Wright 3-14, 2B
• Tejada 5-14
• Cuddyer 4-16
• K Johnson 3-15, HR
• Duda 1-10
• Granderson 1-10
• Murphy 3-10
• Flores 3-6

Let’s Go Mets!

Well yesterday was a day to forget. The Mets lost both parts of the double-header, including being swept in the night cap. Meanwhile the Dodgers clinched the homefield advantage. Oh well. The Mets look to finish their regular season today before heading out to LA for the NLDS.

Jacob deGrom gets the start for the Mets. I’m not sure how deep he’ll go since he’ll be starting the first game, but the first game is also on Friday, so maybe he’ll go near regular length? He’s 14-8 over 29 starts with a 2.60 ERA over 187.0 innings. He had a bounce back start his last time out pitching 6.0 innings with 9 K’s. He is 2-2 over 5 games against the Nationals logging 30.1 innings with a 3.26 ERA over 34 K’s. The Nationals have the following numbers against Jacob:

• Harper 7-16, 2 2B, HR
• Desmond 5-16, HR
• Ramos 3-14, 2B, HR
• Werth 1-10
• Escobar 5-10, 2B
• Rendon 0-8
• Zimmerman 3-8, HR

Tanner Roark gets the start for the Nationals, making his 12th start of the year. Over his 39 games he has pitched 105.0 innings with a 4.63 ERA. He made only starts in September logging 25.2 innings over 5 starts with a 4.91 ERA and 0-3 record. He has logged 5.1 innings against the Mets this year allowing 4 runs. The Mets have the following numbers against Roark:

• Murphy 4-17, 2B
• Duda 4-15, 2B
• Granderson 4-13, 3 2B
• E Young 4-13, 2B
• Lagares 2-11, 2B
• Recker 4-6, 2B, HR

Let’s Go Mets!

The Dodgers won yesterday and now there is some pressure for the Mets to keep pace in order to maintain the homefield advantage. The Mets and Nationals were rained out like most east coast cities last night, and they will try to get two games in today with a Day Night doubleheader. The first game will feature Noah Syndergaard vs Gio Gonzalez and the second game will have Matt Harvey vs Max Scherzer.

Noah Syndergaard is 9-7 over 23 games over 143.0 innings with a 3.34 ERA with a 156 K’s. He had a good bounce back start his last time in Cincy, on the day before clinching day, with 7.2 innings with 2 ER while striking out 11. He has held the Nationals to 3 ER over 13.0 innings this year with 13 K’s. The Nationals have the following numbers against Noah:

• Harper 3-7
• Taylor 1-6
• Desmond 2-4
• Escobar 1-5, HR
• Espinosa 0-4
• Rendon 3-4, 2B, HR
• Ramos 1-3

Gio Gonzalez is on the bump for the Nationals tonight. He is 11-8 over 30 starts and 169.2 innings with a 3.93 ERA. This will be his 6th start of September where he has logged 28.0 innings with a 2.89 ERA. He’s 2-0 over 3 starts against hte Mets with a 1.53 ERA over 17.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Gio:

• Granderson 4-30, 2B, HR
• Murphy 9-26, 2 2B, 3B
• Tejada 7-23
• Lagares 10-23, 3 2B, 3B, HR
• Wright 6-19, 2B, 3B, HR
• Cuddyer 6-16, 2B, HR
• Duda 3-17, 2B
• Uribe 3-13, HR
• d’Arnaud 2-12, 2 2B

Harvey is 13-7 over 28 games and 183.1 innings of work with a 2.80 ERA. In his last two starts he has tossed 11.2 innings allowing only 2 ER. He shocked everyone last Saturday on clinching day where he pitched into the 7th inning with 6 strikeouts saying that he wants to pitch. He’s 2-1 over 5 starts against the Nationals this year posting a 2.73 ERA over 33.0 innings. The Nationals have the following numbers against him:

• Desmond 6-22, 2B, HR
• Harper 0-20, 7 K
• Werth 4-19, 2B
• Zimmerman 4-17, 2B, HR
• Escobar 5-15
• Taylor 4-15, 2B
• Rendon 4-13
• Robinson 3-8, 2B
• Uggla 2-7
• Ramos 3-9, 2B
• Lobaton 1-7

Max Scherzer is 13-12 over 32 starts this year and 219.2 innings with a 2.19 ERA. This month he has been all over the place. He has two great starts going 8 innings allowing 1 run or less, two good starts allowing a total of 4 ER over 13.0 innings and two poor starts allowing 9 runs over 12.2 innings. He’s 0-2 over 3 starts against the Mets allowing 9 runs, 6 earned over 20.2 innings (two great starts, one poor one). The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Granderson 7-22, 3 2B, HR
• Cuddyer 6-24, 2B, 2 HR
• K Johnson 5-20, 2 2B, HR
• Murphy 3-17
• Cespedes 7-14, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR
• Uribe 4-16, 2 2B
• Flores 0-10
• Wright 0-9

Let’s Go Mets!

It’s the final series of the regular season!

The Mets look to put these three horrible games in Philly behind them as they take on the Nationals for the final three game set. right now the Dodgers and the Mets have the same record, which means the Mets have the upper edge in home field advantage.

Noah Syndergaard is 9-7 over 23 games over 143.0 innings with a 3.34 ERA with a 156 K’s. He had a good bounce back start his last time in Cincy, on the day before clinching day, with 7.2 innings with 2 ER while striking out 11. He has held the Nationals to 3 ER over 13.0 innings this year with 13 K’s. The Nationals have the following numbers against Noah:

• Harper 3-7
• Taylor 1-6
• Desmond 2-4
• Escobar 1-5, HR
• Espinosa 0-4
• Rendon 3-4, 2B, HR
• Ramos 1-3

Gio Gonzalez is on the bump for the Nationals tonight. He is 11-8 over 30 starts and 169.2 innings with a 3.93 ERA. This will be his 6th start of September where he has logged 28.0 innings with a 2.89 ERA. He’s 2-0 over 3 starts against hte Mets with a 1.53 ERA over 17.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Gio:

• Granderson 4-30, 2B, HR
• Murphy 9-26, 2 2B, 3B
• Tejada 7-23
• Lagares 10-23, 3 2B, 3B, HR
• Wright 6-19, 2B, 3B, HR
• Cuddyer 6-16, 2B, HR
• Duda 3-17, 2B
• Uribe 3-13, HR
• d’Arnaud 2-12, 2 2B

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets dropped an ugly one last night, and look to get back on the right path with the early afternoon game today. After jumping out to a 5-0 lead last night, the Phillies scored 7 unanswered runs to take the game. But that’s all sidebar. The real story of the game is Cespedes got hit in the hand with a pitch (just a bruise) and Kirk also got hit with a pitch. Robles then threw a quick pitch that went towards Rupp’s head, so he and Collins were immediately tossed with empty benches.

Sean Gilmartin is making the start today with Matz having some back pain. He’s 3-1 over 49 games this year with a 2.58 ERA over 52.1 innings. He has held the Phillies to 1 ER over 8.1 innings split over 7 games this season. Sean can go more than a couple of innings but probably looking at maximum 5 innings from Sean today. The Phillies have the following numbers against Sean:

• Galvis 2-5
• Howard 0-4
• Blanco 1-3
• Brown 1-3
• Herrera 1-2
• Asche 0-2

Jerad Eickhoff is 2-3 over 7 games and 44.0 innings of work in his rookie season. He made back to back starts against the Mets earlier this year where he allowed 6 ER over 13.0 innings. He has been a different pitcher in his last three starts allowing only 3 ER over 21.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Jerad:

• Cespedes 1-6
• Conforto 4-5, 2B, HR
• Flores 1-6
• Granderson 1-5, HR
• Murphy 0-6
• Cuddyer 1-3, 2B

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets almost came back last night, but it was too little too late as the Phillies took the first game of the series (and as the Dodgers moved a game closer in the home field advantage chase, although it doesn’t matter really). The star of the show last night for the Mets was Lucas Duda who continue his recent hot streak, smacking 2 homers bringing his total to 27 for the year.

Logan Verrett gets the start for the Mets tonight. He’s 1-1 ver 12 games with the Mets with 3 starts and 33.1 innings with an ERA of 2.70. His last start against Atlanta was his only blight on his season where he allowed 4 ER over 5.0 innings. The start before that, he allowed 1 ER over 5.0 innings. In one inning against the Phillies this year he held them scoreless and hitless and struck out one batter. The only two Phillies who have seen him in a game would be Blanco and Herrera, who are both 0-1.

The Mets draw Alec Asher who is 0-5 over the first five starts of his career with a 7.52 ERA. That being said, he’s coming off of his best start of the season where he held the Marlins to 1 ER over 7.0 innings. In three home starts, he hasn’t gotten beyond the 6th inning allowing 14 ER over 15.2 innings. He has never faced the Mets and no one on the Mets has ever faced him in a major league game.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets look to continue their push for home field advantage in the NLDS tonight as they start their last 2015 series against the Phillies. On Sunday the Mets started a lineup that looked similar to a June lineup (which shows how far this team has come) as players rested off their celebrations from the night before. That lineup still broke out in a big way as they rolled through the Reds completing the 4 game sweep on the coattails of a great outing by Jacob deGrom.

Bartolo Colon gets the nod tonight. He is 14-12 over 31 games, 30 starts, totaling 188.2 innings with a 4.15 ERA and a league leading 209 hits. Colon has been fairly average since tossing his complete game shut out at the start of the month pitching 18.2 innings with a 3.86 ERA. He is 4-0 in as many starts against the Phillies this year posting a 2.33 ERA over 27.0 innings of work. The Phillies have the following numbers against Bartolo:

• Howard 5-24, 2 HR
• Ruiz 5-18, 2B
• Brown 2-15, 2B
• Asche 3-13, 2 2B
• Galvis 4-12, 2B
• Herrera 1-10
• Francoeur 1-8

The Mets bats will get a look at David Buchanan who is 2-9 over 13 starts this season and 63.1 innings with a 7.96 ERA. Despite his ERA He’s been better in his last two starts as he allowed 3 ER over 11.0 innings. His second start of the season way back in April was against the Mets as he allowed 5 ER over 5.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against David:

• Wright 4-14
• Granderson 2-10
• Lagares 3-11, 2B
• Duda 3-12, 2 2B
• Flores 2-9, 2B
• Murphy 1-9, 2B

Let’s Go Mets!

The 2015 NL East Champion New York Mets are back on the grind this afternoon as they look to complete the four game sweep of the Reds. Yesterday the Mets jumped out to an early lead thanks to a Grand Slam from Lucas Duda, expanded their lead with a homer from Curtis Granderson and put the game away late with a three run homer from the Captain David Wright. Harvey surprised everyone by pitching into the 7th inning and the Mets won the division, celebrated and now look to finish out strong, getting some rest along the way and maybe a home field advantage for the NLDS.

Jacob deGrom returns to the bump today. He’s 13-8 over 28 starts and 181.0 innings with a 2.64 ERA with 189 strikeouts. Miami hit him hard in his last start as he gave up 10 hits and 6 ER over 10 innings. He missed the Reds this season and he missed them last year. He also hasn’t faced anyone on the Reds roster while they were with other teams so this will be a new experience today.

As you have probably heard fifty times over the first three games if you were tuning in, the Reds are running a rookie out there everyday to start. Today is Keyvius Sampson’s turn, who is 2-5 over 11 games, 10 starts with a 6.45 ERA over 44.2 innings. He’s coming off one of his better starts of the season where he held the Cardinals to 1 ER over 5.1 innings. In his previous three September starts he allowed 12 runs, 11 earned in 11.1 innings. He has never faced the Mets or anyone on the Mets lineup before.

Let’s Go Mets!

Today could be the day. It could really be the day.

Yesterday the Phillies beat the Nationals and the Mets crushed the Reds knocking the magic number to the post-season down to 1. Focusing on the Mets, Noah Syndergaard was fantastic just crushing the Reds lineup. Meanwhile, Duda had a comeback type of night smacking two 3-run homers recording 6 RBI’s.

Matt Harvey gets the start tonight. He’s 12-7 over 27 starts and 176.2 innings with a 2.80 ERA. He tossed 5.0 masterful innings against the Yankees last Sunday, holding them to one hit, one walk and 7 strikeouts. Then he left due to the innings cap and the Mets self-destructed. Back in June he held the Reds to 4 hits and 1 run, not earned, over 6.0 innings. The Reds have the following numbers against Harvey:

• Schumaker 2-11, 2B
• Philips 3-9, 2 2B
• Bruce 2-9, 2B
• Votto 2-6, 2B
• Frazier 0-6
• Pena 1-3

The Mets draw another rookie from the Reds (there’s really no choice, that is their rotation) today in John Lamb. Lamb is 1-3 over 8 starts and 43.0 innings with a 4.60 ERA. His last start was the second in his last three where he held his opponents to no runs, and that has been his month of September. He’s either been terrible, or lights out. He had a 2.67 ERA over 20 starts in the minors this year and he has never faced anyone on the Mets roster in a major league game.

Let’s Go Mets!