213 Miles From Shea

The Mets wrap up their three game set with the Phillies tonight as Jon Niese takes on Jerome Williams on Jackie Robinson day. Jon Niese had an odd start out in Atlanta to open up his season. He allowed three runs, one earned over 5 innings scattering 7 hits. He was put in a poor situation a few times by errant throws by Wilmer Flores (who was also bailed out by some good plays at first base) but he also allowed a lot of hits as his pitchers were catching a lot of the plate. He also didn’t use his curve ball as frequently as he would have a few seasons ago, a trend the booth was talking about throughout the game. Last year he was 1-2 over 3 starts against the Braves last year posting a nice 2.61 ERA over 20.2 innings of work. He walked 5 batters while striking out 17 in that stretch. The Phillies have the following numbers against Jon:

• Ruiz 10-29, 2 2B, HR
• Utley 3-28
• Howard 4-26, HR
• Revere 3-10
• Galvis 2-10, HR
• Asche 2-5, 2B
• Ruf 1-5, HR
• Blanco 1-5, 2B

The Mets batters will get a look at Jerome Williams who has bounced around the majors playing with the Giants, Cubs, Nationals, Angels, Astros, Rangers and Now the Phillies since 2003. Last year he started with the Astros, then was released, signed by the Rangers and finally selected by the Phillies. Between the three clubs he was 2-5 with a 6.71 ERA over 57.2 innings of work. This year he got off to a strong start allowing one earned run over six innings and 5 hits. In one start vs the Mets last year he allowed 4 hits and 2 earned runs over 6.1 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Granderson 1-8, HR
• d’Arnaud 0-3
• Duda 1-3
• Lagares 0-3
• Flores 0-2
• Cuddyer 1-1

Lets Go Mets!

Happy Harvey Day #2 for the 2015 season!

Matt Harvey will be taking the mound tonight for the Amazin’s as they look to followup yesterday’s home opener win. The Mets got a strong start yesterday from Jacob deGrom followed by strong bullpen performances by Carlos Torres, Blevins and Familia to shut the door. On the offense side, it was hard for the Mets to get something strung together as the Mets bats continued to make Aaron Harang look like Clayton Kershaw (or at least a right-handed Kershaw). Tonight, the Mets bats will hope for more success against David Buchanan.

Matt Harvey looked like his old self in his first start of the season last week where he pitched 6.0 scoreless innings while allowing 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 9 National batters. Back in 2013, Harvey made three starts against the Phillies with a 3-0 record over 20.0 innings allowing only one earned run (that’s an ERA of 0.45 folks) while striking out 25 batters. The Phillies have the following numbers against Dark Knight:

• Utley 4-13, 2B
• Howard 18
• Revere 0-4
• Ruiz 0-2

David Buchanan will try to rebound from his season debut where he allowed 6 ER over 3.0 innings. That outing included 7 hits, 4 walks and only one strikeout. In his rookie season he was 6-8 over 20 starts with a 3.75 ERA and 117.2 innings of work while walking 32 batters and striking out 71. He made three starts against the Mets last year going 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA over 18.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against David:

• Lagares 2-8, 2B
• Wright 3-10
• Duda 1-9
• Granderson 0-7
• Flores 2-7, 2B
• Murphy 1-7, 2B
• d’Arnaud 1-5

Lets Go Mets!

After the first two series of the season, the Mets finally come home to Queens as they take on the Phillies for the first time in 2015. The Mets kicked off the season taking two of three from the Nationals and yesterday they avoided the sweep against the Braves to improve to 3-3 on the year. Speaking of yesterday, Cuddyer flashed some power as he gave the Mets the first lead of the game. Some odd defensive miscues by either Tejada, Flores or both depending who you ask led to the Mets failing to turn an inning ending double play and eventually led the Braves tying the game. The Mets gained the lead later in the game and Gomes tied it again before the Mets got the lead and kept with Familia notching the save.

This afternoon Jacob deGrom will make his second start of the season. His first start was delayed due to rain. Once the storm cleared he allowed two earned runs over 6 innings while striking out 6, both runs coming off of a Zimmerman homer in the first inning. Last year he made two starts against the Phillies totaling 13.1 innings with a 2.03 ERA and striking out 13 batters. The Phillies have the following numbers against Jacob deGrom:

• Howard 1-6, HR
• Revere 0-6
• Utley 2-5
• Asche 1-2
• Ruiz 0-3
• Sizemore 1-3

The Mets bats will try to wake up against Aaron Harang who pitched 6.1 innings of shutout baseball in his first start of the season picking up the win allowing 2 hits and a walk while striking out 8. Last year he was 12-12 against the Mets over 33 starts and 204.1 innings with a 3.57 ERA for the Braves. Last year he was masterful against the Mets going 2-1 over three starts and 20.0 innings allowing only 2 ER, which brought his ERA to a 0.90. In those 20 innings he still allowed 14 walks (not that it mattered, the Mets only got 6 hits) and struck out 16. The Mets have the following numbers against Harang:

• Wright 12-28, 4 2B, HR
• Duda 2-16, HR
• Murphy 7-20, 4 2B, HR
• Tejada 6-16, 2 2B
• Granderson 1-12, 2B
• d’Arnaud 1-7
• Mayberry 1-6
• Cuddyer 1-6, 2B
• Lagares 1-6, 2B

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets try to avoid the sweep this afternoon after dropping two games by the same score, 5-3 against the Braves. The Mets in this series have gotten their runs when Atlanta’s starters were off for an inning. Yesterday it was in the 7th. The Mets (and the Marlins too) have struggled against Atlanta’s bullpen who have been perfect on this young season. Today the Mets will try to flip the script and return to a .500 record before the home opener as Bartolo Colon starts opposite of Alex Wood.

Colon was pretty good during the season opener. But also surprisingly good. He allowed one earned run and three hits over 6 innings against the Nationals while striking out 8. I didn’t realize he struck out 8 batters until after I got home from the game. Colon was just good Colon. Changing the speeds on his fastball to make it look like different pitches, working at his own pace, not letting the speed of Scherzer and how he was slicing the Mets lineup at the time get into his head. Anyway, Colon was 1-2 in three starts against the Braves last year pitching 22.0 innings with a 2.45 ERA and 18 strikeouts. The Braves have the following numbers against Colon:

• Pierzynski 11-47, 2 2B, 2 HR
• Callaspo 7-29, 3 2B, HR
• Markakis 8-29, 4 2B
• Gomes 7-18, 2B, 3B, 2 HR
• K Johnson 2-12, 3B, 5 K
• Freeman 6-10, 3 2B
• Simmons 4-10
• C Johnson 1-6

The Mets bats will face off against Alex Wood who pitched 5 innings allowing 4 hits, 3 walks and 2 earned runs while striking out 4 in his 2015 season debut earlier in the week. Last year he was 11-11 over 35 games, 24 starts and 171.2 innings with a 2.78 ERA. He made two starts against the Mets last year where he allowed 11 hits over 13.0 innings (6 ER) and posted an ERA of 4.15. He also struck out 13 Mets in that stretch. The Mets have the following numbers against Wood:

• Lagares 3-11, 2B, HR
• Murphy 5-11
• Mayberry 3-10, 2B, HR
• Duda 0-6
• Flores 1-5
• Granderson 1-4, HR
• Tejada 2-6
• d’Arnaud 3-5, 2 2B
• Wright 1-4
• Cuddyer 2-3

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets had a rough night in Atlanta. Wilmer Flores had several errant throws that led to unearned runs (and may had more if it wasn’t for Cuddyer bailing him out a few times). The dagger of the night came from a rare mental error via David Wright in the bottom of the 8th which eventually allowed two go-ahead runs to score. On the positive side, the Mets finally flashed some power with back to back homeruns from Wright and Mayberry.

Today Dillon Gee will look to turn the Mets fortunes around. Dillon Gee was destined at the start of the season to join the bullpen, but the injury bug struck the Mets rotation and Dillon Gee was ready to step up. Last year Dillon was 7-8 with a 4.00 ERA over 22 starts and 137.1 innings. Before his injury last year, he had a 2.73 ERA in his first 8 starts. In his two starts against the Braves last year he was 2-0 over 13.2 innings with a 1.98 ERA. The Braves have the following numbers against Dillon:

• Freeman 7-29, 2 2B, HR
• C Johnson 3-15, 2B
• Simmons 3-15, 2B
• Maybin 1-9, 2B
• K Johnson 1-7
• E Young 1-4

The Mets draw the Braves ace in Julio Teheran, who will be making his second start of the season today. In his first start he picked up the win after allowing 8 hits and only one earned run over 6.0 innings. Last year he made 33 starts over 221.0 innings with a 14-13 record and a 2.89 ERA. He made four starts against the Mets with a 2-2 record over 23.2 innings and a 3.42 ERA. The Mets have the following numbers against Julio:

• Duda 5-17, 2B, 2 HR
• Murphy 5-13, 2 2B
• Tejada 1-14
• Granderson 3-10, 2B, HR
• d’Arnaud 1-10
• Wright 3-11, HR
• Lagares 3-8
• Cuddyer 2-6
• Mayberry 1-6
• Flores 1-4, HR

Lets Go Mets!

Off of a opening series win against the Nationals, the Mets head south tonight to face the Braves. Yesterday was an incredibly exciting day as Matt Harvey made his long awaited return striking out 9 over six scoreless innings. Hopefully the Mets will be able to keep their focus down south after being amped up for the opening series and the return of the Dark Knight.

Jon Niese feels slightly forgotten, at least for me. There’s been attention this spring on Harvey, Wheeler’s injury, Gee/Montero for the fifth spot, Colon for the opening day starter and deGrom’s sophomore season that Niese just slipped out of my mind. Niese was 9-11 over 30 starts last year and 187.2 innings with a 3.40 ERA, which ties 2012 for his best season ERA. In three starts against the Braves last year, Jon posted a 1-2 record over 20.2 innings with a 2.61 ERA and 17 strikeouts. The Braves have the following numbers against Niese:

• Freeman 10-37, 2 2B, 2 HR
• Maybin 6-25, HR
• C Johnson 7-21, 2 2B
• Simmons 6-18, 2B
• K Johnson 4-11, 2B

The Mets get to witness Eric Stults first start in a Brave uniform, who the Braves signed as a free agent in February. Last year he was 8-17 over 32 starts for the Padres with a 4.30 ERA. Eric missed the Mets in 2014 but in 2013 he faced the Mets twice going 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA over 11.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Stults:

• Wright 3-7, 2B
• Cuddyer 0-6
• Mayberry 4-8, 3 2B
• Duda 1-4
• d’Arnaud 0-2
• Flores 0-2
• Lagares 0-3

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets and Nationals play a rubber game on Harvey Day! Last night, the Mets dropped the second game of the season 2-1 behind a strong performance behind deGrom who had only one poor inning (the first one). The Mets were able to scratch out a run in the top of the second and load the bases but couldn’t get anyone else across the plate and after that the game just flew by with little offense from either side.

Today is a rematch of a 2013 game started the whole “Harvey Day” from being a small event into a massive event. Back in 2013 Harvey out pitched Stephen Strasburg prompting the fans at Citi Field on a cold, dreary, Friday night to start chanting, “Harvey’s Better! Harvey’s Better!”. Anyway, Matt Harvey was 9-5 in 2013 with a 2.27 ERA over 26 games and 178.1 innings of work. He was 1-0 against the Nationals over three starts allowing only 2 ER over 22.0 innings (0.82 ERA, with 25 K’s). The Nationals have the following numbers against Harvey:

• Desmond 3-9, HR
• Zimmerman 3-8, HR
• Harper 0-7
• Uggla 1-3
• Johnson 0-3
• Ramos 1-3, 2B

The Mets bats draw Strasburg. Last year Stephen posted a 14-11 record with a 3.14 ERA and a league leading 34 starts over 215.0 innings. He was 1-0 against the Mets over two starts and 13.0 innings last year with a 2.77 ERA. The Mets have the following numbers against Stephen:

• Wright 4-15
• Tejada 2-13
• Murphy 3-10
• Cuddyer 2-9
• Duda 1-6, HR
• Granderson 0-5

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets started off the season on a positive note Monday afternoon as they beat the Nationals and Max Scherzer by a score of 3-1. The Mets were the recipients of a strong pitching performance of Bartolo Colon and a couple of errors. The Mets did what good teams do, which is when given an extra out, you take advantage. Today they’ll try to score more runs, hopefully not only on errors, off of Jordan Zimmermann as Jacob deGrom leads the way.

Jacob deGrom, the reigning 2014 National League Rookie of the year, is coming off of a 9-6 season where he made 22 starts over 140.1 innings while posting a 2.69 ERA. Only one of those starts was against the Nationals where he pitched 6.0 innings allowing 3 ER and 7 hits. In that outing he walked one and struck out four. The Nationals have the following numbers against Jacob:

• Desmond 2-3, HR
• Harper 0-3
• Lobaton 1-2
• Uggla 0-1

The Mets draw Jordan Zimmerman in game two. Part of the reason why the Nationals signed Max Scherzer this offseason is a concern that they won’t be able to retain Zimmermann when he hits open market. Jordan is coming off of his strongest season where he pitched 32 games and 199.2 innings with a 2.66 ERA (and a 14-5 record). Last year against the Mets he posted a 3-0 record over 4 games and 25.1 innings with a 2.13 ERA. In 2013 he was 1-3 over 5 starts and 32.1 innings with a 3.62 ERA. The Mets have the following numbers against Jordan:

• Murphy 16-50, 5 2B, 3 HR
• Wright 12-42, 2 2B, 2 HR
• Duda 6-29, 2 2B
• Lagares 5-21, 2 2B
• Granderson 3-13
• Flores 3-11, 3B
• d’Arnaud 3-8, 2B
• Mayberry 3-6

Lets Go Mets! Take the Opening Series!