213 Miles From Shea

The Marlins love spoiling the Mets in September. Last night the Mets couldn’t move beyond the Marlins despite multiple chances. The Braves beat the Mariners and now the Mets are in second place. But all it takes is a Mets win today and Braves loss and the Mets will be back in first place by the end of the day.

Really what the Mets need is to get a string of wins in a row. Last night was not it but hopefully Carlos Carrasco can make that happen against Pablo Lopez tonight. Carlos will be making his second start since returning from the injured list. His last start was rough against the Nationals. He allowed five runs, only one earned, from six hits and two walks over 2 2/3 innings.

Overall this season he has made 24 starts pitching 129 innings with a 3.91 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 1.333 WHIP and a 100 ERA+. Carrasco has seen the Marlins three times already this year. In his first two starts against the Marlins he allowed five runs from 15 hits over 12 innings. In his last start against them, on July 30th, he allowed no runs from four hits over 7 2/3 innings. The Marlins have the following numbers against Carlos:

• Avisail Garcia 12-45, 2B, HR, BB, 13 K
• Bryan De La Cruz 3-15, HR, 5 K
• Joey Wendle 1-12, 2B, K
• Jazz Chisholm Jr. 2-11, 2B, BB, 4 K
• Miguel Rojas 4-12, HR, K
• Jesus Sanchez 1-10, K
• Jorge Soler 1-7, 2 BB, 4 K
• Brian Anderson 2-7, 2B, K
• Jacob Stallings 1-7, 2 K
• Garrett Cooper 2-6, BB, 2 K

The Mets draw Pablo Lopez today. Last time the Mets and Marlins matched up, there were rumors flying around if Pablo Lopez was going to be traded at the deadline as he was one of the more consistent starting pitchers available. No deal materialized and Lopez is still with the Marlins. He’s made 27 starts this season tossing 150 innings with a 3.66 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 1.180 WHIP and a 111 ERA+. Since he faced the Mets at the end of July, he has made seven starts, totaling 34 innings, allowing 22 runs from 45 hits and 11 walks (5.82 ERA, 4.17 FIP).

In that start that has kicked off this stretch, he allowed six runs from 12 hits over 2 2/3 innings against the Mets. He’s had one additional rough start against the Mets this year where he allowed 7 runs, 6 earned over 5 1/3 innings, and another start where he held the Mets to only one run from a solo homer over five innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Brandon Nimmo 6-20, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
• Pete Alonso 3-15, 2B, 3 BB, 2 K
• Jeff McNeil 7-14, 3 2B, HR, BB, K
• Francisco Lindor 4-14, 2B, HR, 3 K
• Tomás Nido 1-8, BB, 4 K
• Mark Canha 4-5, 2B
• Eduardo Escobar 2-7, HR, 3 K
• Tyler Naquin 1-6, 3B, K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets needed to win both games on Wednesday to stay in first place and that’s exactly what they did. The Mets scored 15 runs between the two games. Overall though, the Mets are still in a bit of a tight spot. They have a half game lead, Marte is nursing an injury and Max Scherzer will miss 1-2 turns in the rotation. The Mets have risen to the occasion many times before and seeing the offense wake up on Wednesday without Marte in the lineup was a positive sign.

David Peterson gets the start for the Mets this evening. over 21 games and 17 starts, Peterson has tossed 95 innings with a 3.32 ERA, 3.54 FIP, 1.305 WHIP and a 118 ERA+. He allowed three runs from eight hits and a walk over 5 1/3 innings his last time out against the Nationals. Since quasi-joining the Mets rotation at the start of August, he has made four starts, allowing six runs in 21 1/3 innings (2.53 ERA) while striking out 24.

Peterson made back to back starts against the Marlins at the end of June, allowing two runs from 10 hits and two walks in 12 1/3 innings. The Marlins have the following career numbers against him:

• Jon Berti 2-9, 2B, 2 K
• Garrett Cooper 0-5, 2 K
• Miguel Rojas 3-6, HR
• Bryan De La Cruz 0-5, 3 K
• Jazz Chisholm Jr. 0-1, BB
• Jesus Sanchez 0-4, K
• Jorge Soler 1-3, K
• Brian Anderson 1-2, K

The Mets bats will get a look at Edward Cabrera tonight, making his 10th start of the season. Over his first nine games and 49 innings, Cabrera has a 2.39 ERA, 4.03 FIP, 1.061 WHIP and a 171 ERA+. This is a vast improvement over his seven starts made last year where he posted a 5.81 ERA, 6.63 FIP, 1.633 WHIP and 73 ERA+. Cabrera is coming off of a good start against the Braves where he allowed only one run over five innings while striking out seven, a game the Braves still managed to win. Over Cabrera’s nine games, he’s allowed only 13 runs and 11 of those runs came in two starts.

Edward Cabrera managed to start against the Mets three times in seven games last season. He allowed nine runs over 9 1/3 innings from 10 hits and six walks. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 2-5, 2 HR, BB, 2 K
• Francisco Lindor 0-2, BB, K
• Jeff McNeil 1-4
• Brandon Nimmo 2-3, BB, K
• James McCann 0-0, BB

Let’s Go Mets!

In order to reclaim first place today – the Mets need to win two! With a 5-1 win this afternoon, now all the Mets need to do is win the nightcap and they’ll be back in sole possession of first place.

With that in mind, the Mets need their ace today! Jacob deGrom takes the mound for his seventh start of the season. Over his first six starts he’s pitched 36 1/3 innings, posting a 1.98 ERA, 1.41 FIP, 0.550 WHIP and a 198 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed two runs over 13 innings from six hits and two walks while striking out 18. His last start was his first one this season finishing seven innings and it came against the best team in baseball – the Dodgers.

Jacob’s season ended due to injury last year right before the Mets faced the Pirates for back to back series. The Pirates have the following career stats against him:

• Josh VanMeter 0-5, 3 K
• Ben Gamel 1-3, K
• Tucupita Marcano 0-3, K
• Tyler Heineman 1-1, 2B

Johan Oviedo gets the start for the Pirates tonight. He’s pitched 15 games this season, mostly with the Cardinals and has made two starts. Overall he’s logged 28 1/3 innings with a 2.86 ERA, 4.00 FIP, 1.341 WHIP and a 138 ERA+. His last outing was his first in the majors in the last month. On September 2nd he logged three scoreless innings, scattering two hits and three walks while striking out four. He did reach 77 pitches. The only other time he got close to that was June 4th, his first start of the season, where he threw 103 pitches over five innings allowing three runs from eight hits and three walks. The Mets have the following career numbers against Oveido:

• Tyler Naquin 1-5, 2B, BB, K
• Daniel Vogelbach 1-6, K
• Eduardo Escobar 0-3
• Pete Alonso 0-1, K
• Jeff McNeil 0-2
• Tomás Nido 2-2, HR

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets terrible weekend continued into last night with a loss against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Braves won yesterday as well, so now both teams are tied on top of the division. The Mets, however, play two games today and can be the sole holders of first place if they sweep the doubleheader, independent of what the Braves do. This of course requires the Mets to win – something that has eluded them recently.

The Mets are still a good baseball team and all it takes is the momentum to swing back in their favor. If Pete Alonso can heat up, if the Mets can ride Escobar’s hot streak, if the DH’s start hitting – this team will be back to the powerhouse they’ve been all season.

Chris Bassitt returns to the mound tonight. Over 25 starts and 154 1/3 innings this season he has a 3.32 ERA, 3.51 FIP, 1.147 WHIP and a 117 ERA+. He’s coming off of a good outing against the Dodgers last week where he held them to two runs from six hits and three walks over six innings, a game the Mets won. Overall since the start of August he has made six starts, tossing 39 1/3 innings with a 1.83 ERA and a 2.71 FIP. The Pirates have the following career numbers against him:

• Roberto Perez 3-8, K
• Josh VanMeter 0-5, 2 K
• Michael Chavis 1-2, K
• Ben Gamel 0-2, K
• Bryan Reynolds 1-1, BB

The Mets bats will try to wake up against Duane Underwood Jr. who is making just his second major league start of his career. Duane’s very first major league game in 2018, his only game in 2018, was a start. Since then he has made 110 relief appearances. This year he has pitched in 38 games and 45 innings with a 4.60 ERA, 3.20 FIP, 1.511 WHIP and a 91 ERA+. Over his last three games and 3 1/3 innings, he has allowed five runs from seven hits and three walks. In two of those three games he went over 30 pitches thrown. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Tyler Naquin 2-4, 2B, BB
• Eduardo Escobar 0-2
• Darin Ruf 0-2
• Mark Canha 0-1, K
• Starling Marte 0-1

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets have had a rough end of the weekend. The offense went silent against, arguably, the worst team in baseball. The Braves won both days the Mets lost, shrinking the Mets lead to only one game. However, the Mets have been here before. Multiple times this season the Braves have gotten really close to the lead. All it takes another Mets streak to get some breathing room again. The first step to that is a win – and that’s exactly what the Mets and Taijuan Walker hope to do in Pittsburgh this evening.

The game yesterday got washed out forcing a doubleheader on Wednesday. The Mets are going roll out their same probable pitchers, with the order on Wednesday to be announced later.

Walker has made 23 starts this season, tossing 122 2/3 innings with a 3.45 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 1.215 WHIP and a 113 ERA+. Since coming back from his injury, he has allowed five runs over 10 1/3 innings from nine hits and five walks. Frustratingly, the Mets have lost those games by a combined three runs because the Mets offense only scored a total of five runs in those starts.

Tonight is also a bit of a revenge game for Walker. Last season Walker faced the Pirates on back to back starts, with the All-Star game between them. In the first start he allowed two runs over five innings from four hits and three walks. The second start foreshadowed his second half struggles. He was tagged for six runs, five earned, from four hits and four walks (plus some weird plays) while only recording one out. The Pirates have the following career numbers against Walker:

• Bryan Reynolds 1-4
• JT Brubaker 0-1, 2 BB
• BenGamel 1-1, 2 BB
• Ke’Bryan Hayes 0-3, K
• Tucupita Marcano 0-3
• Kevin Newman 1-2, BB

The Mets bats will try to break out of their funk today against Mitch Keller. Over 25 games, 23 starts, and 124 innings of work, Keller has a 4.43 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 1.460 WHIP and a 94 ERA+. Keller is coming off of a good start against the Brewers where he held them to two runs from four hits and two walks over six innings while striking out 10. In his previous three starts before that he allowed 15 runs, nine earned, over 11 innings from 17 hits and 6 walks (7.36 ERA, 4.57 FIP).

Keller didn’t pitch in the major leagues last year from mid-June to the end of July – so he missed the Pirates and Mets back to back series. The Mets have the following career numbers against Keller:

• Tyler Naquin 3-8, 3 2B, 4 K
• Francisco Lindor 0-0, 3 BB
• Starling Marte 0-2, K
• Darin Ruf 0-2, K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets have had a rough two days. The offense went silent against, arguably, the worst team in baseball. The Braves won both days the Mets lost, shrinking the Mets lead to only one game. However, the Mets have been here before. Multiple times this season the Braves have gotten really close to the lead. All it takes another Mets streak to get some breathing room again. The first step to that is a win – and that’s exactly what the Mets and Taijuan Walker hope to do in Pittsburgh this afternoon.

Walker has made 23 starts this season, tossing 122 2/3 innings with a 3.45 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 1.215 WHIP and a 113 ERA+. Since coming back from his injury, he has allowed five runs over 10 1/3 innings from nine hits and five walks. Frustratingly, the Mets have lost those games by a combined three runs because the Mets offense only scored a total of five runs in those starts.

Tonight is also a bit of a revenge game for Walker. Last season Walker faced the Pirates on back to back starts, with the All-Star game between them. In the first start he allowed two runs over five innings from four hits and three walks. The second start foreshadowed his second half struggles. He was tagged for six runs, five earned, from four hits and four walks (plus some weird plays) while only recording one out. The Pirates have the following career numbers against Walker:

• Bryan Reynolds 1-4
• JT Brubaker 0-1, 2 BB
• BenGamel 1-1, 2 BB
• Ke’Bryan Hayes 0-3, K
• Tucupita Marcano 0-3
• Kevin Newman 1-2, BB

The Mets bats will try to break out of their funk today against Mitch Keller. Over 25 games, 23 starts, and 124 innings of work, Keller has a 4.43 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 1.460 WHIP and a 94 ERA+. Keller is coming off of a good start against the Brewers where he held them to two runs from four hits and two walks over six innings while striking out 10. In his previous three starts before that he allowed 15 runs, nine earned, over 11 innings from 17 hits and 6 walks (7.36 ERA, 4.57 FIP).

Keller didn’t pitch in the major leagues last year from mid-June to the end of July – so he missed the Pirates and Mets back to back series. The Mets have the following career numbers against Keller:

• Tyler Naquin 3-8, 3 2B, 4 K
• Francisco Lindor 0-0, 3 BB
• Starling Marte 0-2, K
• Darin Ruf 0-2, K

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets try to bounce back today from a frustrating start last night. Scherzer looked good through five innings, but left after throwing only 67 pitches due to fatigue in his left side. As a precaution he didn’t want to push through it. The Mets bats though couldn’t string anything together against Patrick Corbin. Going into the 9th inning, the Mets were down 2-1 and there was still a chance they could muster a comeback but then the bullpen completely fell apart and the Nationals won 7-1.

But it’s just one game and the Mets can get back on track today with a win. Carlos Carrasco returns from the injured list looking to make that happen. Over 23 starts and 126 1/3 innings, Carrasco has a 3.92 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 1.298 WHIP and a 99 ERA+. July was an excellent month for Carrasco as he allowed three earned runs over 30 innings of work (five starts), posting a 0.90 ERA and 2.65 WHIP. He was a bit more down to Earth in his two full starts in August allowing 5 runs over 12 2/3 innings.

This will be Carrasco’s fourth start against the Nationals this season. Over his first three starts he’s allowed three runs from 13 hits and five walks while striking out 15 batters in 17 1/3 innings (1.56 ERA). The Nationals have the following career numbers against him:

• Nelson Cruz 13-35, 3 2B, 5 HR, 4 BB, 11 K
• Cesar Hernandez 0-9, 4 K
• Yadiel Hernández 0-8, BB, 2 K
• Victor Robles 1-5, 2 K
• Luke Voit 0-3, 2 BB, 2 K
• Luis Garcia 1-3, K
• Keibert Ruiz 0-2, K
• Carter Kieboom 0-1

The Mets bats will try to find themselves against Erick Fedde today. Over 21 starts and 100 1/3 innings, Fedde has a 5.29 ERA, 4.93 FIP, 1.565 WHIP and a 74 ERA+. He’s coming off of a start where he allowed six runs from nine hits and a walk over 2 2/2 innings. Before that he had a fairly solid set of three starts in a row where he allowed seven runs over 15 innings from 16 hits and 8 walks.

Fedde has faced the Mets twice this season. In his first start of the season, he allowed two runs from five hits and and two walks over five innings. Then at the end of May he allowed six runs from eight hits and a walk over 1 1/3 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Brandon Nimmo 5-22, 3 BB, 4 K
• Pete Alonso 6-14, 2 2B, 5 BB, 2 K
• Jeff McNeil 6-15, 2B, 2 BB, K
• Francisco Lindor 5-14, HR, BB, K
• Eduardo Escobar 3-11, 2B, K
• Tomás Nido 0-10, 5 K
• Starling Marte 3-8, 2B, HR, K
• Daniel Vogelbach 0-3, 2 BB, K
• Mark Canha 3-3

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets took the opener of the series last night and go for the series win tonight in Queens! The Mets got out in front early yesterday thanks to a two-run homer from Eduardo Escobar. The Nationals however clawed back and eventually tied the game at 3-3. That’s when the Mets opened the floodgates, scored four runs and never looked back.

And now the Mets get Max Scherzer on the mound. Over 19 starts and 122 2/3 innings, Scherzer has a 2.27 ERA, 2.47 FIP, 0.929 WHIP and a 171 ERA+. After allowing four runs in back to back starts, Scherzer was more Scherzer like in his last start allowing only one earned run over seven innings while striking out 11 batters. He has struggled (which is a strong word) against his former team this season, allowing six runs, five earned, from nine hits and three walks over 12 2/3 innings. However, he hasn’t faced the Nationals since they traded Juan Soto (1-3, HR, 3 BB) and Josh Bell (5-12, 3 2B, HR, 3 BB, 2 K) away. The Nationals have the following career numbers against Max:

• Cesar Hernandez 11-54, 4 2B, 2 BB, 15 K
• Nelson Cruz 10-27, 2B, HR, 7 K
• Luke Voit 3-6, BB, 2 K
• Yadiel Hernández 1-4
• Keibert Ruiz 1-5, K
• Victor Robles 0-4, K
• Luis Garcia 2-3, K

The Mets bats will get another look at Patrick Corbin today. For a second straight year Corbin leads the league in losses. Last year he had 16, this year he has 17 and there is still a month to go. Over 26 starts and 127 2/3 innings, he has a 6.56 ERA, 4.97 FIP, 1.762 WHIP and a 59 ERA+. He currently leads the league in hits (180) and earned runs (93).

All that being said – he’s been on a bit of a roll his last two starts. He has allowed three runs, four earned, over 11 1/3 innings from 13 hits and three walks. His first two starts against the Mets were also pretty good, allowing only two earned runs over nine innings. Then in his last two starts against the Mets he’s allowed 11 earned runs over 8 2/3 innings from 19 hits and three walks. The Mets have the following career numbers against Corbin:

• Pete Alonso 13-34, 2 2B, 5 HR, 9 BB, 11 K
• Starling Marte 10-36, 2 2B, HR, 2 BB, 9 K
• Jeff McNeil 9-26, 2B, 2 BB, 4 K
• Brandon Nimmo 7-26, 2 BB, 10 K
• Francisco Lindor 6-26, 2B, 7 K
• Eduardo Escobar 4-17, 2B, HR, 2 K
• James McCann 4-13, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Mark Canha 5-12, HR, BB, K
• Tomás Nido 3-10, 5 K
• Darin Ruf 3-5
• Daniel Vogelbach 0-2, BB

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets and Nationals kick-off a three game series tonight in Queens! The Mets are coming off an intense series win against the best team in baseball, the Dodgers. After losing the first game of the series, the Mets bounced back the last two days to win 2-1 and 5-3.

The Mets will now jump from playing a team with 90 wins to playing a team with 45 wins this season. The Nationals are one of three teams already eliminated from winning their divisions and have a four game magic number from being eliminated from postseason play entirely. They have, however, won back to back games and look to make it a winning streak tonight against the Mets.

David Peterson gets the start for the Mets tonight. Over 20 games and 16 starts this season, Peterson has pitched 89 2/3 innings with a 3.21 ERA, 3.68 FIP, 1.283 WHIP and a 121 ERA+. Peterson is coming off of a strong start against the Rockies where he held them scoreless over six innings, scattering four hits. Since June 20th Peterson has pitched in 11 games and 49 2/3 innings with a 2.90 ERA while striking out 69 batters.

One of Peterson’s rougher starts this season was against the Nationals who got six hits and four walks scoring four times in 4 2/3 innings. The Nationals have the following career numbers against Peterson:

• Victor Robles 0-5, BB
• Luis Garcia 0-3, K
• Cesar Hernandez 2-3
• Keibert Ruiz 1-2, BB
• Lane Thomas 0-1, BB
• Luke Voit 0-2, BB
• Nelson Cruz 0-1
• Carter Kieboom 0-2, K

The Mets bats will get a look at Josiah Gray tonight. Over 23 games and 123 1/3 innings, Gray has a 4.67 ERA, 5.66 FIP, 1.314 WHIP and an 83 ERA+. His weakness this year has been the homerun ball. He’s allowed a league leading 32 homers, and only 64 earned runs. Gray is coming off of a good start allowing only one run, on a solo homer, over five innings, scattering four hits and five walks against the Padres. Since July 1st, Gray has made nine starts and pitched 48 innings with a 6.00 ERA. During that stretch he has allowed 17 homers. The last time he pitched and didn’t allow a homerun was on June 18th.

Josiah Gray last faced the Mets during his first game of the season. He allowed four runs from eight hits and two walks, including a homer, over four innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 2-4, 2B, 2 K
• Francisco Lindor 0-2, 2 BB, K
• Jeff McNeil 1-3, HR
• Starling Marte 1-3, 2B
• Brandon Nimmo 2-3, 3B, K
• Darin Ruf 0-3, K
• Mark Canha 1-1, BB
• Eduardo Escobar 1-2, 2B

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets took game two yesterday! In a possible postseason series preview, the Mets took the second game of the series yesterday 2-1 behind a two-run homer from Starling Marte and an excellent day for Mets pitchers. Jacob deGrom looked like Jacob deGrom over seven innings, Adam Ottavino and Edwin Díaz shut the door behind him. Brandon Nimmo made the catch of the season, robbing former Met Justin Turner of a game tying homer. Timmy Trumpet played the Trumpet. Just an all around great night in Queens.

And now the Mets look to win the series this afternoon! Chris Bassitt gets the start for the Amazin’s today. Over 24 starts and 148 1/3 innings, Bassitt has a 3.34 ERA, 3.53 FIP, 1.133 WHIP and a 117 ERA+. He’s coming off of a start where he allowed four runs over 7 1/3 innings from eight hits and a walk. In his four starts before that, he allowed only three runs, two earned, in 26 innings of work.

Bassitt pitched against the Dodgers in June allowing four runs, three earned, over six innings from five hits and two walks. The Dodgers have the following numbers against him:

• Joey Gallo 4-11, 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 3 K
• Mookie Betts 1-7, K
• Justin Turner 3-6, 2B, K
• Gavin Lux 0-4, BB
• Chris Taylor 0-4, 2 K
• Cody Bellinger 1-2, HR, BB
• Freddie Freeman 1-3, K
• Max Muncy 1-2, HR
• Will Smith 0-2, BB, K
• Trea Turner 1-3

Clayton Kershaw makes his return to the mound today for the Dodgers! Kershaw has made 15 starts and pitched 85 1/3 innings this season with a 2.64 ERA, 2.72 FIP, 0.984 WHIP and a 159 ERA+. Kershaw has been sidelined since the start of August. Right before he went on the IL, Kershaw tossed back to back games where he allowed nine runs, seven earned, over 9 2/3 innings. In his three games before that he allowed two runs, one earned, over 22 2/3 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against Kershaw:

• Eduardo Escobar 4-20, 2 HR, BB, 4 K
• Starling Marte 4-18, 6 K
• Darin Ruf 2-17, HR, 2 BB, 5 K
• Mark Canha 3-9, 2 K
• Pete Alonso 1-3, BB
• Francisco Lindor 0-3
• Jeff McNeil 0-3
• Tomás Nido 1-3, K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-2, 2 K

Let’s Go Mets!