213 Miles From Shea

The Mets lost a close one with the Dodgers yesterday, but the Braves lost too! The Mets, who scored first, rallied after they were down 3-3 to tie the game. The Dodgers were able to squeak out a fourth run and that ended up being the deciding run as the Mets couldn’t overcome former-Met Jake Reed in the bottom of the ninth.

Now the Mets turn to Jacob deGrom to help end their current two game slide. Jacob has made five starts so far this season, pitching 29 1/3 innings with a 2.15 ERA, 1.08 FIP, 0.545 WHIP and a 185 ERA+. In his last start against the Rockies he allowed one run from three hits over six innings while striking out 9. In his last four starts he has struck out an absurd 40 batters in 24 1/3 innings of work. The Dodgers have the following career numbers against him:

• Freddie Freeman 15-63, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 BB, 19 K
• Trea Turner 11-44, 2B, HR, BB, 16 K
• Justin Turner 2-22, HR, 3 K
• Cody Bellinger 3-14, 3B, HR, 5 K
• Max Muncy 2-10, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
• Mookie Betts 1-5, 2 K
• Chris Taylor 3-6, 2B, HR, 2 K
• Gavin Lux 0-3, 3 K
• Joey Gallo 1-2, HR, K

For the second straight day the Mets will face a starting pitcher who is having a career year during their first year with the Dodgers. Tyler Anderson has pitched in 24 games, making 22 starts this year tossing 140 2/3 innings with a 2.69 ERA, 3.26 FIP, 1.017 WHIP and a 156 ERA+. Over his career he has a 4.26 ERA, 4.22 FIP, 1.260 WHIP and a 107 ERA+.

In the last month he has made five starts, posting a 2.97 ERA over 30 1/3 innings from scattering 23 hits and 11 walks. He faced the Mets back in June and didn’t allow any runs from three hits and no walks over six innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Starling Marte 3-16, 2B, 4 K
• Eduardo Escobar 4-13, 2B, 2 BB, 2 K
• Mark Canha 2-10, 3 K
• Brandon Nimmo 3-8, HR, 2 K
• Francisco Lindor 0-6
• Darin Ruf 2-6, 2B, HR, 2 K
• Pete Alonso 0-4
• Jeff McNeil 1-3
• Tyler Naquin 0-2, K
• Tomás Nido 1-4, K

Let’s Go Mets!

There are three teams with more than 80 wins in baseball. The Dodgers have 89 wins. The Mets and Astros each have 82 wins. Tonight the Dodgers, who have been on a tear this past month putting them to 51 games above .500 play the Mets in what could be an NLCS preview!

Taijuan Walker will kick off the series for the Mets. Over 22 games and 117 1/3 innings, Walker has a 3.38 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 1.202 WHIP and a 117 ERA+. Since his disastrous start at the beginning of August he has allowed four runs from 10 hits and seven walks over 13 innings, spread over three starts. This includes two runs over five innings against the Yankees last week, which was his first start back from getting injured against the Braves on August 16th.

Walker faced the Dodgers in LA back in June and held them to two runs from seven hits and a walk over 5 2/3 innings. The Dodgers have the following career numbers against Walker:

• Trea Turner 5-16, 2 2B, BB, 3 K
• Justin Turner 4-16, 2 2B, BB, 3 K
• Cody Bellinger 3-16, HR, 3 K
• Freddie Freeman 2-14, HR, 4 K
• Chris Taylor 3-13, 2B, 2 BB, 4 K
• Mookie Betts 4-8, BB, 3 K
• Max Muncy 1-0, HR, 3 K
• Will Smith 2-8, 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
• Joey Gallo 1-4, K

Andrew Heaney has made nine starts and pitched 41 2/3 innings this season with a 1.94 ERA, 3.01 FIP, 1.008 WHIP and a 215 ERA+. He’s been pitching in the rotation on a regular basis since the end of July. Over those six starts he has a 2.73 ERA and 3.51 FIP. Over his last three starts he has allowed nine runs, seven earned, over 13 2/3 innings while striking out an absurd 25 batters (4.61 ERA). Four of the five homers he’s allowed this season have come in the last three starts. The Mets have the following career numbers against Heaney:

• Mark Canha 5-18, 2 2B, HR, 3 BB, 6 K
• James McCann 2-11, 2B, 5 K
• Darin Ruf 1-5, 2B, 4 K
• Daniel Vogelbach 1-5, 2 K
• Francisco Lindor 1-3, 2B
• Tyler Naquin 0-3, K
• Eduardo Escobar 0-2, K

Let’s Go Mets!

Yesterday was such a great day for the Mets franchise. The Mets hosted their first Old Timers Day since 1994 before the game. Tons of players came out, had fun and reminded us all what makes Mets baseball the best.

On top of all of the festivities, the Mets won! (And the Braves lost!) The Mets got some immediate offense from Brandon Nimmo hitting a solo homer to start off the game and adding an RBI in the next inning. That was the only offense the Mets needed as David Peterson and the Mets bullpen managed to keep the Rockies off the board entirely.

The Mets turn to Max Scherzer to complete the series sweep against the Rockies this afternoon. over 18 games and 115 2/3 innings, Max has a 2.33 ERA, 2.57 FIP, 0.942 WHIP and a 169 ERA+. He hasn’t been quite himself in his last two starts against the Braves and Yankees, allowing a total of eight runs from 10 hits over 13 innings while striking out 11. He’s also seeking revenge from his start last year against the Rockies where he allowed five runs from six hits and a walk over five innings. The Rockies have the following numbers against him:

• Kris Bryant 2-16, 3B, 2 BB, 10 K
• Charlie Blackmon 4-15, 2 HR, BB, 5 K
• Randal Grichuk 1-12, 5 K
• C.J. Cron 3-11, 4 K
• José Iglesias 2-8, HR, 3 K
• Ryan McMahon 1-6, BB, 4 K
• Jose Urena 0-7, 6 K
• Elias Diaz 0-4, 2 K

The Mets bats will get a look today at Germán Márquez who is making his 25th start of the season today. So far over the 139 2/3 innings he’s pitched this year, he has a 5.22 ERA, 4.69 FIP, 1.432 WHIP and an 88 ERA+. Márquez started off the month of August strong, allowing exactly two earned runs over six innings in back to back starts. Since then he has allowed nine runs over 12 innings in back to back starts from 15 hits and four walks.

Things weren’t going great for Márquez the last time he faced the Mets back at the end of May. He allowed five runs, four earned, over six innings from 11 hits and a walk. This performance actually lowered his ERA by 0.02 points. The Mets have the following career numbers against Márquez:

• Eduardo Escobar 13-26, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 7 K
• Starling Marte 5-19, 3B, HR, BB, 6 K
• Francisco Lindor 2-11, 2B, 2 BB, K
• Brandon Nimmo 4-11, 2 BB, 4 K
• Mark Canha 1-10, 2 K
• Daniel Vogelbach 0-9, 2 K
• Jeff McNeil 3-6, 3 2B
• Tyler Naquin 3-6, 2B
• Pete Alonso 0-6, 4 K
• James McCann 0-6, 3 K
• Darin Ruf 0-4, BB, K

Let’s Go Mets!

Last night was a ride! Late in the game the Mets allowed a three-run double, which turned the game from a 4-3 Mets lead to a 6-4 Rockies lead. Mark Canha came up clutch in the next inning with a game tying double. Pete Alonso got the walk-off RBI in the bottom of the ninth. The Mets showed the fight they’ve shown all year and got the win, keeping their division lead to 2.0 games.

Now the Mets go for the series win tonight against the Rockies tonight. David Peterson will make his 16th start of the season. So far over 83 2/3 innings, Peterson has a 3.44 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 1.327 WHIP and a 115 ERA+. Peterson was called on as the doubleheader starter twice this month. Against Atlanta he looked great, holding the Braves to three hits and three walks and no runs over 5 1/3 innings. Last week against the Phillies – not so much. He allowed eight runs and two walks over 4 2/3 innings while allowing three runs. If we take a longer view, in Peterson’s last 10 major league games he has pitched 43 2/3 innings with a 3.30 ERA while striking out 62 batters. The Rockies have the following numbers against David:

• Kris Bryant 1-4, K
• Charlie Blackmon 1-3
• C.J. Cron 0-3
• Garrett Hampson 1-3, 3B
• Ryan McMahon 1-2, HR, BB
• Elias Diaz 1-1, HR, BB
• Austin Gomber 0-1, K
• Randal Grichuk 1-2
• José Iglesias 0-2

The Mets bats will get a look at Kyle Freeland tonight. Freeland has made 24 starts and tossed 137 innings this year with a 4.93 ERA, 4.43 FIP, 1.416 WHIP and a 93 ERA+. In his last three starts he has pitched 16 2/3 innings allowing 15 runs, 14 earned, from 24 hits and 6 walks (7.56 ERA, 5.71 FIP). Things don’t look terribly better for Freeland if we take a longer view. In his last ten starts and 57 1/3 innings, he has posted a 5.81 ERA, 4.82 FIP with opponents hitting .289/.352/.480 against him. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Darin Ruf 3-12, HR, 4 BB, 3 K
• Starling Marte 3-11, 2 K
• Mark Canha 2-6, 2B, K
• Francisco Lindor 2-4, 2B, BB, K
• Brandon Nimmo 1-5, 2 K
• Tyler Naquin 1-3

Let’s Go Mets!

Yesterday we said all it would take to feel like the Mets are on track is a win – and that’s exactly what happened! The Mets beat the Rockies in the series opener last night behind a strong Jacob deGrom start, great bullpen outings and usage, and some timely offense by Pete Alonso.

Last night was also the Mets 80th win of the season. A win tonight not only guarantees a series split, it also prevents the Mets from having a losing season!

Chris Bassitt looks the lead the Mets to victory tonight. Over 23 starts and 141 innings this year, Bassitt has a 3.26 ERA, 3.53 FIP, 1.128 WHIP and a 121 ERA+. In his last four starts he has tossed 26 innings allowing only three runs, two earned while striking out 21 batters (0.69 ERA, 2.32 FIP). The Rockies have the following career numbers against him:

• José Iglesias 1-12, 2B, 2 BB, 2 K
• C.J. Cron 0-6, 2 K
• Randal Grichuk 3-6, K
• Charlie Blackmon 1-3

The Mets bats will get a look at Chad Kuhl tonight. Over 20 starts and 103 innings, Kuhl has a 5.16 ERA, 5.22 FIP, 1.524 WHIP and an 89 ERA+. At the end of June, Kuhl tossed a complete game shutout against the Dodgers in Colorado. He has made six starts since then, allowing 31 runs, 29 earned, over 25 2/3 innings. Obviously this completely blew up his 3.49 ERA through the first three months of the season.

After his last start on August 3rd (nine runs over five innings) the Rockies placed him on the injured list with a hip strain. Tonight is his first start since his injury. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Daniel Vogelbach 1-6, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
• James McCann 1-6, BB
• Tyler Naquin 2-6, 2 HR, K
• Francisco Lindor 1-3
• Starling Marte 1-3
• Brandon Nimmo 0-1, 2 BB
• Pete Alonso 0-0, 2 BB
• Jeff McNeil 1-2
• Darin Ruf 1-2

Let’s Go Mets!

The last couple of days have stunk for the Mets. They were beaten twice in two close games with the Yankees, where the offense struggled. The Braves have only won since then.

But the Mets have been here before and have responded each time by stringing together a few wins and getting some comfortable breathing room in the standings back. The Mets just need to do that again starting tonight.

Jacob deGrom gets back on the mound tonight. In his first four starts since returning he has allowed six runs from 11 hits and a walk over 23 1/3 innings while striking out 37 batters. Although the sample size is small, that puts his K/9 at 14.3 and matches his ridiculous K/9 from last season. He has a 2.31 ERA, 0.64 FIP, 0.514 WHIP and a 172 ERA+.

Jacob faced the Rockies twice last season. His first start against them was in Colorado where he gave up three runs from three hits (including a homer) while striking out 14 batters over six innings. It was one of only two starts last year where he gave up three runs (or more, which didn’t happen at all). He then faced the Rockies in Queens and held them to one run from a solo homer, scattering three hits and no walks over five innings while striking out 9. The Rockies have the following numbers against him:

• Charlie Blackmon 3-24, 2 2B, BB, 5 K
• Kris Bryant 6-17, 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 7 K
• Randal Grichuk 4-11, 2B, 2 HR, BB, 4 K
• José Iglesias 2-9, 2 K
• C.J. Cron 1-6, 3 BB, 4 K
• Ryan McMahon 1-5, HR, 3 K

The Mets bats will get a look at Ryan Feltner tonight. Feltner has made 11 starts, pitching in 12 games this season (56 2/3 innings) with a 5.88 ERA, 4.80 FIP, 1.394 WHIP and a 78 ERA+. His numbers are slightly worse on the road. He has a 6.26 ERA and 1.500 WHIP in six starts and 27 1/3 innings away from Colorado. That being said, after a terrible start to August, allowing 13 earned runs over 13 2/3 innings over three starts, he had a really solid start his last time out. Feltner held the Giants to one run from two hits over six innings. Feltner has never faced the Mets or anyone on the Mets roster before.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets look to avoid the two-game series sweep tonight. Last night the Yankees got strong starting pitching and were able to hit Scherzer hard, ultimately beating the Mets 4-2.

Taijuan Walker returns to the mound for the Mets tonight. Taijuan exited his last start early due to back spasms and missed his regular start over the over the weekend to get a few more days to heal up. He’s made 21 starts this season and pitched 112 1/3 innings with a 3.36 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 1.202 WHIP and a 117 ERA+. He started August with a terrible start against the Braves where he allowed eight runs while recording three outs. Since then he has allowed two runs over eight innings while scattering six hits and five walks.

Walker faced the Yankees in July allowing three runs from seven hits and a walk over six innings. The Yankees have the following numbers against him:

• DJ LeMahieu 7-28, 2B, 5 BB, 6 K
• Josh Donaldson 2-15, 2B, HR, 6 K
• Aaron Hicks 4-11, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
• Anthony Rizzo 2-13, HR, BB, 2 K
• Aaron Judge 3-9, 3 HR, 2 BB, 3 K
• Harrison Bader 0-6, 2 K
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa 3-5, BB

The Mets bats will get a look at one of the Yankees’ big trade deadline acquisitions – Frankie Montas. Overall this season, Montas has started 22 games pitching 118 2/3 innings with a 3.87 ERA, 3.61 FIP, 1.205 WHIP and a 97 ERA+. Before the trade he made 19 starts tossing 104 2/3 innings with a 3.18 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 1.137 WHIP and a 117 ERA+. In his three starts since joining the Yankees he has allowed 14 earned runs over 14 innings from 18 hits and 6 walks. His K/9 has dropped from 9.4 to 5.1 while his WHIP has increased from 1.137 to 1.714. The Mets have the following career numbers against Montas:

• Francisco Lindor 4-9, 2 2B, 2 BB, 2 K
• Daniel Vogelbach 0-4, 2 BB, 3 K
• Starling Marte 3-5
• James McCann 1-4
• Tyler Naquin 2-3, 2B, K
• Darin Ruf 0-2, 2 K
• Mark Canha 0-1

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets come back to New York as the away team tonight, starting a two game series in the Bronx against the Yankees!

Yesterday’s Mets game felt like an entire season! The Mets started off in a four run hole after the first inning. Then they tied it up. Then the Phillies went up three. Then a rain delay. Then the Mets tied it up. Then the Phillies went up one. Then the Mets went up two. Finally the Mets were able to hold on to a one run lead to win the game. The game went from what felt like a lost game, to one of the best comebacks this season. The cherry on top? The Braves lost yesterday too.

So now the Mets try to catch their breath against the Yankees who finally won yesterday. The Mets have been forced to use players not normally in the rotation the last three games to start and tonight it feels so good to say that Max Scherzer is starting.

Scherzer has made 17 starts and pitched 109 innings with a 2.15 ERA, 2.42 FIP, 0.927 WHIP and a 183 ERA+. In his first eight starts since returning from the injured list Scherzer has pitched 53 innings with a 1.36 ERA while striking out 67 batters. His last start was the first time in a while he looked human allowing four runs from three hits and three walks over 6 1/3 innings against the Braves. The last time Scherzer faced the Yankees this season, he shut them out over seven innings, scattering five hits and two walks. The Yankees have the following numbers against Scherzer:

• Giancarlo Stanton 6-24, 3 HR, 12 K
• Anthony Rizzo 5-20, 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
• Josh Donaldson 3-17, 2B, 3B, 4 BB, 3 K
• Aaron Hicks 1-16, BB, 6 K
• DJ LeMahieu 5-12, BB, 3 K
• Harrison Bader 2-12, 2B, 4 K
• Aaron Judge 2-10, 2B, 6 K
• Gleyber Torres 0-8, BB, 3 K
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa 1-3, 2B, K

The Mets bats will get a look at Domingo Germán tonight. Over six starts and 28 1/3 innings, Germán has a 4.45 ERA, 4.50 FIP, 1.412 WHIP and an 88 ERA+. He had a stretch of four games starting on July 27th (against the Mets) where he put up a 2.61 ERA over 20 2/3 innings. During those four games he allowed six total runs. In the two other games he’s allowed eight. Germán has not gone particularly deep into games this season either, finishing six innings once and not going beyond 90 pitches. Something to keep in mind with the Mets tendency to grind pitchers down. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Mark Canha 7-11, 2B, HR, BB, K
• Francisco Lindor 1-9, 3 BB, 3 K
• Brandon Nimmo 1-6, 3B, BB, 2 K
• Tyler Naquin 2-6, HR, 2 K
• Pete Alonso 2-5, 2B, HR, K
• Jeff McNeil 1-5, HR
• Starling Marte 0-3, 3 K
• James McCann 1-2, 2B, BB
• Daniel Vogelbach 1-1, BB

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets go for the series victory today in Philadelphia! The Mets won the first game of the doubleheader yesterday but couldn’t get the offense going for the night cap – so they settled for the split. For the past week the Mets have known that the yesterday and today was going to be the rough patch in terms of starting pitching. Carlos Carrasco is out for the next month. Taijuan Walker, who was scheduled to pitch today, needs more time to come back from back spasms. So the Mets relied on Trevor Williams and David Peterson yesterday to fill in the gaps, but that still left today to figure out.

And that’s why we get the major league debut of José Butto! The right handed pitcher, who most recently was listed as the #12 prospect in the Mets system by Mets Minors will get a chance to show his stuff at the major league level today. Across 20 games with Binghamton and two games with Syracuse, Butto has pitched 98 1/3 innings with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.312 WHIP. While his walk rate at 3.4 per nine innings is the highest in his career, so his strikeout rate at 10.2 per nine. He has thrown up to 98 pitches as recently as July 30th – so if his stuff looks good today he can potentially go deep into the game.

The Mets bats will get another look at Kyle Gibson this afternoon. Over 23 games and 127 2/3 innings, Gibson has a 4.30 ERA, 4.27 FIP, 1.167 WHIP and a 95 ERA+. In his last four starts he has allowed nine runs, eight earned, over 26 innings (2.77 ERA, 3.74 FIP). Gibson threw back to back games against the Mets at the end of April and start of May. In the first game he held the Mets to one unearned run over 4 1/3 innings. In the next start he held the Mets to two earned runs over six innings from six hits. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Francisco Lindor 16-48, 2 2B, 6 BB, 8 K
• James McCann 6-29, BB, 7 K
• Mark Canha 2-16, BB, 3 K
• Brandon Nimmo 4-13, 2B, HR, 2 BB, K
• Pete Alonso 0-11, 3 BB, 5 K
• Jeff McNeil 3-13, 2B, HR, 2 K
• Tyler Naquin 1-10, 3 K
• Daniel Vogelbach 5-9, 2B, HR, BB, K
• Starling Marte 3-7, 2B, BB, K

Let’s Go Mets!

David Peterson gets to start the night cap against the Phillies! The Mets have had Peterson penciled in as the doubleheader starter for the last two weeks since the Met have had two scheduled doubleheaders. The question was what are the Mets going to do with Peterson after this weekend. Bullpen?

Then the Mets had back to back nights with injuries to their starting pitchers (Carrasco then Walker) and suddenly Peterson became a lot more important – especially while the Mets wait for other injured pitchers to progress through their rehab assignments (Megill, Lucchesi).

Over 18 games and 14 starts Peterson has pitched 79 innings this season with a 3.30 ERA, 4.01 FIP, 1.278 WHIP and a 119 ERA+. It’s been two weeks but his last start was also in a double header game against at Atlanta and he gave the Mets a fantastic 5 1/3 scoreless innings, scattering three hits and three walks. He also tossed 81 pitches. The only time he has faced the Phillies this season was during his season debut, at Philly! He allowed no runs from three hits and two walks over four innings. The Phillies have the following career numbers against him:

• Rhys Hoskins 5-13, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 4 K
• Alec Bohm 2-11, 2B, HR, BB, 4 K
• J.T. Realmuto 1-7, 2B, 3 BB, K
• Jean Segura 3-7, 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
• Kyle Schwarber 0-5, 4 K
• Brandon Marsh 1-1, HR

Bailey Falter gets the start tonight for the Phillies. Over 11 games and 7 starts this season, Falter has pitched 39 innings with a 4.85 ERA, 5.71 FIP, 1.385 WHIP and a 85 ERA+. Most of his work, inning wise, has happened as a starter – logging 31 2/3 innings with a 4.83 ERA, 1.390 WHIP. This will be his first start since July.

Falter has faced the Mets twice this season. In April he pitched two innings in relief, allowing a run on a hit and a walk. Then at the end of May he started against the Mets, allowing five runs, only two earned, over three innings from four hits and three walks. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 1-2, HR
• Mark Canha 1-3
• Francisco Lindor 0-0, 3 BB
• Starling Marte 1-3
• Brandon Nimmo 0-2, BB, K
• Jeff McNeil 1-2
• Tyler Naquin 0-0, BB

Let’s Go Mets!