3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Continue Losing Ways Against Dodgers

The New York Mets started the second half with more of the same, a series loss that put them farther out of playoff contention and close to sealing their fate as sellers at the upcoming trade deadline. The Mets dropped two of three to the Dodgers to put their record at 43-50 and 8.5 games out of a playoff spot.

The Mets offense combined for only 10 hits in the series, including getting one-hit in the first game following the All-Star break in a 6-0 loss on Friday. As we get closer to the August 1 trade deadline, it becomes more and more clear that the Mets should be sellers.

3 UP

Mad Max Comes Through 

The 2023 season has certainly been a struggle for both of the Mets aces, but Max Scherzer showed up on Sunday when he tossed seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball against his former team. Scherzer allowed a single to Jason Heyward in the second inning, and that was it for hits on the day for the Dodgers against Max.

It was Scherzer’s first start since June 1 that he didn’t allow a home run, and only the second time this season he’s gone at least six innings and didn’t allow a run.

The Mets Best Trade Chip?

David Robertson came into the Mets game on Sunday in a 1-1 tie game in the top of the ninth inning in a game the Mets badly needed to keep their far-fetched playoff hopes alive. Robertson tossed a scoreless inning to give the Mets a chance to win in the bottom half of the inning. The Mets failed to score, and Robertson, pitching for the first time in nine days, came back out to pitch the 10th inning with the Manfred runner on second. With the go-ahead run on third with one out, Robertson retired Will Smith and Mookie Betts to keep the game tied and give Luis Guillorme the opportunity to hit his game-winning double.

Robertson lowered his season ERA to 1.96 in 41 1/3 innings for the Mets. Robertson also has 12 saves and 47 strikeouts compared to only 11 walks. Assuming the Mets are still looking to be sellers in two weeks, Robertson will be one of the Mets best trade chips. The pending free agent has 41 innings of playoff experience, is on a reasonable one-year, $10 million deal, and is likely going to be one of the best relievers available via trade.

Senga Is Pretty Good

Kodai Senga was masterful against the Dodgers in game two of the series, going six innings of one-run ball with nine strikeouts and only two walks. This follows the best start of his rookie season when he had 12 strikeouts and just one walk in eight innings of one-run ball in his last start of the first half.

The 30-year-old has a 2.45 ERA over his last eight starts and his season ERA is down to 3.20 over 95 2/3 innings.

3 Down

What the Buck

At this point, it’s no secret that Mets’ manager Buck Showalter has struggled with his handling of the bullpen this year (and most of his career, famously), and that continued in this series. With the Mets leading 1-0 in the series finale, after losing the first two games of the series, Showalter decided to pitch recently acquired Trevor Gott. The right-hander entered the game with three scoreless innings to start his Mets career, but he’s still the guy that had a 4.03 ERA (solid, but close to Raley or Robertson’s level) and more hits allowed than innings pitched this year.

Gott allowed the first two batters of the inning to reach base, and then a long, sharp fly ball to right field moved the tying run to third base. Buck had the opportunity to fix his mistake of having Gott start the inning by replacing him; instead, Trevor stayed in the game and gave up an RBI single to Mookie Betts. Lucky for Gott and Buck, Brooks Raley came into the game and retired Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy to strand both inherited runners from Gott and keep the game tied at 1-1. Robertson followed with two innings of scoreless ball, as previously noted, and the Mets won.

However, it was another example of Buck not showing urgency in a close game and going with someone outside his top relievers even though the top relievers were available. Raley (2.18 ERA) or Robertson (1.96 ERA) should’ve started the eighth inning, as the Mets need every win they can muster right now. What makes it even worse is that Robertson ended up pitching two innings anyway, so he could’ve pitched the eighth and ninth if necessary.

Pete and Jeff Stink Right Now 

Pete Alonso went 1-for-10 with three strikeouts in the series and Jeff McNeil went 1-for-11 with two strikeouts as two of the Mets’ top hitters from the 2022 season continue their down seasons. Since the start of June, Alonso is hitting .144/.252/.346 and his OPS+ for the season is down to what would be a career-low 117. His entire season slash line of .207/.306/.484 would all be career worsts for the 28-year-old.

McNeil’s season has been even worse. His line for the year is down to an ugly .248/.323/.323, only a year removed from winning the batting title at .326. The four worst ISO (isolated power) numbers in baseball this year belong to Tim Anderson (.038), Myles Straw (.062), Esteury Ruiz (.072), and Jeff McNeil (.072).

Not the Ace Mets Were Hoping For 

It’s pretty easy to describe Justin Verlander‘s performance with the Mets far; disappointing. And that didn’t change in the Mets first game of the second half when Verlander lasted only five innings. The veteran had four hitless innings –albeit on a high pitch count– entering the fifth inning. Verlander walked three hitters in a row with one out in the inning. He then allowed an RBI single to Betts and a two-run double to Freeman to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.

Verlander ended up issuing six walks in the start, his most since 2006 when he was a rookie with the Tigers. His season 3.72 ERA would be his highest since 2014, and his 7.6 K/9 would be his worst since 2015.

The Mets start a three-game series with the White Sox on Tuesday at Citi Field.