3 Up
1. Syndergaard Is Spectacular
Coming off a brilliant start in Kansas City last week, Noah Syndergaard was once again lights out on Tuesday night, when he made his first start at Citi Field in 2016. All Syndergaard did was allow one earned run over seven very impressive innings, while striking out 12 batters in the process. Those 12 strikeouts pushed his season total to 21, which is good for best in all of baseball. 72 of his 99 pitches thrown were for strikes, and he struck out seven of the first ten batters he faced. If he continues to throw like he has in his first two starts of the season, there is every reason to believe he will be in the discussions for Cy Young this year.
2. K-Plaw to the Rescue
The Mets continued to struggle offensively this series, particularly with runners in scoring position. Up until the 7th inning of yesterday’s series finale, it looked as though that was going to remain the same. Wilmer Flores failed to drive in runs with the bases loaded earlier in the game, but it was Kevin Plawecki who saved the day for the Mets in the bottom of the 7th inning. Plawecki hit a groundball through the left side of the infield that drove in both Flores and Cabrera. d’Arnaud got the day off due to the day game after a night game, and it was his backup, Kevin Plawecki, who provided the Mets with two huge runs that they desperately needed.
3. All in the Familia
Familia got plenty of work in this series, pitching in all three games. He looked solid on Wednesday as he pitched a total of 3 1/3 innings while only allowing three hits and striking out two batters. Yesterday, Terry Collins brought him for the five out save, and he didn’t disappoint. It was his second save on the year, and he showed no ill effects from throwing two straight games. He’s a war horse.
Honorable Mention:
Logan Verrett, the Mets’ young righty, deserves an Up for his mighty contribution. In a game the Mets desperately needed (according to Terry Collins), and with much of the bullpen taxed, it was Verrett who once again had a tremendous spot start for the Mets. Many will remember his start last August in Colorado, when he tossed eight brilliant innings of four-hit ball, while allowing just one run. Yesterday he again came up big, throwing six strong innings, while allowing just three hits and striking out six. He did not allow a run.
3 Down
1. The Bats Continue to Struggle
The Mets struggled to hit in their last series against the Phillies, and the struggles continued into this series against the Marlins. In the three games played, the Mets managed to score a total of just six runs on a total of 19 hits. As a team they are batting an abysmal .194 with a slugging percentage of just .250, both dead last in all of baseball. What’s more is the fact that they continue to fail to cash in on opportunities. With RISP this series, they were just 4 for 21.
2. Matz Had a Start to Forget
In his first start of the 2016 campaign, 24 year-old Steven Matz failed to make it out of the second inning. In that inning, the Marlins tallied seven runs, capped off by a mammoth two-run home run by big bopper Giancarlo Stanton. It was a night the Mets desperately needed a pick me up from their series against the Phillies. Instead Matz suffered his first loss of his career. One scout said, “he looks like a young guy who needs a month in Triple-A to clean up some things.”
3. Henderson is Human
Jim Henderson was perfect on the season going into Tuesday night, having pitched three scoreless innings, and striking out seven of the first nine batters he faced. His amazing start to the season came to a frustrating halt, when he threw a total of 34 pitches in the 8th inning, 16 of which came in a marathon of an at bat by Marlins leadoff man Dee Gordon. He was only able to record one out in that inning, while walking two batters and allowing his first earned run of the season. He also recorded his first loss of the season. To the surprise of many people, Terry Collins decided to run him out there again in yesterday’s finale. Henderson again struggled, walking two batters and allowing a hit, all without recording an out.
