Tuesday, August 28, 2018 • 8:05 p.m. (ET)
Wrigley Field • Chicago, IL
LHP Cole Hamels (9-9, 3.82) vs. RHP Jacob deGrom (8-8, 1.71)
SNY • WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050 AM

On paper, Jon Lester vs. Noah Syndergaard last night looked like a pitcher’s duel, but it ended up becoming a back and forth affair with the bats as the Cubs squeezed by the Mets in the series opener.

Syndergaard struggled early and settled down towards the end, retiring nine of his last 10, but it just wasn’t enough. Michael Conforto crushed a 472-foot homer to straight away center as well.

The Mets will look to get back in win column tonight.

Mets Lineup

1. Amed Rosario (R) SS
2. Jeff McNeil (L) 2B
3. Austin Jackson (R) CF
4. Michael Conforto (L) LF
5. Todd Frazier (R) 3B
6. Jay Bruce (L) 1B
7. Kevin Plawecki (R) C
8. Brandon Nimmo (L) RF
9. Jacob deGrom (L) P

Cubs Lineup

1. Daniel Murphy (L) 2B
2. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
3. Jason Heyward (L) RF
4. Javier Baez (R) SS
5. Victor Caratini (S) C
6. Kyle Schwarber (L) LF
7. Albert Almora Jr. (R) CF
8. Cole Hamels (L) P
9. David Bote (R) 3B

Jacob deGrom looks to put the Mets back on the winning path today. He is 8-8 over 26 games and 174.0 innings with a 1.71 ERA (league leading), 2.07 FIP (league leading), 0.971 WHIP and a 216 ERA+ (league leading). In the month of August, deGrom has pitched five games and 35.2 innings with a 1.26 ERA while striking out 50. At the start of June against the Cubs, deGrom allowed one run over seven inning despite allowing seven hits and two walks (the 13 K’s probably helped a lot). The Cubs have the following numbers against deGrom:

  • Rizzo 7-for-19, 2B, HR, 2 BB
  • Heyward 7-for-18, 2B, 3 K
  • Bryant 4-for-14, 2 HR, 2 BB, 7 K
  • Murphy 4-for-15, 3B
  • Zobrist 1-for-13
  • Russell 2-for-11, HR, BB

The Mets’ bats will see one of the newest Cubs tonight, Cole Hamels. As a Cub, Hamels is 4-0 over five starts and 34.0 innings with a 0.79 ERA, 2.36 FIP, 0.941 WHIP and 550 ERA+ (really). As a Ranger before the trade, he was 5-9 over 20 games and 114.1 innings with a 4.72 ERA, 5.19 FIP, 1.373 WHIP and a 101 ERA+. So, Hamels probably loves being a Cub. I guess. The Mets have the following numbers against Cole:

  • Reyes 22-for-59, 6 2B, 5 BB, 10 K
  • Bruce 8-for-35, 2B, 2 HR, BB, 9 K
  • Frazier 5-for-20, 2B, HR, 6 K
  • Bautista 6-for-17, 2 2B, 2 BB
  • Jackson 4-for-17, 2B, BB, 7 K
  • Flores 2-for-11, BB
  • Plawecki 1-for-3
  • Mesoraco 0-for-1

Notes

Prior to tonight’s game, the Mets are expected to return outfielder Brandon Nimmo from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstate him from the Disabled List. Nimmo was 2-for-6 with two singles, two walks and a stolen base in two minor league rehabilitation games.

DeGrom has the most starts (11) in the majors this year of 7.0 or more innings while allowing one or fewer earned runs. Since 1913, he has the most starts of allowing one run or fewer over his first 133 games (60 times). He has eight double-digit strikeout games this year, tied for second in the NL.

The Mets rank second in the majors with a .335 road on-base percentage, tied for fifth with 328 runs scored and fourth in the majors with a .768 OPS on the road. Brandon Nimmo is fourth in the NL with a .417 road OBP and Michael Conforto is 11th (.387).

Jarred Kelenic, the Mets 2018 first-round pick, was named the Appalachian League Player of the Week for the week of Aug. 20-26. Kelenic hit .579 (11 19) with 10 RBI during the week. Last night Kingsport clinched a spot in the Appalachian playoffs.

Let’s Go Mets!