Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Wednesday, June 2, 2021 • 3:40 P.M.
Chase Field • Phoenix, Arizona
LHP David Peterson (1-4, 4.91) vs. LHP Madison Bumgarner (4-5, 5.15)
YouTube • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM

It just would have been too good for the Mets to extend their five-game winning streak to six on the first day of their nemesis – June.

The last several years, (2020 excluded for obvious reasons), June has been terrible for the Mets and last night was the first time in a while the bullpen faltered, blowing the save not once, but twice.

Even in that, there were positive signs last night. First, the Mets scored five runs and scored in the top of the 10th after blowing save in the ninth, showing some fight. Second, Dominic Smith hit his third homer of the year, the day after he hit two doubles. The Mets sorely need him to start heating up. Yesterday was a frustrating loss but the Mets can put that behind them on YouTube today.

YouTube. Because MLB remembers that time they made a game only available on Facebook and decided they want more of that. I would love the option to watch SNY on YouTube. I think many fans looking to drop cable would love that. What we didn’t want was random afternoon games ONLY being able in-market on YouTube and other streaming services not working in-market. MLB will eventually get it. I hope.

Mets Lineup

  1. Jonathan Villar – 3B
  2. Francisco Lindor – SS
  3. James McCann – C
  4. Pete Alonso – 1B
  5. Kevin Pillar – CF
  6. Dominic Smith – LF
  7. Brandon Drury – RF
  8. Jose Peraza – 2B
  9. David Peterson – LHP

Diamondbacks Lineup

  1. Carson Kelly – C
  2. Ketel Marte – CF
  3. Eduardo Escobar – 3B
  4. Christian Walker – 1B
  5. Pavin Smith – RF
  6. Nick Ahmed – SS
  7. Ildemaro Vargas – 2B
  8. Tim Locastro – LF
  9. Madison Bumgarner – LHP

David Peterson will make his first start in a while after being bumped both for Jacob deGrom and Marcus Stroman over the last two days thanks to weather this past weekend.

In nine starts and 44 innings pitched, Peterson has a 4.91 ERA, 4.63 FIP, 1.273 WHIP and a 79 ERA+. He has allowed six runs over his last two starts, 10 2/3 innings, from 10 hits and four walks while striking out eight.

His shortest outing of the year came against the Diamondbacks on May 7th where he allowed three runs from three hits with three walks over 1 2/3 innings – a game that the Mets eventually won 5-4.

The Diamondbacks have the following numbers against Peterson:

The Mets draw Madison Bumgarner in the series finale, who famously threw a no-hitter this year that baseball is not recognizing because it lasted only seven innings due to a construct that baseball created. In 11 starts and 57 2/3 innings this year, Bumgarner has a 5.15 ERA, 4.33 FIP, 1.162 WHIP and a 80 ERA+.

His last two seasons in Arizona have been his only two with an ERA+ below 100. After righting the ship over a six-start stretch where he pitched to a 1.32 ERA, Bumgarner’s last two starts have been terrible – 14 runs, 11 earned over 10.0 innings from 13 hits, four walks and three homers. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

Game Notes:

  • This will be Kevin Pillar’s first start since coming off the Injured List. Pillar has gone 1-for-2 in his two at-bats coming off the bench this series.
  • J.D. Davis‘ next rehab assignment will not begin over the next few days, as Luis Rojas says that he is still getting treatment for his hand injury. Davis had started to swing the bat over the weekend, but there was still discomfort so he has been shut down again until he is pain-free.
  • This is the first time that Madison Bumgarner will face the Mets in an Arizona Diamondbacks jersey. For his career, Bumgarner has made nine starts against the Mets and has pitched to a 1.89 ERA.

Let’s Go Mets!