Tuesday, August 13, 2019 • 7:20 p.m.
SunTrust Park • Atlanta, GA
RHP Zack Wheeler (9-6, 4.20) vs. LHP Max Fried (13-4, 4.11)
SNY • MLBN • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050 AM
The Mets and NL East reunion tour returns tonight as the Mets travel south to Atlanta. Previously: the Mets squared off against the NL East almost exclusively in April and early May, and not much since then. In the last week week they’ve had a 4 game sweep of the Marlins and took 2 of 3 from the Nationals. Now they get to play the division leaders.
Mets Lineup
- Jeff McNeil – 2B
- Amed Rosario – SS
- Pete Alonso – 1B
- J.D. Davis – LF
- Wilson Ramos – C
- Michael Conforto – RF
- Todd Frazier – 3B
- Juan Lagares – CF
- Zack Wheeler – RHP
Braves
- Ronald Acuna Jr. LF
- Ozzie Albies – 2B
- Freddie Freeman – 1B
- Josh Donaldson – 3B
- Brian McCann – C
- Matt Joyce – RF
- Ender Inciarte – CF
- Charlie Culberson – SS
- Max Fried – LHP
Zack Wheeler gets the start for the Amazin’s tonight. He is 9-6 over 22 starts and 139.1 innings with a 4.20 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 1.220 WHIP and 98 ERA+. In two starts in August he has pitched 15.0 scoreless innings holding opponents to 12 hits and a walk while striking out 12. His two starts against Atlanta have been quite different. In April he allowed 2 runs over 6.0 innings fom 6 hits and 3 walks while striking out 8. At the time, this was his best start of the season. In June he allowed 5 runs, 4 earned over 6.0 innings from 10 hits and 2 walks. After that start he went on a bit of a positive streak. Including tonight, all 3 of his starts against the Braves have taken place in Atlanta. The Braves have the following numbers against him:
- Freddie Freeman 12-24, 3 2B, 2 HR, 12 BB, 7 K
- Ozzie Albies 1-12, 3 K
- Brian McCann 5-9, HR, 3 BB, 2 K
- Dansby Swanson 1-11, 2B, BB, 3 K
- Josh Donaldson 6-10, 2B, BB, 2 K
- Ronald Acuna Jr. 3-9, 2B, HR, BB, 3 K
- Tyler Flowers 5-9, HR
- Ender Inciarte 2-9, 3 K
The Mets bats will get a look at Max Fried who is 13-4 over 24 games and 22 starts with 120.1 innings of work. Throughout the season he’s posted a 4.11 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 1.371 WHIP and 111 ERA+. In his last five starts he has alternated terrible/below average with pretty good:
- 5.0 IP, 11 H, 5 ER
- 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER
- 5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER
- 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER
- 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER
Which puts the Mets in a tougher situation tonight if the pattern, that is probably cosmic coincidence more than anything else, holds. He faced the Mets twice in June and was pretty average, allowing 5 runs over 11.0 innings from 16 hits. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
- Amed Rosario 2-8, 2B, 4 K
- Michael Conforto 0-6, 2 BB, 4 K
- Todd Frazier 3-8, 2 K
- Juan Lagares 2-8, 2 K
- Jeff McNeil 4-8, 2 2B, 2 K
- Pete Alonso 0-4, 2 BB, 3 K
- J.D. Davis 4-6
- Wilson Ramos 2-4, 2B
Game Notes
New York’s .750 (21-7) second-half winning percentage is the best in the majors. The pitching staff has a 2.93 ERA since the All-Star break, the second- lowest mark in the majors. The Mets and the Indians (2.89) are the only teams to own ERA under 3.00 after the break.
Amed Rosario has reached base safely in 25 of his last 27 games. He is batting .335 (58-172) with 28 runs, 11 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 12 RBI, nine walks, eight steals and a .859 OPS over his last 46 games (since June 17).
Wilson Ramos is batting .385 (15-39) with five runs, two doubles,three homers, 14 RBI, two walks, a .415 OBP, a .667 SLG and a 1.081 OPS over his last 10 games.
MLB Newtork has added three Mets telecasts in August to their schedule. This Thursday against the Braves then two games against the Indians on August 20 and August 22.
Let’s Go Mets!
