MMO Game Thread: Braves vs Mets, 12:10 pm

Photo Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY

Thursday, July 29, 2021 • 12:10 P.M.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
LHP Drew Smyly (7-3, 4.30) vs. RHP Taijuan Walker (7-4, 3.43)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM

The Mets and Braves play the rubber game of their five game set in an early, noon game! The Mets just finished ahead of the Braves last night, 2-1, in an exciting game that featured another great start by Tylor Megill, a go-ahead homer by Brandon Drury, and the arm of Michael Conforto saving the game. Drury is now 6-for-6 in July and is just crushing his role as a pinch hitter this year, hitting a homer on back-to-back nights. Conforto had the play of the night, throwing out the tying run at home.

Mets Lineup

Brandon Nimmo – CF
Pete Alonso – 1B
Dominic Smith – LF
J.D. Davis – 3B
James McCann – C
Michael Conforto – RF
Jonathan Villar – SS
Brandon Drury – 2B
Taijuan Walker – RHP

Braves Lineup

Joc Pederson – RF
Ozzie Albies – 2B
Freddie Freeman – 1B
Austin Riley – 3B
Dansby Swanson – SS
Abraham Almonte – LF
Stephen Vogt – C
Guillermo Heredia – CF
Drew Smyly – LHP

On top of everything, it’s the trade deadline. There will be rumors swirling throughout the game. Assuming the game ends between three and four today, the Mets will have about 24-25 hours before the trade deadline (while not playing) to strike a deal. The rumors will permeate everything this afternoon at Citi Field and across the league.

Taijuan Walker gets the start for the Mets tonight. Over 18 starts and 94 1/3 innings he has a 3.43 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 1.177 WHIP and a 114 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed 12 runs, 11 earned, over 4 1/3 innings, which has ballooned his ERA. The power bats in the Blue Jays lineup got him last time out, tagging him for three homers. Walker pitched back to back games against the Braves to close out May and allowed no runs and only three hits over eight innings while striking out 10 batters. The Braves have the following numbers against him:

Joc Pederson 8-20, 2 2B, HR, BB, 4 K
Freddie Freeman 2-8, HR, 3 K
Pablo Sandoval 2-6, 2B, BB
Stephen Vogt 3-14, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
Austin Riley 1-4
Ozzie Albies 0-2, BB, K
Dansby Swanson 0-3, K
Ehire Adrianza 0-2, 2 K
Guillermo Heredia 0-2, K
Abraham Almonte 0-2, K

The Mets bats draw Drew Smyly. Smyly has made 17 starts and tossed 88 innings this year posting a 4.30 ERA, 5.07 FIP, 1.341 WHIP and a 104 ERA+. Drew has been much better in his last six starts than his season averages, posting a 1.97 ERA over 32 innings. He can get in trouble with walks, look for the Mets to try increase his pitch count and get on base that way. This will be Drew’s first start against the Mets this season and the Mets have the following career numbers against him: