Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday, August 7, 2022 • 4:30 P.M.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Jacob deGrom (0-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. RHP Spencer Strider (6-3, 2.79 ERA)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM

Update: first pitch is slated for 4:30 P.M. ET.

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday completely washed away Friday night, as the Mets swept a split doubleheader against the Braves. The Braves are now 5.5 games back and now the Mets have an opportunity to really start pulling away again by taking today’s game, which would mean taking four of five games this weekend.

Braves Lineup

It’s also deGrom day. DeGrom will make his second start of the season this afternoon. Earlier in the week, he made his 2022 debut where he held the Washington Nationals to one run via three hits over five innings while striking out six. Unfortunately, the Mets’ bats were not able to supplemental their starting pitcher.

DeGrom made two starts against the Braves last season, allowing three runs from six hits and two walks over 12 innings (2.25 ERA, 0.667 WHIP) while striking out 20 batters. The Braves have the following career numbers against deGrom:

Mets Lineup

The Mets draw Spencer Strider in the series finale. Strider has pitched in 23 games, making 12 starts this season pitching a total of 87 innings. He has a 2.79 ERA, 1.97 FIP, 0.989 WHIP and a 151 ERA+.

As a starter only he has pitched 62 2/3 innings with a 3.02 ERA and 0.973 WHIP. Since June 26th, he has made seven starts totaling 39 1/3 innings allowing nine runs, which is good for a 2.06 ERA. However, five of those nine runs came in one start against the Nationals, so he’s been even better than his numbers suggest over that stretch.

This includes a start against the Mets where he allowed one run over 4 2/3 innings via five hits and three walks. It is important for the Mets today to do the same thing to Strider as they did last time. Make him work early and often and get him out of the game quickly to Atlanta’s overtaxed bullpen. The Mets have the following career numbers against Spencer:

Games Notes

Mets’ pitcher Joey Lucchesi is continuing his rehab from Tommy John surgery. Buck Showalter explained he is a possibility for later in the season. The left-handed pitcher had a 4.46 ERA in 38 1/3 innings last season.

Ronald Acuna Jr. was scratched from the lineup with “lower-body soreness.” Atlanta did not want him to play on the potentially wet grass.

As of game time, the Braves are closer to the Phillies in the standings than they are the Mets. With a win, the Mets can extend their NL East lead to 6.5 games.

The Mets are a season-high 30 games over .500. Prior to this year, it’s the most games the Mets have been over .500 since they were 32 games over with a record of 97-65 to end the 2006 season.

Jacob deGrom has a 1.96 career ERA against the Braves, the third-best mark all-time (min. 140.0 inning pitched). He has been even more dominant at home versus Atlanta, posting a 1.30 ERA (10 earned runs/69.0 innings pitched) with 91 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 11 starts.

Francisco Lindor has recorded 77 RBI in 107 games this season (75 as a shortstop). That is the second-most RBI by a shortstop in Mets’ history (record is 81 RBI in 153 games back in 2006). Lindor ranks 10th in the majors and seventh in the National League with a 4.6 fWAR.