Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Wednesday, July 28, 2021 • 7:10 P.M.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
LHP Max Fried (7-6, 4.46) vs. RHP Tylor Megill (1-0, 2.10)
WPIX• WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM

Last night was a frustrating night for the Mets and makes tonight’s game even more important. Jerad Eickhoff was named the starter a couple of hours before pitching and allowed 10 runs. At that point, the game became unreachable for the Mets bats. The Mets executed their other plan – give key players in the bullpen a rest and got lucky with the Nationals beating the Phillies. The Mets held their 3.5 game lead in the East and they ended up using Eickhoff, Yennsy Diaz, Smith and Banda in the pen last night.

Mets Lineup

  1. Brandon Nimmo – CF
  2. Pete Alonso – 1B
  3. Jeff McNeil – 2B
  4. J.D. Davis – 3B
  5. James McCann – C
  6. Michael Conforto – RF
  7. Jonathan Villar – SS
  8. Kevin Pillar – LF
  9. Tylor Megill – RHP

Braves Lineup

  1. Joc Pederson – RF
  2. Ozzie Albies – 2B
  3. Freddie Freeman – 1B
  4. Austin Riley – 3B
  5. Dansby Swanson – SS
  6. Abraham Almonte – LF
  7. Guillermo Heredia – CF
  8. Kevan Smith – C
  9. Max Fried – LHP

But that adds pressure to the game tonight. The Mets need a big start from Tylor Megill and a big night from the Mets bats. Megill has done everything the Mets have asked him to do this year, and more. In his first 6 starts and 30.0 innings, he has a 2.10 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 1.100 WHIP, and a 187 ERA+. In his last two starts he’s allowed no runs from nine hits and a walk over 12.0 innings. His only average starts this year were his first two starts of his career – against the Braves. He allowed five runs from eight hits and four walks over 9.1 innings. The Braves have the following numbers against him:

  • Guillermo Heredia 1-1, BB
  • Freddie Freeman 3-5, 2 K
  • Ozzie Albies 1-5, HR, 2 K
  • Ehire Adrianza 0-1, BB
  • Austin Riley 1-5, K
  • Dansby Swanson 0-4, 3 K
  • Abraham Almonte 0-4

The Mets bats will look to do their part versus Max Fried tonight. Over 16 starts and 84.2 innings, Fried has a 4.46 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 1.370 WHIP and a 100 ERA+. In July he’s had one great start against the Rays where he allowed no runs over 7.0 innings, and three bad starts totaling 13 earned runs in 15.0 innings. In one start against the Mets this year he allowed two runs over 5.0 innings in a game the Braves won 20-2. The Mets have the following numbers against Max:

  • Luis Guillorme 2-4, 2B
  • Jonathan Villar 3-8, 2 2B, K
  • Tomas Nido 2-5, 2B
  • Brandon Nimmo 2-7, 2B, 2 BB, 3 K
  • Pete Alonso 3-16, 2 HR, 4 BB, 6 K
  • Jeff McNeil 6-17, 3 2B, 4 K
  • Kevin Pillar 3-10, 2 2B, K
  • J.D. Davis 4-15, 3 BB, 4 K
  • James McCann 0-2, 2 BB
  • Michael Conforto 2-19, 2B, 3 BB, 10 K
  • Dominic Smith 0-4, BB, K
  • Brandon Drury 0-2

The Mets are encouraging fans to wear black this Friday, July 30 when the Mets host the Cincinnati Reds at 7:10 p.m. The Mets will debut their black Nike jerseys and wear them at all Friday home games for the remainder of the 2021 season.

Let’s Go Mets!