MMO Game Thread: Cubs vs Mets, 7:10 PM

Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Tuesday, June 15, 2021 • 7:10 P.M.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Alec Mills (2-0, 6.08 ERA) vs. RHP Taijuan Walker (5-2, 2.07 ERA)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM

The Mets look to take Game 2 of this four game set with the Cubs tonight!

Last night was exactly what the doctor ordered! David Peterson had been struggling and he came out amped and raring to go. He carved through the Cubs lineup for six innings, allowing no runs – and James McCann deserves a lot of credit for that that as well.

Edwin Diaz capped the game off by striking out the side – the top of the Cubs lineup – as the Mets beat the Cubs at home for the first time since 2017.

Mets Lineup

Jonathan Villar – 3B
Francisco Lindor – SS
Dominic Smith – LF
Pete Alonso – 1B
Billy McKinney – RF
James McCann – C
Kevin Pillar – CF
Luis Guillorme – 2B
Taijuan Walker – RHP

Cubs Lineup

Joc Pederson – LF
Kris Bryant – 3B
Javier Baez – SS
Anthony Rizzo – 1B
Willson Contreras – C
Ian Happ – CF
Jason Heyward – RF
Sergio Alcantara – 2B
Alec Mills – RHP

Taijuan Walker looks to keep the good times in Queens rolling tonight. Over 11 starts and 61.0 innings he he has a 2.07 ERA, 2.84 FIP, 1.033 WHIP and a 187 ERA+.

He’s coming off of a strong start in Baltimore where he allowed one run over 7.0 innings from five hits and a walk while striking out nine. Possibly his worst start of the year came against the Cubs, where he allowed three runs, two earned from two hits and six walks over 3.2 innings.

The Cubs have the following numbers against Walker:

Jake Marisnick 2-4, BB
Joc Pederson 7-17, 2 2B, HR, BB, 4 K
Kris Bryant 2-4, K
Ian Happ 0-1, 2 BB, K
Eric Sogard 3-10, BB, K
Jason Heyward 1-4
Anthony Rizzo 0-4, BB
Rafael Ortega 0-1
Javier Baez 0-4, 3 K

Alec Mills returns to the rotation for the second time this season for the Cubs. He has pitched in 13 games and 23.2 innings with a 6.08 ERA, 5.86 FIP, 1.521 WHIP and a 63 ERA+.

His last time out on June 8th was first time pitching since landing on the IL in mid-May, he allowed a run over an inning from a hit and two walks. His only start this season was on April 13th where he allowed two runs over four innings from two hits and no walks.

Alec also had a lengthy relief outing against the Mets on 4/21 where he held the Mets to one hit and no runs over three innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Mills: