Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Wednesday, August 25, 2021 • 7:10 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Johnny Cueto (7-6 3.89) vs. RHP Taijuan Walker (7-9, 3.86)
SNY • MLBN • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM

Around 6 PM last night, I was starting to wonder if the Mets were about to start something special. They had a good win on Sunday. They activated Francisco Lindor the first time in a month. The Giants were starting one of their weaker starters in the rotation. Maybe the Mets can get a little magic going in Queens, make a run for it this month.

Then the game happened. Tylor Megill had a real bump in the road start against one of the best offenses in the league. The Giants starter had a great start against the Mets offense which seemed stuck. Oh well.

Mets Lineup

  1. Brandon Nimmo – CF
  2. Pete Alonso – 1B
  3. Jeff McNeil – 2B
  4. Michael Conforto – RF
  5. Javier Baez – SS
  6. Dominic Smith – LF
  7. Jonathan Villar – 3B
  8. Patrick Mazeika – C
  9. Taijuan Walker – RHP

Giants Lineup

  1. LaMonte Wade Jr. – RF
  2. Brandon Belt – 1B
  3. Kris Bryant – 3B
  4. Alex Dickerson – LF
  5. Brandon Crawford – SS
  6. Mike Yastrzemski – CF
  7. Curt Casali – C
  8. Tommy La Stella – 2B
  9. Johnny Cueto – RHP

The Mets could always turn it around tonight though as they turn to Taijuan Walker. In 23 starts and 123.2 innings of work, Walker has a 3.86 ERA, 4.28 FIP, 1.181 WHIP, and 104 ERA+. Walker has faced the Dodgers in back-to-back starts, first holding them to only 1 run over 6.2 innings, in a game, the Mets eventually lost 2-1. Then his last time out he allowed 4 runs over 6.0 innings, in a game the Mets eventually lost 4-1. It’s no secret Walker has struggled since the All-Star Break but recently the Mets bats have given him no help, scoring a combined 2 runs overall in the last three games he’s started. The Giants have the following numbers against Walker:

  • Brandon Belt 2-7, 3B, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
  • Austin Slater 1-2, BB, K
  • Kris Bryant 2-4, K
  • Tommy La Stella 1-2, K
  • Brandon Crawford 4-15, 2 2B, BB, 5 K
  • Wilmer Flores 1-3
  • Buster Posey 2-8, BB, K
  • Curt Casali 0-3, K

The Mets bats will get a look at Johnny Cueto tonight. Cueto has made 19 starts and pitched 104.0 innings with a 3.89 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 1.279 WHIP, and 107 ERA+. August has not been the friendliest month for Cueto. At the start of the month, he made two starts allowing 7 runs, 5 earned, over 10.1 innings from 11 hits, and five walks. He was then placed on the injured list with a right flexor strain and is making his first start of the IL tonight. The Mets have the following numbers against Cueto:

  • Kevin Pillar 4-6, HR, K
  • Brandon Drury 7-10, 2B, 3 BB, 2 K
  • Jonathan Villar 2-11, 2B, 2 BB, 4 K
  • Francisco Lindor 0-2, BB
  • Javier Baéz 0-12, 5 K

Let’s Go Mets!