Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Tuesday, August 31, 2021 • 1:10 PM – Game 1
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Elieser Hernandez (1-1, 3.63) vs. RHP Taijuan Walker (7-9, 3.82)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM
The Mets are on a two-game winning streak and that should be the story around the team, but it’s the Mets so there needs to be a controversy. After Sunday’s win, Javier Bàez revealed that that the thumbs-down celebration he and others (Pillar, Lindor, etc) have been doing was to boo back at the fans for booing them. Whatever.
It’s ridiculous for fans to boo their own team anyway, this wasn’t a big deal. However the story blew up and yesterday was filled with statements from players, Steve Cohen. All the typical things when something dumb and small gets super dumb and large when it comes to the Mets.
So that’s the backdrop the Mets come into today’s historic game with. The first game of the day is a continuation of a game from 142 days ago, which broke the record of 126 games set in 1995. There is a Marlins player on first base and if Taijuan Walker keeps him off the base paths, Marcus Stroman’s ERA will actually go down today.
Mets Lineup
- Brandon Nimmo – CF
- Francisco Lindor – SS
- Dominic Smith – LF
- Pete Alonso – 1B
- Jeff McNeil – 2B
- Michael Conforto – RF
- Jonathan Villar – 3B
- Patrick Mazeika – C
- Taijuan Walker – RHP
Marlins Lineup
- Jorge Alfaro – LF
- Alex Jackson – C
- Jesus Aguilar – 1B
- Brian Anderson – 3B
- Jesus Sanchez – RF
- Jazz Chisholm Jr – 2B
- Miguel Rojas – SS
- Bryan De La Cruz – CF
- Elieser Hernandez – RHP
Although it’s not really a start, Walker is essentially making his 25th start of the season today. Over his first 24 games and 129.2 innings, Walker has a 3.82 ERA, 4.30 FIP, 1.149 WHIP, and a 105 ERA+. In his last start he allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, over 6.0 innings against the Giants.
However, that stat line hides that Walker was doing tremendously well and was pulled out of the game after getting into trouble in the 7th inning. Loup who came in behind him, immediately allowed two runs to score which were charged to Walker. Walker has faced the Marlins twice this year. Back on April 8th, he allowed 2 runs from 4 hits and 2 walks over 6.0 innings. On August 3rd he allowed 4 runs from 8 hits and 2 walks over 5.2 innings.
The Marlins have the following numbers against Walker:
- Jesus Aguilar 2-5, 2B, BB, K
- Jorge Alfaro 0-2, BB
- Brian Anderson 1-7, 3 K
- Lewis Brinson 1-3, K
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. 0-1, BB, K
- Bryan De La Cruz 3-3
- Isan Diaz 2-3, HR
- Alex Jackson 1-3, HR, K
- Miguel Rojas 1-8, 2B
Elieser Hernàndez will be pitching in his 6th major league game this season today. Over 22.1 innings he has a 3.63 ERA, 5.40 FIP, 1.075 WHIP, and a 114 ERA+. He’s also made 6 starts in the minors this year and has posted a 2.63 ERA over 24.0 innings with a 0.625 WHIP.
He’s been pitching regularly in the rotation with the big league team since August 15th, logging 15.0 innings allowing 8 runs, only 6 earned (3.60 ERA). This will be Elieser’s first game against the Mets.
Let’s Go Mets!
