Saturday, August 1, 2020 – 7:10 p.m.
Turist Park – Atlanta, GA
RHP Michael Wacha (1-0, 1.80) vs RHP Touki Toussaint (0-0, 20.25)
SNY – WCBS 880 AM – WQBU 92.7 FM

This has been quite a week for the Mets.

The Mets lost back to back games in Boston that were winnable. Many chances early and late with runners in scoring position and the Mets just fell flat. It happens. Yesterday, after being in an early 2-0 hole, the bats erupted, scoring 10 runs. That wouldn’t be enough as the bullpen continued to dissolve and the Mets ended up losing 11-10.

Mets Lineup

  1. Brandon Nimmo CF
  2. Jeff McNeil 3B
  3. Pete Alonso 1B
  4. Michael Conforto RF
  5. Robinson Cano 2B
  6. Yoenis Cespedes DH
  7. Dominic Smith LF
  8. Wilson Ramos C
  9. Amed Rosario SS

Braves lineup

  1. Ronald Acuna Jr. RF
  2. Ozzie Albies 2B
  3. Freddie Freeman 1B
  4. Marcell Ozuna LF
  5. Matt Adams 1B
  6. Dansby Swanson SS
  7. Johan Camargo 3B
  8. Ender Inciarte CF
  9. Tyler Flowers C

Meanwhile, the Coronavirus situation with the Cardinals has gone from bad to worse and like every other day this week – there is serious concern that the season will be able to continue.

But while MLB tries to figure that out, Michael Wacha will get the start against Atlanta and try to get the Mets back on track. In his first start of the season in Boston, he allowed 1 run, a homer, over 5.0 innings with 5 hits, a walk and 4 strikeouts. Last year he faced the Braves once, allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, over 5.0 innings from 4 hits, 4 walks and 4 strikeouts. The Braves have the following numbers against Michael:

  • Austin Riley 1-2, HR, K
  • Travis d’Arnaud 2-3, HR, BB
  • Charlie Culberson 2-3
  • Ender Inciarte 6-9
  • Freddie Freeman 4-9, 3 BB, 2 K
  • Matt Adams 1-2, K
  • Marcell Ozuna 2-5, K
  • Adam Duvall 4-19, 2 2B, 4 BB, 3 K
  • Ronald Acuna Jr. 1-3
  • Dansby Swanson 1-7, 2 K
  • Ozzie Albies 0-3

The Mets will get a look at Touki Toussaint who is making his first start of the season. In his one relief appearance against the Rays this past week, he allowed 6 runs from 5 hits and a walk over 2.2 innings, while striking out 6. He pitched in 24 games (and made one start) in 2019, totaling 41.2 innings with a 5.62 ERA, 4.99 FIP, 1.680 WHIP and 82 ERA+. He pitched 3 games and 9.2 innings against the Mets last year allowing 5 runs, 4 earned, on 8 hits and 5 walks while striking out 10. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

  • Robinson Cano 1-1, 2B
  • Michael Conforto 2-4, 2 2B, 3 BB
  • Jeff McNeil 3-7, 2B
  • Brandon Nimmo 0-1, 2 BB
  • Amed Rosario 1-7, BB, K
  • Pete Alonso 0-4, BB, 2 K

Game Notes

Wacha made his Mets debut at Fenway Park and defeated the Red Sox, tossing 5.0 innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out four.

Wacha has never earned a win against Atlanta, making four career starts (six games) and is 0-3 with a 3.65 ERA (10 earned runs/24.2 innings) with 11 walks and 20 strikeouts against the club.

The Mets rank 28th in the majors with a 7.09 bullpen ERA after eight games.

Andrés Giménez made his second career start last night and went 2-4 in the contest, he is hitting .308 (4-13) with two
runs, a triple, an RBI and a steal in eight games.

Rosario has collected 30 hits at Truist Park, hitting .341 (30-88) with 16 runs, seven doubles, two triples, two home runs, 15 RBI, five steals, and an .875 OPS in 21 career games there.

Let’s Go Mets!

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