Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, September 24, 2022 • 4:07 P.M. EST
RingCentral Coliseum • Oakland, CA
RHP Jacob deGrom (5-2, 2.32) vs. LHP Ken Waldichuk (0-2, 7.13)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050

What a night for the Mets! The Mets won! The Braves lost! The Mets enter play today with a 2.5 game lead in the division, which feels a lot better than the one game lead they’ve been nursing for the better part of the last couple of weeks.

Chris Bassitt pitched eight fantastic innings yesterday in his old stadium, giving everyone except Drew Smith the night off. The Mets offense was on fire, collecting 13 hits, including a grand slam by Eduardo Escobar.

A’s Lineup

Jacob deGrom is hoping the Mets offense saved some runs for his start tonight. Over nine games and 54 1/3 innings this year, deGrom has a 2.32 ERA, 1.36 FIP, 0.607 WHIP, and a 168 ERA+. He’s coming off back-to-back starts of allowing three runs, but his strikeout numbers have been through the roof – 23 over 11 innings. He’s allowed a homer in four of his last five starts, which has been his only weak point so far this season. Unsurprisingly, there are only two batters who have seen deGrom in an official game before. Stephen Vogt is 1-5 with a double and two strikeouts against deGrom, and Tony Kemp is hitless in three at-bats with a strikeout.

Mets Lineup

The Mets bats will get a look at Ken Waldichuk tonight, who was part of the package of prospects the Yankees sent to the Athletics this season for Frankie Montas. Waldichuk has made four starts in the majors this year, totaling 17 2/3 innings with a 7.13 ERA, 4.75 FIP, 1.585 WHIP, and a 54 ERA+.

Waldichuk’s first start was fine – he allowed one run from five hits and four walks over 4 2/3 innings. Since then, he has allowed 13 runs from 16 hits and three walks over 13 innings, including three homers. His last outing was his shortest one, which lasted 2 2/3 innings, and only 52 pitches (82-93 pitches in his other starts).

Game Notes

The Mets have won 12 of their last 15 games in the sunshine. Overall, New York is 37-18 in day games this season.

Jacob deGrom has struck out eight or more and walked one or none in eight straight starts, the longest such streak in MLB history

The Mets returned to action last night and defeated the A’s, 9-2. The Mets have won seven of their last eight games.

Let’s Go Mets!