Tuesday, May 29, 2018• 7:35 p.m.
SunTrust Park • Atlanta, GA
LHP Jason Vargas (1-3, 10.62) vs. RHP Julio Teheran (4-2, 4.20)
SNY • WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050

The Mets are simultaneously living in a space where they cannot catch a lucky break and they cannot execute and it came to a head last night. Hours before the game Noah Syndergaard was sidelined to the DL with a finger issue. During the game (the third in a row that has had a rain issue), while Matz was on a roll, he got sidelined with a finger issue. This is where things fell apart for the Mets. The Mets had to use the bullpen late into the night the previous day and the bullpen last night could not string together six innings allowing under five runs. They should be able to do that, but they couldn’t.

Mets Lineup

  1. Brandon Nimmo  CF
  2. Asdrubal Cabrera  2B
  3. Jose Bautista  LF
  4. Jay Bruce  RF
  5. Kevin Plawecki  C
  6. Adrian Gonzalez  1B
  7. Luis Guillorme  3B
  8. Jason Vargas  P
  9. Amed Rosario  SS

Braves Lineup

  1. Ender Inciarte  CF
  2. Ozzie Albies  2B
  3. Freddie Freeman  1B
  4. Nick Markakis  RF
  5. Kurt Suzuki  C
  6. Johan Camargo  3B
  7. Charlie Culberson  LF
  8. Dansby Swanson  SS
  9. Julio Teheran  P

Now the Mets are going to need to rely on Jason Vargas, on short rest, to give the bullpen rest. He is 1-3 on the year over 20.1 innings with a 10.62 ERA, 6.51 FIP, 2.164 WHIP and 36 ERA+. After a good start in Miami where he allowed no runs over five innings and only two hits with a walk while getting 7 whiffs, he had a terrible start in Milwaukee on Saturday where he allowed five ER over three innings from six hits and two walks. Amazingly, the game was tied when he left at 5-5 and then the Mets imploded and lost 17-6. His second start of the season was against the Braves who got 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings against him leading to six runs. The Braves have the following numbers on Jason:

  • Suzuki 10-41, HR, 3 BB
  • Markakis 8-31, 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB
  • Flowers 1-7, HR, BB
  • Flaherty 3-6, HR
  • Culberson 2-5
  • Albies 1-3
  • Freeman 0-2

The Mets bats will try to get their pitchers more than enough run support, whatever that means, against Julio Teheran tonight. Julio is 4-2 over 11 starts and 60.0 innings with a 4.20 ERA, 5.30 FIP, 1.233 WHIP and 92 ERA+. In his last three starts, he has allowed 13 runs off 15 hits and nine walks in 17 innings. However, his best two starts this season have been against the Mets where he has held them scoreless in 14 innings allowing a total of six hits and three walks. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

  • Bruce 7-34, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 BB
  • Cabrera 9-29, 3 2B, 2 BB
  • Reyes 6-29, 2 3B, 2 BB
  • Gonzalez 6-24, 2B, HR, 3 BB
  • Conforto 4-17, HR, BB
  • Bautista 1-8, 2B
  • Rosario 0-6
  • Mesoraco 0-4

Batting Stats against Teheran from Mets Players on the 10 Day DL:

  • Cespedes 4-23, BB, 10 K
  • Flores 3-21, HR, 3 BB
  • Lagares 4-21, 5 K
  • Frazier 3-17, 2B, HR

Game Notes

Jason Vargas will be pitching on three days rest against the Atlanta Braves. The lefty has a 2.70 ERA for his career in the two games (ten innings) that he has started on short rest, according to Baseball-Reference.

The Mets will have a nine-man bullpen tonight, with the team having called up Tim Peterson, Buddy Baumann, and Scott Copeland prior to tonight’s game.

New York will also only have a three-man bench, with Phillip Evans being sent down. Jose Reyes, Devin Mesoraco, and Michael Conforto will comprise it.

Let’s Go Mets!