Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Thursday, June 2, 2022 • 10:10 P.M. ET
Dodger Stadium • Los Angeles, CA
RHP Taijuan Walker (3-0, 2.83) vs. RHP Tony Gonsolin (5-0, 1.80)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050
The Mets start their largest challenge of the season tonight – a ten-game road trip where they will face the Dodgers, Padres, and Angels.
Overall the Mets have had a difficult schedule to start the season and this is the stretch that feels like the peak. They are about to play three good teams, including one of the best in baseball, for ten road games. Most of the games are happening outside normal, east coast fan viewing hours. The Mets though are also riding a six-game winning streak and are coming off their first two sweeps of the season.
Mets Lineup
The Mets start rolling on a 4-game series in Tinseltown tonight! 🎬 #LGM pic.twitter.com/wNtPxM6kib
— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) June 3, 2022
Dodgers Lineup
Tonight's #Dodgers lineup vs. Mets: pic.twitter.com/xDhCHs21Yh
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 2, 2022
Taijuan Walker looks to keep the Mets on the winning path tonight. Over his first seven starts and 35.0 innings, Walker has a 2.83 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 1.257 WHIP, and a 141 ERA+. Walker has allowed 12 runs, 11 earned this season, and seven of those runs came against the Phillies in one start. Since that start, he has allowed five runs over 24 innings with a 1.88 ERA. Walker faced the Dodgers last season in back-to-back starts, allowing one run over 6 2/3 innings on August 14 and then four runs over six innings on August 19. The Dodgers have the following career numbers against him:
- Trea Turner 4-13, 2B, BB, 2 K
- Cody Bellinger 3-14, HR, 3 K
- Justin Turner 3-13, 2B, BB, 3 K
- Chris Taylor 2-11, 2B, 2 BB, 4 K
- Freddie Freeman 2-11, HR, 4 K
- Mookie Betts 2-5, BB, 2 K
- Will Smith 2-6, 2B, HR
The Mets bats will get a look at Tony Gonsolin who is off to a tremendous start this year. Over nine starts and 45.0 innings, Tony has a 1.80 ERA, 3.19 FIP, 0.933 WHIP, and a 230 ERA+ (all career bests). He has been a bit more human over his last three starts, allowing five runs over 18 innings, translating to a 2.50 ERA. Tony missed the month of August last season, which is when both series with the Mets happened. There are only two Mets on the roster who have seen him in a major league game: Eduardo Escobar (5-13, 2B, 2 HR, 3 K) and Starling Marte (0-4).
Game Notes
Francisco Lindor is out of the Mets lineup on Thursday night after slamming the middle finger on his right hand in a door at the hotel.
Tylor Megill is one step away from going on a rehab assignment. Buck says that Friday will be Megill’s work day and then they will see how he feels on Saturday to determine the next step.
Jacob deGrom did not make the trip out West with the Mets as previously planned. Buck says New York is “better equipped” to handle the needs of deGrom’s rehab right now.
Buck also said that Scherzer is doing well, “Every day I look at it, there are some improvements.”
Let’s Go Mets!
