Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Thursday, August 19, 2021 • 10:10 P.M. EST
Dodger Stadium • Los Angeles, CA
RHP Taijuan Walker (7-7, 3.75) vs. RHP Corey Knebel (2-0, 2.89)
SNY • MLBN • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM

The Mets finally won a game yesterday!

It was another chaotic day in Metsville – Steve Cohen made comments about the Mets hitting (specifically their lack of hitting) which turned on the outrage machine in all directions among Mets fans. And for a while, it looked like the same old Mets – they got a great start from Tylor Megill but the offense wasn’t doing anything! The Mets finally took a 2-1 lead in the 11th but the Giants tied the game immediately. The Mets broke out in the top half of the 12th and eventually won 6-2.

Yesterday’s win was much needed but the Mets really blew through their bullpen. Castro, May, Díaz, Familia and Reed all got work yesterday. Díaz will almost definitely be unavailable today since he tossed two scoreless innings yesterday.

Mets Lineup

  1. Brandon Nimmo – CF
  2. Jeff McNeil – 2B
  3. Pete Alonso – 1B
  4. Michael Conforto – RF
  5. J.D. Davis – 3B
  6. Dominic Smith – LF
  7. Jonathan Villar – SS
  8. Patrick Mazeika – C
  9. Taijuan Walker – RHP

Dodgers Lineup

  1. Trea Turner – 2B
  2. Max Muncy – 1B
  3. Justin Turner – 3B
  4. Corey Seager – SS
  5. Will Smith – C
  6. AJ Pollock – LF
  7. Chris Taylor – RF
  8. Cody Bellinger – CF
  9. Corey Knebel – RHP

So a lot will fall on Taijuan Walker today. Over 22 starts and 117 2/3 innings this year, Walker has a 3.75 ERA, 4.38 FIP, 1.181 WHIP and a 107 ERA+. He’s coming off of his best start in a while where he held the Dodgers to one run from two hits over 6 2/3 innings. The Mets need that exact performance again from Walker (against the same team). The Dodgers have the following numbers against Walker:

  • Will Smith 1-3, HR, K
  • Corey Seager 5-16, 2B, HR, 4 K
  • Max Muncy 1-5, HR, 2 K
  • Cody Bellinger 3-12, HR, 3 K
  • Albert Pujols 3-13, HR, 2 K
  • Trea Turner 2-10, 2B, BB, 2 K
  • Justin Turner 2-10, 2B, BB, 3 K
  • Billy McKinney 0-1, BB, K
  • Chris Taylor 1-9, 2B, 2 BB, 4 K
  • AJ Pollock 0-6, 2 K

The Dodgers have their own pitching issues today. Dave Roberts, after last night’s game, was committing to a bullpen game today without a planned bulk pitcher. Yesterday the Dodgers used Bruihl as a starter, going 1 2/3 innings and followed him with Mitch White in the bulk role, who took that title to heart and pitched 7 1/3 innings.

On the 17th, the bullpen needed to provide 4 1/3 innings which was pitched by Knebel, Bickford, Treinen and Jansen. In that game the bullpen allowed only two hits and one run. If the Mets can get to the Dodgers bullpen early today they can cause a stress effect on the starters for the rest of the weekend (assuming they force Roberts to use a ton of pitchers, and get those pitchers to put a lot of work in). After last weekend against the Dodgers, the Mets need every advantage they can get.

Game Notes

Mets are hopeful that James McCann will be available off the Mets bench tonight.

Michael Conforto has reached base safely in each of his last 17 games and he has a .908 OPS during that span.

Francisco Lindor (from both sides) and Javier Baez both took live BP and looked “really good” according to Mets’ manager Luis Rojas.

Baez has been practicing at second base and that’s where the Mets expect him to play when he returns. Jeff McNeil would see time at third base and potentially corner outfield as well.

Let’s Go Mets!