Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Monday, August 16, 2021 • 9:45 P.M.
Oracle Park • San Francisco, CA
LHP Rich Hill (6-4, 4.05) vs. Kevin Gausman (11-5, 2.29)
SNY  • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM

It was not a great weekend for the New York Mets. Between Wednesday and Thursday last week, the Mets won three games. Between Friday and Sunday, they lost three games. On Friday night, New York made a strong comeback effort that fell short in the 10th inning. On Saturday, the pitching kept them in the entire game, but the bats couldn’t get it done in the 10th inning. On Sunday, the team just fell apart. The reward for that was a cross-country overnight flight to play the Giants in San Francisco.

Mets Lineup

  1. Brandon Nimmo — CF
  2. Michael Conforto — RF
  3. Pete Alonso — 1B
  4. Dominic Smith — LF
  5. Jeff McNeil — 2B
  6. J.D. Davis — 3B
  7. Jonathan Villar — SS
  8. James McCann — C
  9. Rich Hill — SP

Giants Lineup

  1. Austin Slater — CF
  2. Kris Bryant — RF
  3. Buster Posey — C
  4. Darin Ruf — LF
  5. Evan Longoria — 3B
  6. Brandon Crawford — SS
  7. Wilmer Flores — 1B
  8. Donovan Solano — 2B
  9. Kevin Gausman — SP

Rich Hill gets the start for the Mets to kick off this road trip. Overall this year, he has pitched in 23 games (22 starts), totaling 113 1/3 innings with a 4.05 ERA, 4.65 FIP, 1.19 WHIP and a 97 ERA+. As a Met, he has tossed 18 innings with a 5.00 ERA, 5.12 FIP, 1.33 WHIP and a 82 ERA+. He allowed three runs (plus one inherited runner) in three innings against the Nationals his last time on the mound, a game the Mets came back to win 8-7. The Giants have the following numbers against Hill:

  • Donovan Solano 2-3
  • Brandon Belt 6-15, 2 2B, HR, 3 BB, 2 K
  • Buster Posey 10-20, 2B, HR, BB, K
  • Wilmer Flores 4-12, 2 2B, HR, 5 K
  • Kris Bryant 2-8, HR, 5 K
  • Brandon Crawford 6-18, 5 BB, 4 K
  • Evan Longoria 4-17, 2B, 2 BB, 6 K
  • Mike Yastrezemski 1-5, 3 K
  • Curt Casali 0-5, BB, 2 K
  • Austin Slater 0-1

The Mets bats will get a look at All-Star Kevin Gausman. This is the third game in a row the Mets will hit against an NL All-Star. Tough break. Over 23 starts and 137 1/3 innings, he has a 2.29 ERA, 2.94 FIP, 0.97 WHIP, and a 182 ERA+. So far in August, he has pitched 11 innings over two games and has allowed three runs (two earned) off eight hits and four walks while striking out 13. Before that, he had a mortal stretch for two games where he allowed nine runs over 8 2/3 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Kevin:

  • Jeff McNeil 4-6, 2B
  • Kevin Pillar 14-39, 2B, 2 BB, 10 K
  • Michael Conforto 2-8, BB, 3 K
  • James McCann 2-10, BB, K
  • Pete Alonso 0-2, BB, 2 K
  • Brandon Nimmo 0-5, BB, K
  • Brandon Drury 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!