Wednesday, July 25, 2018 • 12:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, N.Y.
LHP Clayton Richard (7-9, 4.82) vs. RHP Corey Oswalt (0-2, 5.64)
SNY • WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050

In another universe, Noah Syndergaard is pitching today. Maybe in that universe, the Mets are in a pennant race, Jacob deGrom is getting run support and I’m not going to WebMD every day to read about what ancient ailment is crushing the Mets today.

Mets Lineup

  1. Amed Rosario  SS
  2. Asdrubal Cabrera  2B
  3. Wilmer Flores  1B
  4. Jose Bautista  RF
  5. Michael Conforto  LF
  6. Kevin Plawecki  C
  7. Brandon Nimmo  CF
  8. Jose Reyes  3B
  9. Corey Oswalt  P

Padres Lineup

  1. Travis Jankowski  RF
  2. Carlos Asuaje  2B
  3. Wil Myers  LF
  4. Eric Hosmer  1B
  5. Manuel Margot  CF
  6. Freddy Galvis  SS
  7. Carlos Villanueva  3B
  8. Austin Hedges  C
  9. Clayton Richard  P

But we live in this universe where Syndergaard is on the DL with hand, foot and mouth disease so Corey Oswalt is back. I was quite unhappy when the Mets sent down Oswalt last week to get ready for Vargas, so I’m glad he’s back. Before we jump into his numbers it’s important to note that every time Oswalt has struggled it has been when his pitching schedule was disrupted which has been often. He is 0-2 over five games and four starts in 22.1 innings with a 5.64 ERA, 5.08 FIP, 0.985 WHIP and 69 ERA+. His WHIP is what is giving me hope. His FIP and WHIP are quite separated and it is unclear right now which one is telling his story (my gut tells me this is because he was near perfect in his last start until he allowed a three-run double from three walks to a pitcher).

The Mets will face Clayton Richard who is 7-9 over 21 starts and 127.0 innings posting a 4.82 ERA, 4.31 FIP, 1.346 WHIP and 82 ERA+. He is also leading the league in hits (120) and earned runs (68). He is coming off his worst start of the season where he allowed 7 runs over 3.0 innings and in his last five starts he is 1-4 over 27  innings with a 7.00 ERA. At the end of April, he faced the Padres allowing three runs over 6.2 innings from six hits and three walks. The Mets have the following numbers against Richard:

  • Reyes4-18, HR, 3 BB
  • Cabrera 8-16, 5 2B
  • Flores 2-8, 2 HR, BB
  • Conforto 1-7, 2B, BB, 5 K
  • Mesoraco 1-6
  • Bautista 1-6, HR
  • Rosario 1-3

Game Notes

Michael Conforto is 7-for-14 with two home runs and six RBI since the All-Star Break.  Hent 2-2 off lefthander Eric Lauer last night. Since June 16, Conforto is hitting .425 (17-40) off lefthanders. From the beginning of the season-June 15, Conforto was 9-54 vs. lefthanders (.167).

Since June 16, Asdrubal Cabrera is hitting .293 (34-116) with six homers, 18 RBI, 14 walks, 15 runs scored and a .369
OBP. Cabrera’s 38 extra-base hits are tied for the second-most among major league second basemen, trailing Ozzie Albies (52).

Matt den Dekker has 18 at-bats on the season so far and has not recorded a hit yet. He has walked twice while striking out nine times.

Jeff McNeil recorded his first MLB hit last night on the very first pitch he saw from Phil Hughes in the eighth inning as a pinch-hitter for Phillip Evans.

The Mets are 9-9 in the month of July and will go for their first series win today since May 18-20, in which they swept the Arizona Diamondbacks. New York has already had a series-split four times this month.

Let’s Go Mets!