Mandatory Credit: Kam Nedd-USA TODAY Sports

Friday, July 9, 2021 • 7:10 P.M.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP JT Brubaker (4-8, 4.09) vs. RHP Taijuan Walker (7-3, 2.44)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM

Let’s Try That Again!

The Mets and Pirates were supposed to start a four game series last night but mother nature had other plans with storms that flooded large portions of the New York metro area. Those storms continued this morning with Tropical Storm Elsa impacting the same places. Assuming that the fields dry out tonight, the Mets should be able to welcome the Pirates into Queens.

One good thing that came from yesterday’s postponement – Brandon Nimmo got an extra day to rest his shoulder. (Although the downside is the doubleheader on Saturday now prevents the Mets having from having all their regulars play for both games).

Mets Lineup 

  1. Brandon Nimmo – CF
  2. Francisco Lindor – SS
  3. Dominic Smith – LF
  4. Pete Alonso – 1B
  5. Jeff McNeil – 2B
  6. Michael Conforto – RF
  7. Jonathan Villar – 3B
  8. James McCann – C
  9. Taijuan Walker – RHP

Pirates Lineup 

  1. Adam Frazier – 2B
  2. Ke’Bryan Hayes – 3B
  3. Bryan Reynolds – CF
  4. Ben Gamel – LF
  5. John Nogowski – 1B
  6. Kevin Newman – SS
  7. Michael Perez – C
  8. Jared Oliva – RF
  9. JT Brubaker – RHP

Taijuan Walker, who should be an All-Star, will start things off for the Mets today. Walker has made 15 starts and pitched 85.0 innings this year with a 2.44 ERA, 3.06 FIP, 1.012 WHIP and a 157 ERA+. He’s coming off of a start against the Yankees where he allowed two runs over 5.2 innings from two hits and two walks. There is only member of the Pirates who has seen Walker in a major league game, Adam Frazier. Frazier is 1-for-4 against Walker.

The Mets bats will get a look at JT Brubaker today. Over 15 starts and 83.2 innings he has a 4.09 ERA, 4.62 FIP, 1.135 WHIP and a 100 ERA+. He’s coming off of a rough start against the Brewers where he allowed 5 runs over 6.0 innings and in his last two starts he has allowed 8 runs from 12 hits over 12.0 innings. Homers have been a weak point for JT in his last three starts allowing 6 of the 16 he’s allowed on the season. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

  • James McCann 2-2, 2 HR
  • Francisco Lindor 0-3, 2 BB
  • Billy McKinney 0-2

Let’s Go Mets!