If the New York Mets would ever be compared to Superman, then the Arizona Diamondbacks certainly are their kryptonite. The Amazins’ were swept at home in the second week of August against the Diamondbacks, and then lost three out of four against the D-Backs last week in Arizona. Their only win was the result of a solid 5.2 innings pitched by Noah Syndergaard, picking up his 10th win on the season, giving up four runs (two earned), on seven hits and eight strikeouts. Syndergaard also contributed at the plate, belting a 3-2 fastball off Braden Shipley to right-center field to give the Mets a 3-1 lead in the third.
The Mets fared better by the Bay, taking two out of three from the San Francisco Giants over the weekend. The Mets welcomed back two of their regulars into the starting lineup Friday, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and left fielder Yoenis Cespedes. Both Cabrera and Cespedes went 1-for-4 in their returns Friday, however, Cespedes would make his presence felt in the two ensuing weekend games against the Giants.
Despite the Mets going 3-4 on their road trip, they’re still only 4.5 games back for the second Wild Card, and are gearing up to play a three-game set against the current second Wild Card leader in the St. Louis Cardinals starting Tuesday night. Jon Niese is set to toe the rubber in the opening game, looking to rebound after making the start last Wednesday against the D-Backs, pitching into the fifth while giving up four earned runs, walking two, while striking out six.
The Mets will be without second baseman Neil Walker until Friday, as he went on paternity leave to be with his Niki, as she’s set to give birth to their first child. Bronx native T.J. Rivera was recalled from Triple A Las Vegas to fill in while Walker is away from the team. Rivera hit extremely well while with the Mets for nine games, going 11-for-31 (.355), while manning second and third base.
And finally, Steven Matz was placed on the disabled list, retroactive to August 15, with a mild shoulder strain and rotator cuff inflammation. The good news is there seems to be no structural damage to his left shoulder. In his absence, the Mets have called up RHP Robert Gsellman to take his spot. Gsellman, 23, will be working out of the bullpen initially, even though he was a starter in the minors. In 20 starts this season, Gsellman’s gone 4-9 with a 3.99 E.R.A. in 20 starts. He had 88 strikeouts to 31 walks in 115 innings pitched between Double A and Triple A.
As always, here are your MMO Players of the Week for August 15 to 21.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: YOENIS CESPEDES
Even though Yoenis Cespedes returned to the lineup on Friday, playing in only three of the seven games played last week, he earns MMO’s Player of the Week. Cespedes returned to action on Friday, after being placed on the disabled list on August 3 for a strained right quad. He suffered the strain on July 8 against the Washington Nationals, but continued to play through it, instead of going on the disabled list initially.
During the weekend series at the Giants, Cespedes went 5-for-13, with three homers, five R.B.I., and one double. Cespedes had a monster day on Saturday, going 3-for-5 with two homers and a double, helping the Mets secure the 9-5 win. Cespedes got the Mets on the board early in the top of the first, where he smashed a 3-2 fastball off of Matt Moore for an R.B.I. double down the third-base line, his 19th double of the year. Later in the third, Cespedes belted a 2-1 fastball to deep left-center, traveling an estimated 457 feet according to Statcast.
But Cespedes was not done. In the seventh inning, facing RHP Jake Peavy, Cespedes had yet another majestic moon-shot, this time to left, giving the Mets an 8-2 lead.
Then in Sunday’s 2-0 victory to give the Mets the series, Cespedes strode to the plate in the top of the seventh, after Curtis Granderson led off with a double, the Mets first hit of the game against Giants starter Jeff Samardzija. With the game still scoreless, as Syndergaard was matching zeroes with Samardzija all afternoon, Cespedes smacked a 1-0 splitter deep down the left field line to give the Mets a 2-0 lead. His golf game seemed to come in handy Sunday, as he reached low to belt his 25th homer of the season, and help put the Mets back at .500 on the season, at 62-62.
On the season, Cespedes is hitting .293/.362/.571 with 25 homers and 64 R.B.I. As of Monday night, Cespedes ranks 10th in baseball with a .933 OPS.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK: NOAH SYNDERGAARD
Noah Syndergaard takes home MMO’s Pitcher of the Week, after earning two of the three Mets’ wins last week. Thor took on the Diamondbacks last Tuesday, and held them to four runs (two earned), on seven hits and eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings. He also flashed his Asgardian power once again, connecting on a 3-2 fastball from D-Backs starter Braden Shipley for his third home run of the season. The fifth inning shot went 415 feet according to Statcast, and ties a Mets franchise record for home runs by pitchers with three. Walt Terrell hit three in 1983, and Tom Seaver also reached that mark in 1972. By the way, can Syndergaard get some points for styling his home run swing? What a beautiful follow through he had on that swing, including holding his left hand out while there was a slight skip in his step at the dish. On the season, Syndergaard’s batting .133/.235/.378, with three homers, six R.B.I., and six walks.
Syndergaard followed up that performance with a stellar outing on Sunday, shutting down the Giants in an eight-inning, two-hit masterpiece. Syndergaard had an efficient 98 pitches through eight innings, 66 of them for strikes. Thor walked two on the day, and struck out six, and lowered his E.R.A. from 2.76 to 2.61, good for 4th in baseball.
Sunday was the third time this season that Syndergaard has gone at least eight innings, and it was the first time he completed more than six innings since his July 3 start against the Chicago Cubs.
“The past month and a half, I felt like today was the first day I went out there and actually relaxed and had fun out there,” Syndergaard said. “I just kept things simple. The last month and half, I’ve been trying to think too far ahead in advance.”
On the year, Syndergaard has a record of 11-7 with a 2.61 E.R.A. He has 177 strikeouts in 148 innings pitched, along with a 1.16 WHIP.
