Morning Briefing: Mets Lose Again

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, Mets fans!

Max Scherzer is not who the Mets had hoped he would be this year. Outside of two or three better outings coming off his 10-game suspension, Scherzer has looked rough and, frankly, washed.

That trend continued on Tuesday night when the Mets fell to the crosstown rival New York Yankees, 7-6. At one point in this game, the Mets led by the score of 5-1 up until Scherzer got knocked out in the fourth inning.

Each team exchanged solo homers in the first inning, courtesy of Giancarlo Stanton and Brandon Nimmo. The Mets then took the lead later in the bottom of the first with a Brett Baty RBI-single.

Jeff McNeil added to the lead with a two RBI-single that put the Mets up 4-1, then Mark Canha singled in another run to put the Mets up 5-1. This was where the Mets could not rely on Scherzer.

The Yankees tagged Scherzer for five runs in the fourth inning. DJ LeMahieu socked a two-run homer to start the comeback in the top of the fourth and was then followed by a Anthony Volpe RBI-double that would put the Yankees behind by one run. Jake Bauers‘ lone hit in the game put the Yankees in front, 6-5, as Bauers drove home two with a single.

Bauers two-RBI single knocked Scherzer out of the game and was replaced with Dominic Leone. Leone got the next two batters out to end the inning. Scherzer went 3 and 1/3 innings and gave up seven hits, six earned runs while allowing two homeruns. He struck out a pair.

Luis Guillorme tied the game for the Mets with an RBI-single that brought home Baty. With the score tied at six apiece, Josh Donaldson hit a sacrifice fly to right field that brought home former Met Billy McKinney. The game would end with the Mets falling 7-6 and have now lost nine of their last 10 games.

Latest Mets News

The other big news for the Mets, besides the loss, was they will be without reliever Drew Smith after failing a sticky substance check prior to the seventh inning. He will likely join Scherzer as the only Mets to get the 10-game suspension for failing the check with the umpires. Smith, during a postgame interview, said he has not done anything differently to prepare for relief outings. Similar to Scherzer, he claimed to only being using sweat and rosin.

It doesn’t appear the Mets are shaking up their rotation order right now, as Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. Tylor Megill has been told he’ll start Friday against the Cardinals, which is his regular turn.

Ronny Mauricio has a bone bruise in his left ankle, the Mets said. He is day to day.

The Mets released Tommy Hunter, according to DiComo. Stephen Nogosek, who also cleared waivers, has been outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse.

Latest MLB News

The Cardinals will host the Giants at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala., for one game in 2024, as first reported by Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Willie Mays once played there in the Negro Leagues with the Birmingham Black Barons.

Los Angeles Angels’ Brandon Drury has received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for making contact with umpire Ramon De Jesus, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The suspension had been scheduled to begin tonight, but Drury has elected to appeal, so it will be held in abeyance until the process is complete.

Joe Torre has been appointed to Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors, according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. This will bring the total number of directors to 17 for the nonprofit educational institution.

Erasmo Ramirez has signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, according to Premier Talent Sports and Entertainment.

The Cubs today made the following roster moves:

-Selected Anthony Kay from Iowa Cubs.

Gary Sánchez has six home runs in 44 at-bats for the Padres. His latest, a three-run shot, gives the Padres a 4-0 lead in the first inning. His three home runs at Petco Park this season are tied for second most on the team.

Trevor Bauer, who’s pitching in Japan, faces another sexual assault allegation, which he vehemently denies, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

J.D. Davis left tonight’s game with a right ankle sprain and Mitch Haniger has a fractured right forearm, according to Maria Guardado of MLB.com.