Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Good morning, Mets fans!
On Wednesday, the Mets (45-38) split a doubleheader with the Brewers (52-36), completing a series win over Milwaukee.
The Mets took the first game by a score of 4-3, with some more late inning offense leading the way. Jacob deGrom (7-3, 1.08) gave up two home runs for the first time this season, but was otherwise routinely excellent; his line: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 10 SO. In striking out 10 and walking none for the fifth time this year, deGrom set a club record for number of times achieving this feat in one season.
The game seemed to be all but lost in the last of the seventh, with All-Star closer Josh Hader bidding for another save. But with one out, pinch-hitter extraordinaire Jose Peraza stepped up and smacked a fastball out to tie the game at 2. Edwin Diaz was shaky, allowing the ghost runner on second to score in the top of the eighth, but Jeff McNeil served a two-run walk-off single to set Citi Field into a frenzy. Take a look at the full game recap here.
Game two didn’t go as smoothly, as spot starter Robert Stock was tagged for a two-run homer in the second inning, and the offense failed to muster a single run against the Brewers’ pitching staff. New York’s best opportunity came in the bottom of the sixth down 3-0, when opposing pitcher Brad Boxberger started the inning by walking the bases loaded, then struck out three in a row, crushing any remaining hope for the Mets. You can read the game recap here.
Tonight, New York will start its final series before the break, a four-game set at home vs. the Pirates (32-54), MLB’s third-worst team by winning percentage. In game one, it will be All-Star snub Taijuan Walker (7-3, 2.44), who is coming off of yet another solid performance in a Mets win, when he shut down the Yankees, earning his seventh win. The Mets are 12-3 when Walker starts, and that’s due in large part to his stellar season. Taijuan has pitched to the tune of a minuscule 2.44 ERA, ranking tenth of all starters in baseball.
It will be JT Brubaker (4-8, 4.09) starting for Pittsburgh, who has been the team’s best starter in terms of ERA. Brubaker is coming off of a six-inning, three-run performance against the Brewers, and will face a Mets team that is hoping to breakout on offense against one of the league’s worst pitching staffs (26th in pitching WAR). The game is at 7:10 PM EST, and will air on SNY.
Now, let’s get into the briefing.
Latest Mets News
Johneshwy Fargas, who has been out since May 25 when he collided with Citi Field’s center field fence, started a rehab assignment with St. Lucie on Wednesday night, and went 1-4 with a solo home run.
Latest MLB News
In the midst of an investigation regarding an alleged sexual assault, the Dodgers are distancing themselves from right-hander Trevor Bauer. After first striking his scheduled promotional bobblehead day, the team also pulled all Bauer-related merchandise from the team store.
The Home Run Derby is set. On Wednesday afternoon, both Joey Gallo and Juan Soto announced their intent to participate. Reigning champion Pete Alonso will match up against those two, as well as Matt Olson, Shohei Ohtani, Trey Mancini, Salvador Perez, and Colorado’s own Trevor Story.
After opting out of his deal with the Cubs, infielder Dee Strange-Gordon has signed a minor league deal with the Pirates, in an attempt to reach the big leagues once again.
The Dodgers placed the Hall-of-Fame bound lefty Clayton Kershaw to the injured list, citing left elbow inflammation.
Rockies General Manager Bud Black said on Wednesday morning that All-Star starting pitcher German Marquez is “off the table” in trade talks, and that the team won’t make any significant moves until after the All-Star break. Colorado’s ace has a 3.59 ERA over 105.1 innings this season, and was considered the best arm available in a market of teams starved for pitching, until this news broke.
Adam Eaton was designated for assignment by the Chicago White Sox Wednesday afternoon. The 32-year old outfielder signed a 1 year, 8 million dollar deal with Chicago, but has had a tough 2021 season, slashing just .201/.298/.344 through 58 games.
Two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani hit his MLB-leading 32nd home run on Wednesday, and that broke the record for most long-balls in a season by a Japanese-born player, set by Hideki Matsui. Matsui released a statement congratulating Shoehei, which you can read here.
The Braves made a roster move, optioning young catcher William Contreras to Triple-A and selecting the contract of veteran Jonathan Lucroy. Atlanta has high hopes for the 23-year old Contreras (the team’s #7 prospect coming into the season), but after a cold start to the year (-0.3 fWAR), the Braves decided he needs more time to develop.
The Athletics announced that reliever Trevor Rosenthal, who was the team’s biggest offseason acquisition at 1 year, $11 million, will be out for the year with a torn hip labrum, which will require surgery.
Latest on MMO
Thomas Hall wrote about Jon Gray, a Rockies starter who could be a trade candidate before the upcoming deadline, and how he could fit into this Mets team.
Catch up on how some high-profile Mets minor leaguers have been performing; read Ryan Kolakowski’s minors recap here.
Beyond the Blog
Mets Maniacs: In their newest episode, the Mets Maniacs cover the Brewers series, touch on the magic of Jose Peraza, late inning Mets heroics, Francisco Lindor’s team approach, and much more. They also talk how strategy differs in seven-inning doubleheader games, and the current status of the team heading into our last series before the break.
On This Date in Mets History
2014: The Mets win their milestone 4,000th game in franchise history. Jacob deGrom strikes out 11 Braves in an 8-3 victory at Citi Field.
2019: Pete Alonso takes home the Home Run Derby crown, becoming the first Met ever to win the event alone (Darryl Strawberry shared the title with Wally Joyner in 1986).
Let’s go Mets!
