Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Rich Hill allowed two runs on two hits and four walks while striking out six in five innings during Saturday’s loss to Milwaukee. The 41-year-old left-handed pitcher is 0-4 in 11 starts (12 appearances) in his Mets tenure, although he’s rarely pitched poorly with his new team.

He’s allowed four or more runs just once in 12 appearances since he was traded from Tampa Bay in July. Hill lines up for one more start this season, which projects as a home date versus Miami this coming week. In his last seven games, Hill has thrown 36 2/3 innings, allowing 33 hits, 13 earned runs and nine walks while notching 39 K, a 3.19 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP.

The only damage Hill allowed Saturday was a two-run single to Eduardo Escobar in the third inning. A brilliant double play got Hill through the first inning, and he pitched a solid four more innings the rest of the way.

Overall, Hill has been a solid pitcher for a struggling Mets team and once again, the season will end the same way it has the last four years. The Mets were officially eliminated from Wild Card contention on Friday and from NL East contention Saturday. The Sept. 25 loss meant the Mets couldn’t possibly get 82 wins–a winning record–this season.

Hill has made the postseason each of the last five seasons (with the Dodgers from 2016-2019 and the Twins in 2020), but he’ll miss them this season.

“It’s the joy that it brings, going to the postseason and having that opportunity of hope that this could be the year. To play in those situations, where the team really comes together, you get a sense of self-sacrifice that happens for the next guy,” Hill said in his post-game press conference. “It’s just electric in the postseason, and that’s something that, for me obviously, that’s what I love,” he continued.

Hill’s final line: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 6 K.

Aaron Loup (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K) came in for the sixth inning and was able to keep the Brewers under control. Loup now has a 0.98 ERA with the Mets over the whole season. Trevor May (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) pitched the seventh, gave up a walk and a hit but nothing more. In the eighth, Seth Lugo (1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K) had a 1-2-3 inning, but it wasn’t enough to pull out a win. This was the Mets fourth straight loss.

Final score: Brewers 2-1