Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets entered Sunday night’s game with the same needed outcome as Saturday’s game: win. If New York lost Game 3 of the Wild Card Series at Citi Field on Sunday, they would see their 101-win season come to an end. Unfortunately, after some walk issues by Chris Bassitt, the Mets’ lineup could not touch an elite Joe Musgrove. With that, New York loss 6-0 and was eliminated from the Wild Card round.

The Padres got on the board first. Much like in the Atlanta game, Bassitt seemingly lost his control and walked consecutive batters to load the bases. After several foul balls, Austin Nola hit a single through the infield that scored two runs. San Diego led 2-0 after the second inning.

In the fourth inning, Bassitt once again walked a hitter at the bottom of the Padres’ lineup. Again it hurt him, after a two-out stolen base, Trent Grisham lined a run-scoring single. The Padres led 3-0 after four innings.

Bassitt’s night, like it did in Atlanta his last start, came to a quick end. He only lasted four innings where the walk issues plagued him again, as he issued three free passes. Combine that with the three hits, and Bassitt allowed three runs in total. He threw 61 pitches.

The Padres tacked on in the fifth inning against David Peterson. A single, followed by a sacrifice bunt, and another base hit. San Diego found themselves up 4-0 in the game’s fifth inning.

In was not until the bottom of the fifth inning the Mets broke up Musgrove’s then perfect game bid. Pete Alonso lined a single into right field. Though, two strikeouts and a terrific leaping grab by Grisham ended the inning.

In the sixth inning, Buck Showalter evidently requested a substance check on Musgrove. His spin rates were up and so was his velocity in the game. The check went for naught as nothing was found. The game continued.

After Mychal Givens allowed two runners to reach base, Edwn Díaz entered hoping to inhibit the Padres from adding to their lead. After a sacrifice bunt and strikeout, Juan Soto grounded a ball down the third base line. The Padres led 6-0 in the eighth inning.

The score would stay 6-0 and the Mets were officially eliminated from the postseason. A season, which featured the second-most regular season wins in franchise history, halted. In a pivotal Game 3, New York was only able to muster one hit. The least amount of hits ever allowed in an elimination game. A representation of sorts of how the Mets faltered down the stretch and ultimately had to play in a Wild Card Series. Regardless, certainly not the way the Mets thought, or wanted to see their season end.

On Deck

Unfortunately, New York’s season came to an end. Next up, will be a very important offseason where New York will have to rebuild their pitching staff among other moves. Make sure to follow along at Metsmerized where we will have all the coverage.

The post Mets Stifled, Eliminated In 6-0 Loss To Padres appeared first on Metsmerized.

Sunday, October 9, 2022 • 7:07 P.M.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
Joe Musgrove (10-7, 2.93 ERA) vs. Chris Bassitt (15-9, 3.42 ERA)
ESPN • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050

The Mets and Padres face off tonight at Citi Field for a winner-takes-all rubber game.

After getting trounced in Game 1, the Mets struck back last night. For the Mets, it was the formula they’ve used all year to win 101 games. The starting pitching did it’s job. Edwin Díaz did his job – just a few innings earlier. The Mets’ offense hit a couple of solo shots and then had a big inning to put the game out of reach. There was also some flirting with disaster when the Padres loaded up the bases at the end of the game down by four with Josh Bell at the plate. Though, New York emerged victorious and forced a Game 3.

Padres Lineup

Game 3. #CaptureTheMoment pic.twitter.com/AZYDaXXcZ9

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 9, 2022

Chris Bassitt is on the mound tonight to make sure the Mets can get a ticket to the next round. Over 30 starts and 181 2/3 innings this season, Bassitt has a 3.42 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 1.145 WHIP and a 113 ERA+. His last start in Atlanta was not great, he allowed four runs from three hits over 2 2/3 innings. In the two starts before that, though, he allowed only two runs in 14 innings of work.

He’s also had two very different starts against the Padres this year. In San Diego, he allowed seven runs from eight hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings. Then in Queens, he held the Padres to two runs from four hits over seven innings while striking out 11 batters. The Padres have the following career numbers against him:

• Manny Machado, 3-for-12, 2B, HR, 3 K
• Josh Bell, 2-for-5, 2 HR, BB, 2 K
• Jake Cronenworth, 2-for-5, 2B, 2 K
• Jurickson Profar, 2-for-5, BB, 2 K
• Trent Grisham, 0-for-4, BB, K
• Ha-Seong Kim, 1-for-5, 2 K
• Brandon Drury, 0-for-3, K
• Wil Myers, 1-for-3, 2B, 2 K
• Juan Soto, 2-for-3, K
• Austin Nola, 0-for-2, K

Mets Lineup

Winner takes all. #TheseMets

🆚: San Diego
💪: @C_Bass419
📍: @CitiField
🕕: 7:07 p.m.
📺: ESPN
📻: @wcbs880
🔗: https://t.co/ny1M8kCTsN pic.twitter.com/AGqc5qndZI

— New York Mets (@Mets) October 9, 2022

The Mets’ bats will have to power through Joe Musgrove tonight. Over 30 starts and 181 innings this season, he has a 2.93 ERA, 3.59 FIP, 1.083 WHIP and a 127 ERA+. Musgrove has been on quite the run to end the 2022 season. Over 22 innings over four starts he has allowed only one run from 15 hits while striking out 27 batters (0.48 ERA, 2.48 FIP). In the four games before that, he allowed 17 runs, 13 earned, over 20 innings (5.85 ERA, 6.26 FIP).

He’s only faced the Mets once this season. On July 24th, in Queens, he allowed four runs from five hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Francisco Lindor, 6-for-17, 2 2B, 2 HR, BB, 8 K
• Daniel Vogelbach, 1-for-9, 2 BB, 5 K
• Jeff McNeil, 1-for-8, 2B, K
• Pete Alonso, 3-for-8, HR, BB, 2 K
• Starling Marte, 3-for-9, K
• Eduardo Escobar, 2-for-8, HR, 2 K
• Luis Guillorme, 2-for-7, K
• Tomás Nido, 1-for-6, BB, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo, 0-for-6
• Mark Canha, 1-for-3, 2B, BB, K
• Darin Ruf, 1-for-5, K
• James McCann, 1-for-3, K

Games Notes

The Mets are 13-4 in Game 3 of a Postseason series. This includes going 10-3 in New York.

Chris Bassitt will make his third career Postseason start tonight. Overall, he is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA (four earned runs over 11.0 innings) with one walk and nine strikeouts in those two starts.

Queens’ native Awkawfina will throw out the first pitch.

The post Wild Card Game 3 Thread: Padres vs. Mets, 7:07 P.M. appeared first on Metsmerized.

After a victory in a win-or-go-home Game 2, the New York Mets will face elimination once again Sunday night in Game 3. After a stellar performance by Jacob deGrom Saturday, the Mets will turn to their third starter, Chris Bassitt. On the other side of things, the San Diego Padres will turn to the right-handed Joe Musgrove.

Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Musgrove 

After coming over from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Musgrove’s performances were rewarded with a five-year, $100 million extension in August. He has been well worth it so far, emerging as a terrific number two or three starter a part of a strong San Diego rotation. His 2.93 ERA this season is a pretty good indicator of his performance as his underlying xERA and xFIP of 3.27 and 3.49, respectively, indicate those results have been warranted.

Musgrove has pretty much done everything well a successful pitcher needs to do. He limits hard contact, strikes hitters out, and does not walk batters. This evident by an average exit velocity and hard hit rates that are both above the league’s 88th percentile. His strikeout rate is a little higher than his career average, and his walk rate is one of the lowest of his career. These figures are good for the league’s 65th percentile (K%) and 82nd percentile (BB%).

The California native is not the hardest thrower, but blends his top pitches terrifically. He has thrown four different pitches – slider, four-seam fastball, cutter, and curveball – at least 19% of the time. Each of these pitches have worked superbly for Musgrove, none of the four have a BAA over .229. Musgrove blends his pitches well and it keeps hitters guessing resulting in strikeouts looking and soft contact.

Over his career, his splits have been relatively even. Both right-handed and left-handed hitters batting about .240 off him. This year, for whatever reason, right-handed hitters have actually fared much better against Musgrove. Right-handed batters are hitting .254, meanwhile, .203 by left handers.

Overall, throughout the career, the Mets have always had his number. In 29 1/3 innings pitched against New York, he owns a 5.83 ERA and has given up a BAA of .283. This year, the Mets faced Musgrove once, on July 24th in Queens, he allowed four runs from five hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings. Hopefully this theme continues Sunday night.

Lastly, like his teammates Yu Darvish and Blake Snell, Musgrove has been lights out lately. Over 22 innings in his last four starts, he has allowed only one run and 15 hits while striking out 27 batters (0.48 ERA, 2.48 FIP). He is in arguably the best form of his career entering Sunday night.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Bassitt

Throughout the season, Bassitt has been the Mets’ most reliable starting pitcher. He has pitched to a 3.42 ERA with metrics that back up that figure has been deserved. He set career highs in strikeouts and innings pitched en route to a season that any team would want to see from a third starter.

Like Musgrove, Bassitt has relied heavily on inducing soft contact. This evident by an average exit velocity and hard hit rates that are both above the league’s 87th percentile. Also, much like his counterpart, Bassitt has done a great job blending five different pitches, keeping the opposition on his toes.

As has been harped on, Bassitt made two starts against San Diego this season. Each have gone much differently. In San Diego, he allowed seven runs and eight hits while walking two over 3 1/3 innings. Then, in Queens, he held the Padres to two runs via four hits while striking out 11 over seven innings.

Bassitt will hope Sunday evening’s start against San Diego will go much like his second against the Padres did earlier in the season. And not like it did in his first start at Petco Park went or his last start of the regular season against the Braves. As has been well documented, in Bassitt’s biggest start in a Mets’ uniform, he struggled tremendously in Atlanta (2 2/3 innings pitched, four runs). He had control issues and got burned with runners on base.

Against a Padres time that seems unwilling to swing the bat at time, Bassitt must have his best control. As a whole this season, his 68th percentile BB% indicates he has had pretty strong control. The Mets certainly hope this is the case tonight, as San Diego’s offense thrives on forcing walks and being very patient at the plate. However, when they do swing, they can be vulnerable.

Final Thoughts

On the surface, it appears the Padres should have the edge here when it comes to starting pitching. Musgrove has had a stronger year than Bassitt. Though, as Mets’ fans has seen in the past, sometimes what appears on the surface has absolutely no bearing on what actually happens. Regardless, Sunday night pins two strong pitchers against eachother.

The post Examining The Decisive Game 3 Pitching Matchup appeared first on Metsmerized.

Photo by Chris Simon

Citi Field was rocking on Saturday night when Edwin Díaz got the early call to relieve Jacob deGrom in the seventh inning. Behind three ground-outs, Díaz held the Mets then 3-2 lead and went back to the dugout to await his second inning of work. The Mets’ offense, however, exploded in the bottom half of the seventh and Díaz sat for 46 minutes while his team scored five runs to pad the New York lead to 7-2.

Staked to a five-run lead and six outs away from a potential Game 3 on Sunday, Buck Showalter opted to go back to his closer, who had thrown 19 pitches the prior inning, for a consecutive inning of work. Díaz rewarded his manager and retired two more batters before being pulled from Game 2.

Now, with only four outs away from glory, Showalter demonstrated he was not taking anything for granted and called upon Adam Ottavino the finish the game. However, the usually reliable reliever was not able to lock down the game for New York and got into a bases-loaded jam. After walking in a run and bringing the tying run to the plate, Seth Lugo came into the game to retire Josh Bell and secure Game 2 for the Mets.

Besides the blip from Ottavin0, the Mets’ bullpen has been lights out in the National League Wild Card Series. In Game 1, Trevor May, Lugo, David Peterson, and Mychal Givens did allow a run in a combined 4 2/3 innings of work. Game 2 was more or less the same story and Díaz, Ottavino, and Lugo combined for three innings and never surrendered the lead.

However, due to the managing of the bullpen in Game 2, Showalter will have his back against the wall with his relievers in Game 3. Díaz threw 28 pitches for five outs in Game 2 and never pitched in consecutive games in 2022 after working multiple innings. Lugo and Ottavino are questionable to be available in Game 3 due to Lugo working two consecutive nights and Ottavino throwing 35 pitches on Saturday.

With Joely Rodríguez on the injured list for the remainder of this series and potentially the NLDS, Showalter is left with Drew Smith, May, Peterson, Givens, and Tylor Megill as options to get the ball to Díaz. Despite it not going well in the past, Lugo may be available as well.

While Smith, May, and Givens all had reliable Septembers, none of them have been consistent in high leverage spots this season for the Mets. Peterson looked comfortable out the bullpen in September and can provide long relief in the worst case scenario in Game 3, but he is the Mets only left handed reliever and will most likely be used as a specialist. Megill, on the other hand, has struggled mightily since joining the Mets’ bullpen and gave up four earned runs in six innings this season. It would be shocking to see Megill in any scenario in Game 3.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

If all goes right for the Showalter and the Mets in Game 3, Chris Bassitt will provide length and eat most of the innings himself. Bassitt faced the Padres twice this season and the starts were drastically different. In San Diego, Bassitt lasted only 3 1/3 innings and gave up seven earned runs. Meanwhile, at Citi Field against the Padres, Bassitt struck out a season high 11 batters and gave up one run over seven innings of work.

If Bassitt can go six, or seven innings, it would set the Mets’ bullpen up for success. Regardless, expect Drew Smith to play a pivotal role, as he is the most rested of the bunch. Certainly, a situation to monitor.

The post Analyzing The Mets Bullpen Situation Headed Into Game 3 appeared first on Metsmerized.

Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Heroes are forged in the postseason and Francisco Lindor was exactly that and more for the New York Mets on Saturday. Needing a win in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres, Lindor stepped up and led the offense to a huge win to set up a do-or-die Game 3 on Sunday.

While Max Scherzer took the majority of the blame for a shocking loss in Game 1 on Friday, the offense also failed to show in the first postseason game in Queens since 2016. The Mets’ bats went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and they left 15 runners on base, while some of the team’s big power hitters failed to deliver in huge spots.

That had to change heading into a decisive Game 2, and the Mets needed one of their franchise cornerstones to really step up and lead the charge. That man proved to be Lindor who did a little bit of everything on the offensive side of the game, setting the tone for the rest of the offense early.

Lindor hit a first-inning home run, crushing it 403 feet to left-center field. This following a five pitch at-bat and it gave something for the Citi Field crown to finally cheer. Righting a big wrong from the night before, the Mets did a real nice job of making the pitcher work and Blake Snell‘s pitch count was driven up early before he was eventually chased from the game. Whereas they wasted golden opportunity after golden opportunity on Friday, Lindor and the Mets made sure that every swing counted on Saturday and getting back to basics proved to be the vital recipe for success.

Francisco Lindor puts the Mets on top! 🍎

(via @Mets) pic.twitter.com/xFliRa76dH

— SNY (@SNYtv) October 8, 2022

“That’s our key,” Lindor said after the game. “We tried on Friday but you just got to tip your hat to Yu Darvish and the rest of the pitching staff. We (on Saturday) played our game and we came out on top. You always want to start on the right track. That’s really important but that’s not the key. The key is to continue to do it the whole entire game, you know. Stay on it, stay on it.”

And Lindor did just that. He stayed right on it. Having been quiet in the Mets’ last four games – going 2-for-16 during that span without an extra-base hit – Lindor used his first inning homer as a springboard for more success. He drew a walk in the second inning, singled in the seventh and scored two runs, becoming the straw that really stirred the drink for the Mets’ offense on Saturday. Furthermore, he was also electric on the base paths by taking extra bases on multiple occasions and he was the true difference maker in Game 2.

“You’ve got to get it done, there’s no other choice,” Lindor said. “Go out there, no excuses, compete, compete, compete, give it your best and hope for the best.”

Lindor, who finished 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs, a walk and an RBI, certainly gave it everything he had on Saturday as he was also incredibly effective in the field too. If the Mets are to come out on top in a winners-take-all Game 3 on Sunday, then they will need another all-action, dominant outing like the one Lindor delivered on Saturday. If he can produce another monster night at the plate, then that will go a long way towards setting up a mouthwatering showdown with the Dodgers in the NLDS.

The post Francisco Lindor Serves As Much-Needed Spark In Game 2 appeared first on Metsmerized.

The New York Mets turned to their ace of nine years on Saturday night in a do-or-die Game 2. Well, despite not having his best stuff at time, the two-time Cy Young winner turned in a start good enough to give the Mets an opportunity to live another day. After six strong innings, the Mets piled on some insurance runs and Jacob deGrom earned an all-important Game 2 victory.

Leading up to Saturday nights start, deGrom did not look like the elite pitcher many knew him to be. Over his previous four outings, deGrom gave up at least three runs in each. One of the starts also featured a short, four-inning appearance against a woeful Athletics team that saw the right-handed ace give up five runs.

In 21 innings across those four starts, deGrom had a 6.00 ERA. His season ERA sat at an uncharacteristically high 3.08 by season’s end. In a win-or-go-home ballgame Saturday, both the Mets and deGrom could not afford a start along the lines of what he has been posting.

Well, in the game’s first two innings Saturday, those struggles looked to be all but history. DeGrom tallied two perfect innings. The first of which featured strikeouts of Juan Soto and Manny Machado back-to-back. Jake was pumping in 102 MPH with ease, making Padres’ hitters look silly.

However, in the third inning, thoughts of his previous starts started to creep back in. He gave up a longball to Trent Grisham. DeGrom, who was beat by the home-run ball several times in his recent lackluster outings, was a victim of it once again.

In the fourth inning, deGrom pitched around a Josh Bell leadoff single and even saw his team give him a second lead of the night by the inning’s end. However, once again, the lead was quickly relinquished. After a leadoff walk, and a ensuing sacrifice bunt, Jurickson Profar, a Met-killer this season, lined a ball that just nicked the chalk down the left-field line for a run-scoring single.

Jacob deGrom, Elevated 100mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/XfXHYGRltN

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 9, 2022

Luckily, deGrom battled back and struck out both Machado and Bell, consecutively, to strand runners at first and third base. This appeared to be the turning point in the ballgame. As after deGrom showcased his classic ability to get huge outs when he needed them most, the Mets ran with the game and did not turn back.

At 90 pitches, and after a brief discussion with the coaching staff, deGrom was sent back out for the sixth inning. This after he was given his third-given lead of the contest. Boy, was that correct decision. Jake only needed nine pitches to get through arguably his most efficient inning of the night. He struck out Jake Cronenworth, then got a fly out and ground out to complete his night.

After the game, deGrom explained that he felt he had his best stuff in the inning. Interestingly enough, he also mentioned how he finally felt his fastball wasn’t a little off and he had the height on it he wanted. After the Grisham home run earlier in the game, deGrom relied on his slider for the majority of the rest of his outing. Appears though, in the successful sixth inning, his fastball finally came back to him.

In all, deGrom threw 99 pitches across the six innings. He allowed five hits and walked two, while only allowing two runs. DeGrom struck out eight and registered the much-needed win as New York extended their 3-2 lead the team had after he exited.

Coincidentally enough, this start felt much like deGrom’s start in an elimination game against the Los Angeles Dodgers back in 2015. In that start, he also went six innings while allowing two earned run. He allowed one more hit, walked one more, struck out one less, but also, like in Saturday’s start, did not have his best stuff at times. Though, he was able to tough it out and register the victory. After the game, deGrom mentioned how similar the two felt.

What may be the most intriguing about the start, is it may potentially be deGrom’s last appearance in a Mets’ uniform. As has been well documented, deGrom has an opt-out in his contract at year’s end and he has expressed that he will exercise it. Of course, there is still an avenue for the Mets to re-sign him and bring him back. Though, deGrom did say himself, in his postgame press conference, that it did cross his mind that Saturday may have been his last start in a Mets’ uniform.

Regardless, the two-time Cy Young winner turned in a monumental start when his team needed it most. Despite an uncertain future, deGrom certainly did not disappoint in giving his team of the last nine seasons the chance to advance to the NLDS Sunday night.

The post Jacob DeGrom Posts Gutsy Effort In Game 2 Victory appeared first on Metsmerized.

Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets could not accept anything less than a win. That’s exactly what they got, emerging victorious against the San Diego Padres on Saturday night at Citi Field by a score of 7-3 to tie the Wild Card series at 1-1. Jacob deGrom made his best pitches when he needed them the most, while the offense worked long counts all night before roaring to life in an electric seventh inning. A decisive Game 3 on Sunday with everything to play for looms on the horizon.

The Mets knew the importance of starting off strong, and they did just that. DeGrom looked downright untouchable in the top of the first, striking out Juan Soto and Manny Machado in a quick inning.

Brandon Nimmo led off the bottom of the first with a single against Padres starter Blake Snell, but he was erased on the basepaths when Starling Marte grounded into a double play. The Mets would not be denied, as Francisco Lindor crushed a solo home run to kick off the scoring and give the Mets an early 1-0 lead.

STUD! @Lindor12BC pic.twitter.com/2zerSIueM7

— New York Mets (@Mets) October 8, 2022

The Mets got two more batters to reach in the first before Snell was able to induce a flyout from Jeff McNeil to escape trouble. The Mets had two runners on again in the second inning, but a Marte liner was caught in centerfield to end the threat.

DeGrom was dominant in the first two innings, but he ran into some trouble in the third inning. Trent Grisham took him deep for a solo homer, his second in as many days, to tie the game at 1-1. Grisham has found his power stroke after hitting just .184 with a .341 slugging percentage in the regular season, and he has done so against two of the premier starters in all of baseball in Max Scherzer and deGrom.

The Padres then proceeded to put runners on the corners with two outs in the third on a walk to Jurickson Profar and a single from Soto. deGrom bared down, striking out Machado for a second time to strand a pair of runners on base.

The game did not stay tied for long, as the Mets cashed in on an ineffective Snell in the fourth inning. The first two batters of the inning reached on walks, and after Tomás Nido failed to advance the runners with a sacrifice bunt, Nimmo picked up his third hit of the game with an RBI single to score Eduardo Escobar. That hit knocked Snell out of the game after just 3 1/3 innings pitched, having allowed two runs on four hits and issuing six walks. The Padres brought in Nick Martinez, who got Marte and Lindor to fly out to keep it a 2-1 game.

Those outs proved crucial, as the Padres immediately tied it in the top of the fifth. Grisham walked to lead off the inning, and Austin Nola advanced him to second on a sacrifice bunt before Profar drove him in with an RBI single. The Padres again put runners on the corners, but deGrom did what deGrom does best, striking out Machado and Josh Bell to prevent a blow-up inning.

The back-and-forth continued into the bottom of the fifth, as Pete Alonso hit a solo homer on the first pitch he saw in the frame to put the Mets back up 3-2. It was Alonso’s first career postseason homer, and it could not have come at a better time for a team that squandered plenty of opportunities to score earlier in the game.

DeGrom saved his best for last, pitching a clean sixth inning on just nine pitches to finish out his night. He went six strong innings, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out eight. He did walk two batters and allow another home run, his fifth straight start giving up a long ball, but he was able to step up to the moment and keep his team in the game with timely punchouts.

The Mets turned to Edwin Díaz for the seventh inning, trusting their best reliever in a high-leverage situation. Díaz did not pitch much down the stretch in the regular season, and things got dicey when Nola reached on a single that was just out of the reach of a jumping Lindor, bringing the top of the lineup to bat. Díaz handled it masterfully, inducing groundouts from Profar and Soto to preserve the 3-2 lead.

McHits #Postseason edition. #TheseMets pic.twitter.com/Zd5FjRO8iA

— New York Mets (@Mets) October 9, 2022

Adrián Morejón took the ball for the Padres in the bottom of the seventh. He promptly gave up a single to Lindor before issuing back-to-back walks to Alonso and Mark Canha on a pair of epic 10-pitch at-bats. McNeil made him pay, squaring up a pitch for a two-run double to knock Morejón out of the game.

Escobar kept the line moving against the new Padres reliever Pierce Johnson with an RBI single, making him the fifth straight batter to reach base to start the inning. Daniel Vogelbach came through with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to drive in the fourth run of the inning and push the Mets’ lead to 7-2. Johnson got Nimmo and Marte to strike out to end the inning, but the damage was more than done.

The Mets stuck with Díaz for the eighth inning, who got two outs before giving way to Adam Ottavino for the final out of the frame. Ottavino stayed in for the ninth but was not able to get the job done, walking in a run to bring Bell to the plate representing the tying run. Seth Lugo was the man tasked with facing Bell, and he got him to ground out to survive the threat and secure the victory.

The Mets will enter Sunday’s game having posted an 18-4 record in rubber matches this season. Of course, this is no ordinary rubber match, and the stakes have never been higher for this team.

Player of the Game: Francisco Lindor

Lindor has been the Mets’ most well-rounded player all season, and every one of his skills was on full display on Saturday. His first-inning homer was his sixth career postseason long ball, and he is only the second Mets shortstop to go yard in the postseason, joining José Reyes in Game 6 of the 2006 NLCS. He also made big plays on the basepaths, taking extra bases on multiple occasions and scoring two runs. This Mets offense will only go as far as Lindor can carry them, and on this night, he was more than happy to shoulder the load.

Final line for Lindor: 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 R, BB, SO

On Deck:

The Mets will look to earn a spot in the NLDS when they face off against the Padres in Game 3 on Sunday at Citi Field. The game will be broadcast on ESPN, and the time for the first pitch will be at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Mets will have Chris Bassitt on the mound, while the Padres will counter with Joe Musgrove.

The post Mets Bounce Back, Win 7-3 Against Padres to Force Game 3 appeared first on Metsmerized.

Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Padres (1-0) defeated the New York Mets (0-1) by the score of 7-1 in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card series Friday. Max Scherzer was awarded the start due to his fantastic first season in Flushing and did not pitch to the back of his baseball card. Meanwhile, Yu Darvish was dominant for the Padres and shut down the Mets’ offense over seven strong innings.

San Diego started its onslaught against Scherzer in the first inning. Jurickson Profar took the first pitch of the game into left field for a single and put Scherzer in immediate trouble. The Mets’ ace was able to bear down and retired Juan Soto and Manny Machado for the first two outs. Right when it seemed Scherzer was going to escape the inning, Josh Bell launched a fastball over the fence to give the Padres an early 2-0 lead.

The Padres kept the pressure on Scherzer and got to him again in the top of the second. After retiring the first two batters of the inning, Scherzer looked to escape the top of the second unscathed. Then, with two outs, Trent Grisham hit a solo home run to increase the Padres’ lead to 3-0.

Scherzer retired the next six batters but ran into more trouble with the long ball in the top of the fifth. Ha-Seong Kim singled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a ground-rule double hit by Austin Nola. Profar, who slashed .364/.482/.591 against the Mets in 2022, followed Nola’s double with a three-run home run to double the Padres’ lead to 6-0. Two batters later, with two outs in the inning, Machado hit a solo home run of his own to pad the Padres’ lead to 7-0.

Scherzer was pulled from the game after the home run to Machado. In his first postseason start in Queens, Scherzer allowed seven earned runs and four home runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched. It was the first time in 22 postseason starts where Scherzer had allowed more than two home runs. The seven earned runs Scherzer allowed in Friday’s start were the second most allowed by the ace in his postseason career, the most being nine earned against the Texas Rangers back in the 2011 ALCS.

The Mets finally struck against Darvish in the top of the fifth inning. With one out in the inning, Eduardo Escobar clubbed a solo home run to center field to cut the deficit to 7-1. Brandon Nimmo hit a triple after the solo home run but was stranded on third base.

Darvish continued to cruise in Game 1 and did not allow another run in his outing against the Mets. The Padres ace silenced the crowd in Queens and allowed one run over seven innings of work.

The Mets bullpen was lights out against the Padres after Scherzer exited the game. Trevor May, Seth Lugo, David Peterson, and Mychal Givens combined for 4 1/3 innings and did not allow a run.

The Mets offense was non-existent the whole night and was not able to capitalize on scoring opportunities. In Game 1, the Mets went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and were one swing away from being shut out.

Player of the Game: Eduardo Escobar

Escobar was the bright spot in a dormant Mets offense on Friday night. The Mets’ third baseman went 2-for-3 with a home run, double, and walk in Game 1 against the Padres.

On Deck

Jacob deGrom (5-4, 3.08 ERA) will take the mound on Saturday due to the Mets’ Game 1 loss. DeGrom will pitch in the postseason for the first time since 2015 and look to return to form after pitching to an ERA of 4.50 in September.

Blake Snell (8-10, 3.38 ERA) will get the nod against deGrom on Saturday for the Padres. Snell was excellent in September and pitched to an ERA of 2.17 while striking out 12.7 batters per nine innings.

Game 2 will begin at 7:37 p.m. on Saturday. Fans can catch the game on ESPN and WCBS 880.

The post Mets Stunned By Padres in 7-1 Wild Card Loss appeared first on Metsmerized.

Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets entered their pivotal three-game set against the Atlanta Braves with one main goal in mind. This being, do not get swept. Well, after two straight frustrating losses to begin the series, they are one game from the worst-case scenario. With a loss Sunday night, the Mets would be 2.0 games back of Atlanta and without the division tiebreaker. Their division title chances would be all but over.

The Mets entered this weekend’s crucial three-game set with Atlanta up a single game. Of the four scenarios, only one was fatal. And it is the one they are quickly approaching. After losing Friday night’s game 5-2, the Mets’ chances of clinching the division via sweep ended. Luckily, at the time, New York still had a terrific opportunity to either ensure the team can control their own destiny or put Atlanta on the brink. Unfortunately, the chance to take two-of-three from the Braves, and put Atlanta on the brink, also went by a the wayside thanks to a 4-2 loss Saturday night.

That leaves one more game, Sunday night’s contest. With a loss, as mentioned above, the Mets would be 2.0 games back and no longer hold the tiebreaker over Atlanta. If this happens, the only way the Mets would be able to win the division is if the Braves were to get swept by the Marlins and the Mets sweep the Nationals. Each both occurring? Very, very slim.

So, if the Mets want any realistic shot at winning the division crown, a win Sunday night is a must. With a victory, New York would tie the Braves back up at the top of the division standings. Most importantly, a victory would give New York the season series over Atlanta, which serves as the division title tiebreaker. So, in essence, New York would control their own destiny. They would either need to obtain the same record, or a better one than Atlanta (versus Miami) the last three-game series of the season against Washington.

Regardless the outcome, the Mets will still be returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Still a very successful regular season, though one with an ending that rightfully would sting if they are unable to capture the division. This given all the time the Mets spent in first place, and the fact they once held a 10.5 game division lead.

The post Mets’ NL East Title Aspirations On The Brink appeared first on Metsmerized.

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2016. They still have a division title to play for but let’s look a bit ahead at who they might carry on their 26-man postseason roster.

As always, players on the 40-man roster or on the 60-day injured list as of 11:59 p.m. on August 31 are eligible for the postseason.

Starting Lineup (8)

1. James McCann
2. Pete Alonso
3. Jeff McNeil
4. Francisco Lindor
5. Eduardo Escobar
6. Mark Canha
7. Brandon Nimmo
8. Starling Marte

The Mets starting lineup for the postseason shouldn’t be much of a surprise. You play the eight that have carried you to a possible 100-win season and stick with it. The only possible change would be due to Marte’s health, but he’s supposed to return before the end of the regular season.

Bench (5)

9. Tomás Nido
10. Daniel Vogelbach
11. Tyler Naquin
12. Luis Guillorme
13. Terrance Gore

Do the right thing and admit trading for Darin Ruf was a mistake. Gore makes the roster over Ruf. The Mets added Gore to the roster before the August 31 deadline, showing their intention to have the speedster available off their bench for a postseason run. Ruf has made the decision easier for the Mets by batting .152/.216/.197 in 29 games as a team member.

The remainder of the bench just makes sense. Obviously, the Mets will roster two catchers, likely playing the starting pitcher’s preference. Vogelbach is the DH frontrunner unless the Mets prefer to bat Escobar there and have Guillorme’s glove at third base. Naquin has been solid and has come on as a late-inning defensive replacement.

Rotation (4)

14. Max Scherzer
15. Jacob deGrom
16. Chris Bassitt
17. Carlos Carrasco

No Taijuan Walker here. Simply put, it’s the playoffs and you won’t be throwing all five starters when you have Scherzer and deGrom. Also, the fact Walker has majorly regressed in the second half of the season for a second straight year. I believe the Mets will toss Walker into the pen but if they were to choose a fifth started I’d select David Peterson over him.

Bullpen (9)

18. Edwin Diaz
19. Adam Ottavino
20. Seth Lugo
21. Trevor May
22. Joely Rodriguez
23. Mychal Givens
24. David Peterson
25. Trevor Williams
26. Taijuan Walker

Let’s start with the inarguables. Diaz, Ottavino, Lugo, Rodriguez, and Williams are guaranteed to have a spot in the pen for the postseason. They’ve been the most consistent and the best throughout 2022 and deserve to be there.

Then things get muddy. May hasn’t been spectacular in 2022 with all the injuries he’s been dealing with but will make the roster because of his pedigree. Givens was going to be a DFA candidate after his first two weeks with the Mets but he turned his time in New York around allowing a run in just one of his last 11 appearances. Currently, he’s on the COVID-19 injured list.

Peterson has only made six appearances out of the pen but it’s tough to see the Mets go without a second lefty there. He has the ability to provide length if needed but he’s been shaky in the role.

Walker will get the nod as the last spot. I don’t see him pitching much outside of a possible piggyback role and that’s where things get difficult. I’m leaving Drew Smith and Tylor Megill out of the bullpen because they haven’t shown they’re not capable right now to throw a clean inning. Yes, both are coming back from major injuries and have shown flashes this season but that was in April and May. The Mets need someone who can be relied upon and neither of these two can right now.

Maybe the Mets are bold. They leave Walker off the playoff roster because he’s not needed and short themselves by one pitcher to add another position player. Could Dominic Smith – who has been crushing it in Syracuse – return? It’s the playoffs so the Mets will exhaust all options but this is how I’d build out the roster.

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