Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets (20-17, first place in the National League’s eastern division) continue their nine-game road trip with three games against manager Don Mattingly‘s Miami Marlins (20-23, fourth place in the National League’s eastern division).

The Mets are coming from Atlanta, where they took two of three from the Braves after dropping three games in Tampa Bay, giving the Mets a 2-4 record thus far on their road trip.

The Mets, already depleted by severe bites from the injury bug,  sustained more injuries in Atlanta, with Kevin Pillar going down after a gruesome hit-by-pitch, and Taijuan Walker landing on the injured list with left-side tightness. After Wednesday night’s game, Luis Rojas announced that Pete Alonso was unavailable for the game due to soreness in his left wrist, and the first baseman was to go for an MRI on Thursday. The Mets have indicated that results of the MRI will be announced on Friday.

The Mets are relying on, and getting, above-expectation performances by “bench mob” players such as Jonathan Villar and Tomas Nido, and have had to import new bodies in Khalil Lee, Wilfredo Tovar, Johneshwy Fargas, and Cameron Maybin to fill their roster. The Mets have shown grit and fortitude to be able to tread water and maintain their grip on first place. One has to wonder how long the surprisingly good can continue under these conditions.

The good news is that J.D. Davis, Jacob deGrom, Seth Lugo, and Noah Syndergaard are getting closer to returning. The immediate futures of Brandon Nimmo, Albert Almora, Luis Guillorme, and Carlos Carrasco are unclear. Jeff McNeil and Michael Conforto may be out for a while with hamstring injuries. This is quite a list of players on the injured list.

The Mets have played the Marlins twice this year at Citi Field, and the teams have split those games. One game was rained out, and will be made up in August. Weather will not be an issue for this series in Miami, as the Marlins have a retractable roof.

Let’s take a look at the projected pitching matchups for the series.

Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Friday , May 21, RHP Marcus Stroman (3-4) NYM vs RHP Jordan Holloway (1-2) MIA, 7:10 pm

Stroman in 2021: GS: 8, ERA: 2.72, WHIP: 1.06,  IP: 46.1, H: 39, BB: 10, SO: 35,  ER: 14, HR: 6

Last 3 starts: May 5 vs. STL (L, 5.0IP, 2ER), May 11 vs. BAL (ND, 6.1IP, 1ER), May 16 vs. TBR (L, 6.0IP, 5ER)

Holloway in 2021: GS: 2, ERA: 2.70, WHIP: 1.26, IP: 16.2, H: 11, BB: 10, SO: 13, ER: 5, HR: 0

Last 2 starts: May 10 vs. ARI (L, 3.2, IP, 3ER), May 15 vs. LAD (L, 3.0IP, 2ER)

Stroman, after starting the season pitching brilliantly to a 3-9 record, has hit a bit of rough patch in his season. In his last start at Tampa Bay, he uncharacteristically surrendered three home runs in taking the loss. With the injuries to the Mets’ rotation, the team needs Stroman to step up and deliver a solid outing, especially after the heavy bullpen usage in Atlanta and the likelihood of at least one bullpen game in this series.

Holloway began his career in. 2020, throwing just one-third of an inning. He was used as a reliever this season until his start on May 10. He throws his fastball and slider equally at 44% of the time for each pitch. The Marlins may be trying to stretch him out into a permanent starter’s role. It will be interesting to see how far he goes in this game.

The game can be seen locally on SNY and heard locally on WCBS radio 880 a.m.

Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, May 22, Undecided NYM vs LHP Pablo Lopez (1-3) MIA, 4:10 pm

Lopez in 2021: GS: 9, ERA: 3.12, WHIP: 1.24, IP: 49.0, H: 45, BB: 16, SO: 46, ER: 17, HR: 5

Last 3 starts: May 5 vs. ARI (ND 5.0, IP, 1ER), May 11 vs. ARI (L, 4.1IP, 6ER), May 15 vs. LAD (W, 5.0IP, 2ER)

The Mets have a couple of options for this game. They may call up Jordan Yamamoto, who tossed 2.2 innings in St. Louis on May 5, getting the win in relief in a bullpen game. The Mets may also give a look to Thomas Szapucki, who is 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA for Triple-A Syracuse this season. Joey Lucchesi is also a candidate to start, or the Mets could go with a bullpen game.

Lopez has a career record of 14-19. He features a fastball that he throws 56% of the time, and a changeup that he throws 26% of the time. Lopez will also mix in cutter and a curveball.

The game can be seen locally on WPIX and heard locally on WCBS radio 880 a.m.

Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday, May 23, Undecided NYM vs RHP Cody Poteet (1-0) MIA, 1:10 pm

Poteet in 2021: GS: 2, ERA: 1.80, WHIP: 0.90,  IP: 10.0, H: 7, BB: 2, SO: 9,  ER: 2, HR: 1

Last 2 starts: May 12 vs. ARI (W, 5.0IP, 2ER), May 18 vs. PHI (ND, 5.0IP, 0ER)

The Mets have not announced a starter for the game. They have the same options as listed above for the May 22 game.

Poteet is in his rookie season. He throws a fastball 55% of the time, and divides the remainder of his pitches essentially equally among a slider, curveball, and changeup. The Mets often struggle against pitchers they have not seen before, so this will be an interesting game to watch to see if this trend continues.

The game can be seen locally on WPIX and heard locally on WCBS radio 880 a.m.

Series Notes for Mets (stats through games of May 5)

Mets by the numbers, with MLB rankings:

BA .230 (20th)

OBP .315 (12th)

SLG .350 (29th)

OPS .664 (25th)

Team ERA 3.28 (5th)

Starters’ ERA 2.95 (4th)

Relievers’ ERA 3.77 (10th)

Mets OPS leaders (among players who are active) are Tomas Nido (.902), Pete Alonso who is currently on the active roster, pending his MRI (.769), Jonathan Villar (.716)

Francisco Lindor ended his hitless streak at 26 ABs in Thursday’s game, and is now slashing .189/.301/.280

James McCann is slashing .202/.269/.242

Series Notes for Marlins (stats through games of May 19)

Marlins by the numbers, with MLB rankings:

BA .231 (18th)

OBP .295 (27th)

SLG .368 (25th)

OPS .663 (26th)

Team ERA 3.60 (7th)

Starters’ ERA 3.57 (8th)

Relievers’ ERA 3.64 (8th)

Active Marlins OPS leaders are Jazz Chisholm (.997), Jesus Aguilar (.879), Miguel Rojas (.806)

Starling Marte, Jorge Alfaro, and Lewis Brinson are on the injured list.

As noted earlier, the Mets will continue to play with a roster that looks nothing like their opening day 26-man crew. They’ve been fun to watch, playing with heart and resilience since the onslaught of the injuries. Their thin roster, particularly on the pitching side, will once again be tested in this series against the Marlins, where they clearly will give their bullpen a heavy workload.

Beginning with this series, the Mets will play 17 days in a row, which will further tax the bullpen and exacerbate the need for reinforcements (that hopefully are not far off).

Statistically, the Mets and Marlins are quite similar (though the Mets’ numbers are skewed by players not currently available). The Mets will have to find a way to win with their compromised roster. Teams will sustain significant injuries to their pitching staffs or their lineups; seldom do teams incur the numbers of injuries the Mets have on both sides of their roster.

The Mets will need to continue to dig deep and ask players to outperform expectations if they are to remain competitive within their division.

The post Series Preview: Mets Continue Road Trip With Three Games In Miami appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

On Wednesday, Marcus Stroman accepted the qualifying offer of $18.9 million to return to the Mets for the 2021 season. Stroman’s return has several positive aspects to it, and was pleasing to new owner, Steve Cohen.

Marcus , That is great news . Looking forward to meeting you soon.I will call you over the next few days to thank you .

— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) November 11, 2020

Stroman Helps The Rotation

This is the obvious one. The Mets desperately need starting pitching, and Stroman will be a welcome re-addition. It’s highly unlikely that Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha will return, leaving the Mets with a rotation of Jacob deGrom, Stroman, David Peterson, possibly Seth Lugo, and an open fifth spot (with Noah Syndergaard‘s return date unknown and Steven Matz‘s role on the team undefined).

The upgrade of Stroman over Porcello and Wacha is significant. Wacha, who was in and out of the rotation last year, posted an ERA of 6.62 in 2020, and Porcello had an ERA of 5.64. Stroman has a career record of 51-47, with an ERA of 3.76.

The Mets still need pitching help, and given the new ownership, any option seems to be on the table. Trevor Bauer, newly anointed Cy Young Award winner, has been mentioned as a possible target. If the Mets fill the rotation in at the top, Stroman can become and third or fourth starter. If the Mets fill in at the lower part of the rotation, Stroman may become the number two starter. Either way, the Mets have added a valuable and versatile piece to the 2021 rotation.

Stroman’s Return Helps Validate What We Were Thinking

Mets fans have long thought that the Mets were seen as less-than-attractive destination for top talent. When Stroman was acquired in July of 2019, rumors were that he was not happy about becoming a Met. The Blue Jays’ clubhouse was closed when the trade was announced, and reporters said they heard yelling in the room.

Stroman seemed to settle in once he arrived, but there was always a feeling that he did not want to stay. When he became a free agent, many thought his time in Queens was done, and Stroman did little to make people think otherwise. When Cohen assumed control of the team, Stroman’s position changed instantly. He even acknowledged a sense of excitement after the press conference.

After watching the presser, I’m beyond excited to play for you sir. I could feel the excitement and passion you’re going to bring daily. Let’s go be great! @StevenACohen2

— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) November 11, 2020

Of course, Stroman’s acceptance of the qualifying offer could be a function of baseball’s current economics. He, and other free agents, would be entering a free agent market heavily impacted by the shortened 2020 season with no fans. Contracts will be less lucrative, and Stroman could be buying time until the financial state of the game improves.

Stroman’s Return Could Have A Snowball Effect

This one may have the biggest implications. Free agent signings can beget free agent signings. The Mets signed Pedro Martinez in December of 2004, and Carlos Beltran signed with the Mets less than a month later. Beltran said that the signing of Martinez signaled that the Mets were serious about winning, and influenced his decision.

The same could happen now under Cohen’s ownership. Stroman has chosen to return. Other players may take that as a sign that things are different in Flushing now, both culturally and in the team’s attitude toward the priority winning.

Sandy Alderson said that he had been contacted by a player about signing with the Mets, and he wasn’t even officially in role yet (that player may have been Stroman). With Cohen’s resources and stated dedication to winning (mediocrity is not acceptable and he wants to win within 3-5 years), players and agents are going to take notice. New York has always been attractive, but now it may be a two-borough phenomenon.

Yes, Wednesday was a good day for the Mets. They added a valuable rotation arm. The days that are coming will likely be even better. It’s been a while since we Mets fans could say that.

The post Stroman’s Return Is Bigger Than Stroman appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Rick Porcello

Player Data: Age: 31, B/T: R/R
Primary Stats: 12 G, 12 GS, 1-7, 59 IP, 5.64 ERA, 8.24 K/9, 2.29 BB/9, 1.508 WHIP
Advanced Stats: 75 ERA+, 3.33 FIP, bWAR 0.1, fWAR 1.7

Free Agent: 2021
2020 Salary: $10M

Grade: D

2020 Review

Going into the 2020 season, the Mets figured to have a deep rotation, featuring Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman, Steven Matz, and a spot up for grabs, ultimately filled by rookie David Peterson. Before the season, the Mets sought to add veteran depth, to compete for the fifth spot as well as fortify the bullpen.

Rick Porcello was one of two veteran starters they brought in, along with Michael Wacha. Porcello was coming off a down year in 2019 with the Red Sox, during which he posted an ERA of 5.52 to go with his record of 14-12.

Syndergaard went down in spring training with an injury requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery. Stroman opted out during summer camp, which elevated Porcello to permanent rotation spot.

Unfortunately for the Mets, who took a gamble on Porcello hoping he could return to something close to his 2016 Cy Young performance, Porcello pitched very similarly to his 2019 form.

In 2020, Porcello allowed 74 hits over his 59 innings pitched. He lasted under five innings per start, often forcing Luis Rojas to go to his bullpen early. Porcello’s ERA of 5.64 was fifth worst in MLB among starters with 50 or more innings pitched.

Porcello’s highlight for the season came on September 20 against the Braves. In that game he pitched seven innings, allowing just one run on three hits, striking out 10 hitters. Porcello also threw a good game in Washington on August 5, going seven innings, letting up one run on five hits. His other ten starts were not nearly as effective, and the Mets posted a record of 2-10 in Porcello’s starts.

Porcello grew up a Mets fan in New Jersey, and often expressed his appreciation to have the opportunity to play for the team he rooted for as a child. He also seemed to be a good clubhouse presence. However, the $10 million the Mets paid for one year of Porcello’s services did not turn out to have a good return on investment.

2021 Outlook

Porcello is now a free agent after the 2020 season. It’s unlikely he will return to the Mets, as their organizational philosophy will likely change under new leadership, and they’ll be less inclined to bring in injured or struggling veterans on value contracts.

Since his Cy Young season in 2016, Porcello has had three bad seasons and one decent season in 2018, during which he went 17-7 with a 4.28 ERA. Porcello will be 32 years old next season, so chronologically he should still have plenty left in his tank.

However, coming off consecutive down years (ERAs of 5.52  in 2019 and 5.64 in 2020), it’s hard to imagine that Porcello will sign anywhere on a multi-year deal. He likely will sign somewhere for one season (probably for much less than his 2020 contract of $10 million), either as a candidate for a rotation or a bullpen piece.

The odds of his retuning to Queens with the Mets are low, as the Mets will likely turn elsewhere for rotation depth.

The post 2020 MMO Report Card: Rick Porcello, RHP appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The 2020 off season will be an active one for the Mets. There will likely be a cascading of changes, starting with ownership.

Reports are that Steve Cohen will be approved by the other owners to assume control of the Mets within the next month. There are strong rumors that Cohen will hire former Mets G.M Sandy Alderson as President of Baseball Operations. It’s fair to assume that Alderson will replace Brodie Van Wagenen, whose tenure was far from successful, with a new General Manager. So where does this leave manager Luis Rojas?

Why Rojas May Return

There are a few reasons that would support Rojas getting a return engagement as manager for the 2021 season. First, and perhaps most compelling, the 2020 season was hardly a fair measure of a manager’s aptitude. The 60-game season was unlike any other in MLB history, with new rules and imbalanced schedules, and just 37% the length of a traditional season. If that leads to a grade of “incomplete” for Rojas, it would be fair to give him a full season to demonstrate what he can do at the helm, especially considering his long tenure in the Mets’ organization.

Next, Rojas had some tough breaks to overcome in his rookie season in the manager’s chair. In March, Noah Syndergaard was shut down, ultimately requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery. Just before the season began, Marcus Stroman chose to opt-out of the season. With 40% of the rotation on the shelf, Rojas began the season behind the proverbial eight ball. Things did not improve as the season went along. He may deserve a chance at managing a complete team over a full season.

Third, Rojas was given a flawed roster. The Mets had some good pieces, and led the major leagues in both batting average and on-base percentage. However, the pieces did not fit together, and Rojas had to sacrifice defense for offense. At the trading deadline, the Mets brought in Todd Frazier, who added to an already over-crowded infield, making Rojas’ job even more difficult. The Mets played the shortened 2020 season with too many infielders, and not enough quality outfielders. Before the season, the Mets added Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha, who proved to be inadequate depth to protect the team from injuries in the rotation.

Why Rojas May Not Return

The first reason is a common one. When there are leadership changes, typically those new leaders replace their direct reports with their choice of people, people they know and feel they can trust. This happens in business as well as sports. With a new GM, it’s quite possible that the new GM will want to replace Rojas with a manager of his or her choosing.

Second, while Rojas had a flawed roster and a rotation weakened by injuries, his performance was nonetheless suspect at times. After games, Rojas would often say in response to questions about the team’s failure with runners in scoring position, “we are not staying with our approach, we are expanding the zone…” Isn’t it the manager’s role to reinforce the team’s expected approach? Why did it happen over and over again? This calls his leadership into question.

Third, if you watched the Mets in 2019, you saw an enthusiastic ball club. Something was missing from the 2020 team. The players were essentially the same, but the attitude was much different. The manager sets the tone for the team, and the Mets appeared flat and uninspired for much of the season. Once again, this could be perceived as an indictment of Rojas’ leadership.

The entire off season will be exciting, and there will be many moving parts. While some of the moves appear to be fairly certain, the fate of Luis Rojas remains to be seen.

Stay tuned, it should be an interesting ride.

The post What Does The Future Hold For Luis Rojas? appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Harol Gonzalez/Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

New York Mets minor league pitcher Harol Gonzalez is coming off a solid season in 2019 between Double and Triple-A.

Gonzalez caught up with Metsmerized in a phone interview over the weekend to discuss the uncertainty surrounding the minor league season among other topics.

“All I can do is continue to work hard everyday even though I have no idea when the next time I can pitch in a live game will be, which is tough on you, mentally,” Gonzalez told Metsmerized through a translator.

“The trainers are very invested in us and call multiple times a week to get an update on our workout plan and advise us on the distance we should be throwing.”

“I’ve been working out with a few teammates in Orlando throwing and playing catch together while we wait to see what happens,” said Gonzalez.

The 25-year-old believes the biggest challenge for the players is staying focused despite the heavy amount of doubt surrounding a minor league season this year.

“All we can do as players is train like we are playing this year so we can come in and compete at the same level next year. This is really a once in a lifetime occurrence where there is a strong chance that we will not have a season this year,” said Gonzalez.

Several teams around Major League Baseball have been cutting their minor leaguers in mass droves due to their inability to keep paying them with the season on hold.

The Mets recently released around 40 players in their system. Gonzalez declined to comment on this situation but added that like any job, unfortunately, nothing is permanent.

The right-handed pitcher is looking to build off a successful campaign where he started 23 games between Binghamton and Syracuse producing a 12-4 record with a 3.01 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and .230 opposing average allowed.

Harol Gonzalez/Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

Gonzalez’s top three pitches are his fastball, changeup, and curveball but he credits his control as the biggest factor to his development as a pitcher.

“I focus a lot on my command and throwing strikes. I am lucky if I can reach around 96-97 mph on my fastball so I am not going to overpower hitters. I always try to keep them out of their comfort zone by putting the ball where I want it to be,” said Gonzalez.

“I stay prepared in between starts by getting a goodnight’s rest, eating a healthy breakfast, and getting in the right mindset by listening to music. Right now, Bad Bunny is my favorite artist.”

Last season was also the alleged year of the juiced baseball. Gonzalez says he noticed a change in the ball once he was promoted to Triple-A.

“I saw a lot of differences. which made me make a lot of adjustments, but there is a good change to it. Although it sometimes feels like it could slip out of your hands, the tighter seams add a lot of mobility and more speed to your pitches,” said Gonzalez.

These adjustments helped Gonzalez endure even greater success at the next level going 6-0 with a 2.68 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and .223 opposing average allowed in 7 starts with Syracuse.

As a result, the Dominican Republic native received an invite to play winter ball in his home country this off-season, which Gonzalez called a dream come true.

“I always aspired to play winter ball. It was such a huge break for me and I understood what a big opportunity it was. It is a very different style of play and I learned so much. Growing up in the Domincan, pitchers are taught to learn the batters tendencies as they face them in the game. In the winter league, my teammates taught me to study more film and know these batters going into my start,” said Gonzalez.

Growing up in the DR, Gonzalez says he modeled his game after Hall of Fame ace pitcher Pedro Martinez.

“I don’t have the same motion as him, but the way he used to pound the strike zone is something i’ve tried to mimic. My Mom always told me that i’d be like Pedro when I grew up,” said Gonzalez.

While a minor league season does not look promising in 2020, Gonzalez’s success last year makes him a potential candidate to help the big league pitching staff at some point if and when there is a regular season.

Especially with Noah Syndergaard on the shelf until 2021, the Mets need pitching depth and Gonzalez feels he can rise to the occasion if called upon.

“I’m always prepared to step in and help the team. My mindset is to always be ready and If the opportunity comes this year, I will be.”

“My goal is to get called up and prove I belong so I never get sent back down,” said Gonzalez.

The post MMO Exclusive: Mets’ Pitching Prospect Harol Gonzalez appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

There are times when it’s tough to be a Mets fan. Perhaps you remember when the Mets held a commanding seven-game lead with 17 games to play in 2007, and then collapsed to their rival from down the Turnpike.

Or perhaps you recall 2008, when the Amazin’s held a 3.5 game lead in September with only 17 games to play, before becoming the first team ever to blow a 3.5-game lead in consecutive Septembers. Those heartbreaking collapses only heightened the disdain Mets fans held for those Phillies teams that featured Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.

However a few years later, there was one series that was particularly special for Mets fans, in the midst of an otherwise uneventful season. During a three game-set against the Philadelphia Phillies, the 2010 Mets got revenge and made history in the process.

For just the second time since the franchise’s inception, the Mets swept a series by pitching three-straight shutouts. The first time this took place was in 1969, when Jerry Koosman, Tom Seaver and Gary Gentry blanked the Phillies in Philadelphia down the stretch.

After years of struggling against their division rivals, the Mets vindication against the Phillies began on May 25. In just his second start with the Mets, R.A. Dickey led a whitewashing of the Phils at Citi Field. Dickey threw six scoreless innings, while the Mets scored eight runs to even their record for the season at 23 – 23.  The victory was Dickey’s first win for the Mets.

Omar Minaya’s reclamation project would finish that season 11 – 9 with a 2.84 ERA. Two years later, Dickey would win the Cy Young Award, going 20 – 6 with a 2.73 ERA, leading the league in innings pitched (233.2), complete games (5), shut outs (3), and strikeouts (230). He was then traded the following off season to the Blue Jays with Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas in exchange for John Buck, Travis d’Arnaud, Noah Syndergaard, and minor leaguer Wuilmer Becerra.

In the second game of the series, rookie sensation Hisanori Takahashi started for the Mets and blanked Philadelphia for six innings, striking out six without issuing a single walk. Takahashi served Mets manager Jerry Manuel as a swing man in 2010, finishing 10 – 6 with a 3.61 ERA and eight saves. The Mets won the game 5 – 0, behind the three RBIs provided by catcher Rod Barajas, and Jose Reyes‘ home run and two RBIs.

In the series finale, the Mets finished their sweep, behind the starting pitching efforts of Mike Pelfry, who pitched seven shutout innings to improve his record to 7 – 1 to start the season.  Pelfrey had the best year of his career in 2010, finishing 15 – 10 with a 3.66 ERA. Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth inning for the Mets to record his ninth save of the season and push the Mets to two games above .500.

The three-game sweep was the high-water mark for the Mets in 2010. They went on to finish 79 – 83, in fourth place, 18 games behind the Phillies. Minaya and Manuel both got fired after the season and were replaced by Sandy Alderson, and Terry Collins. That duo would ultimately help lead the Mets to the 2015 World Series.

The post Amazin’ Memories: Mets Blank Phillies in Series of Shutouts appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

ESPN released its 2020 Top 100 players list, and this year it features five Mets, which is tied for second most in the league. The Dodgers are leading the way with seven.

Michael Conforto was the first player featured on the list, taking over the 100 spot. The slugging outfielder is looking to continue his power hitting consistency at the plate in 2020, while looking to continue to become more of a well rounded hitter when it comes to hitting for average.

Jeff McNeil and Noah Syndergaard were the next two players on the list, coming in at 76 and 51 respectively. The argument could be made that McNeil and Thor should be flipped, due to the Mets utility players offensive success and defensive versatility over the last season and a half, while Syndergaard had what could be considered a down season in 2019.

First baseman Pete Alonso comes in at 20. The reigning National League Rookie of the Year is the second highest ranked first baseman on the list, with Met killer Freddie Freeman coming in at the 17 spot. After coming into the 2019 season unranked, this is the highest jump out of any unranked player on the list.

The fifth and final Met is unsurprisingly Jacob deGrom, the back-to-back Cy Young Award winner in the National League came in at number three, after being ranked fourth going into 2019. What might be surprising to some, is that Gerrit Cole was ranked second, just one spot in front of him.

The Mets head into 2020 with five players on the list, the same number as 2019.

The post ESPN Top Players For 2020 Features Five Mets appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

By Pat Ragazzo

According to ESPN, the 2019 World Series will feature the top two teams, who have paid out the most money in Major League Baseball for their top three pitchers.

The Washington Nationals have invested $77.8 million between Stephen Strasburg ($35 million), Max Scherzer ($30.3 million), and 2019 offseason signing Patrick Corbin ($12.5 million). On the other side, the Houston Astros are paying Zack Greinke ($31.5 million, acquired at the deadline from the Arizona Diamondbacks), Justin Verlander ($28 million), and soon to be free agent ace Gerrit Cole ($13. 5 million).

The World Series will feature the teams that are paying the most for their top three pitchers 💰 pic.twitter.com/Rq5dnSJph7

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 21, 2019

When looking at the numbers, it is no surprise these teams are in their current position as champions of their respective leagues.

Verlander was brilliant this season with a 7.8 bWAR, 21-6 record, 2.58 ERA, .803 WHIP, and 7.14 K/BB ratio. Cole will be challenging his fellow staff mate in the Cy Young balloting after posting an incredible 6.8 bWAR, 20-5 record, 2.50 ERA, 2.64 FIP, 0.90 WHIP, 13.8 K/9, and 185 ERA+. Greinke was no slouch either with his 6.4 bWAR, 18-5 record, 3.22 ERA, and 0.98 WHIP.

This trio helped Houston reach their second World Series in three seasons and will be the deciding factor in whether or not they capture their second title during this span.

As for the Nationals, this team failed to win a playoff series in four postseason appearances since 2012. Despite back-to-back Cy Young seasons from Scherzer and multiple runner-up years from Strasburg, the Nationals still did not have enough to get over the hump.

Make no mistake, Patrick Corbin (14-7, 3.25 ERA, 3.49 FIP) was the missing ingredient which helped propel this staff to the National League crown.

Washington’s top three horses combined for 43 of their 93 wins in the regular season and all pitched to an ERA under 3.35. They also have a record of 6-2 this postseason and have made all the difference despite one rough relief outing by Corbin (0.2 innings, two walks, six earned runs) in game two of the NLDS.

With Zack Wheeler set to hit the free agent market this offseason, the Mets need to prevent him from walking by following the Astros’ and Nationals’ formula and investing in their rotation.

Unfortunately, Wheeler could depart as he will likely command a significant annual salary and sign long-term. The Mets can also extend a $17.8 million qualifying offer to Wheeler, but Brodie and company should at least consider a long-term deal.

If Zack declines the qualifying offer and signs elsewhere the Mets will receive a compensatory draft pick.

Wheeler has emerged as the Mets’ second most reliable starter in the past two seasons behind Jacob deGrom. Since returning from a slew of injuries in 2018, including Tommy-John surgery, Wheeler has posted a 23-15 record, 3.64 ERA, and 3.37 FIP.

After being hampered by injuries for the early part of his career, Wheeler has silenced the critics by setting career highs in starts the past two years with 29 in 2018 and 31 in 2019.

The Mets locked up deGrom last offseason to a five-year, $137.5 million extension after a historical Cy Young season. DeGrom rewarded their investment by following up with an 11-8 record, 2.43 ERA, 7.8 bWAR, and league-leading 255-strikeout year making him the favorite to win his second straight Cy Young award.

Although Noah Syndergaard had a disappointing 2019 campaign (2.2 bWAR, 10-8 record, 4.28 ERA, league-leading 94 total earned runs), he still has tremendous stuff and has pitched to a career stat line of 47-30, 3.31 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 775 strikeouts, and an impressive 2.42 ERA in the postseason.

Both Syndergaard (free agent in 2022) and Wheeler should be locked up long-term as they without a doubt have the most talent  and potential past deGrom on the Mets staff.

Marcus Stroman (4-2, 3.77 ERA, 4.15 FIP as a Met) is headed into a contract year and will command top dollar, while Steven Matz has been inconsistent at times despite a solid stat line this year (2.2 bWAR, 11-10, 4.21 ERA, 4.60 FIP). Both starters look to be expendable at this point, which leaves Thor and Wheeler as the top two candidates worthy of an extension.

With a rotation built around deGrom, Thor, and Wheeler in the long-term, the Mets won’t have to look to replace the front line of their rotation for the foreseeable future. With 2017 first round lefty David Peterson set to start 2020 at Triple-A, he will most likely be a prime candidate to replace Stroman if he departs after next season.

It is time for the Wilpons and Brodie to spend the money as they are now aware of what they have with this rotation. They must take a page out of the Astros’ and Nationals’ book by investing top dollar in their “Big 3” starters, while adding the right pieces behind them in the hope that they will get back to the World Series before the window is slammed shut on this group.

The post Mets Should Follow Astros’ and Nationals’ Rotation Formula appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Good morning Mets fans! On Wednesday, the Mets picked up their fourth straight win and second consecutive victory over the Cleveland Indians to take the series.

Marcus Stroman exited the game with hamstring tightness after only pitching four innings, but the bullpen picked him up allowing two-runs in the final six innings. After Luis Avilan gave up a go-ahead homer in the top of the tenth, the Mets rallied back once again on a Michael Conforto fielders choice to tie the game.

This brought J.D. Davis aka “Mr. Clutch,” to the plate with two-outs, who ripped the game winning hit to left field that sent everyone home.

On Thursday, Noah Syndergaard (8-6, 3.86 ERA) toes the rubber in the final game of the series against Indians pitcher Aaron Civil (1-2, 1.50 ERA).

First pitch will be thrown at 7:10 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on SNY.

Now let’s take a look at what else went on around the league yesterday!

Latest Mets News

Jeff McNeil took batting practice, ran the bases, and fielded grounders on Wednesday. McNeil said he “felt good,” but it is still uncertain whether he will need a rehab assignment before returning to the team, per Tim Healey of Newsday.

Robinson Cano also took batting practice yesterday and could begin running on Thursday.

In a pivotal stretch, J.D. Davis considers the rest of this season to be the playoffs for this ball club.

After another scoreless outing last night, lefty reliever Justin Wilson has only allowed two runs in his last 17 innings pitched, says Matt Ehalt of Yahoo! Sports.

Joe Panik is 10-31 (.323 average) with three RBI since joining the Mets and has hit safely in all eight of his starts as of last night, as Matt Brownstein of MMO noted.

FiveThirtyEight ranks the Mets as the league’s most “average” team despite having the best record in the MLB (25-10) since the All-Star break.

Latest MLB News 

Only four NL teams currently have a winning record against .500 clubs, noted David Lennon of Newsday. The Mets are not one of them (25-37).

The MLB is cracking down on sexual-enhancement pills that have apparently become popular among its players, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal breaks down the Oakland Athletic’s unorthodox path to success this season.

Latest NL East News

Brian McCann (knee sprain) is the latest Atlanta Brave to hit the injured list.

Former Met Adeiny Hechavarria smashed his first home run with the Braves last night.

Latest MMO News

Josh Finklestein discusses how the return of Brandon Nimmo could pay dividends for the amazins’.

Tim Ryder looks at Steven Matz‘s dominant stretch following another good outing against the Indians on Tuesday night.

Finklestein also analyzes Amed Rosario‘s transformation into the player he was originally projected to be.

On This Day In Mets History 

The Mets traded for Shawn Green (2006), signed Daisuke Matsuzaka (2013), and brought back Eric Young jr. for his second stint with the team (2015).

Birthdays: Ray Burris (69), Ike Hampton (68), Darrin Jackson (56)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Going For Sweep of Indians appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that multiple teams have interest in the acquiring Noah Syndergaard in a trade with the New York Mets before the July 31 MLB Trade Deadline. However, Morosi notes the team isn’t taking offers, yet.

One of the teams that has shown interest is the Milwaukee Brewers, who have had interest in the right-hander in the past, specifically before the 2018 MLB Trade Deadline and this past offseason.

Another team is the Houston Astros, who were among the teams intrigued by Jacob deGrom last season in hopes that the Mets would be willing to deal him. That obviously isn’t happening this time given deGrom’s massive extension this past offseason.

While it would not be totally shocking if the Mets would consider such a move for Syndergaard, it certainly wouldn’t appear to be a top priority, given the fact that the team almost certainly has to trade Zack Wheeler since he will become a free agent this upcoming offseason. The team also is shopping Jason Vargas after the incident that happened last month in Chicago with Mickey Callaway and Tim Healey of Newsday.

Todd Frazier and Juan Lagares are other players that are set to become free agents after the season and could find themselves playing elsewhere before the end of the month.

Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Syndergaard is under control through the 2021 season and is making only $6 million this season in his second year of arbitration. He will have two more given his Super-Two status.

If the Mets were to trade all three pitchers, that would leave the Mets with just Jacob deGrom as a lock in the rotation, with Steven Matz likely re-entering it out of necessity despite the fact he ended the first half in the Mets’ bullpen. That would still leave three spots in the rotation to be filled with drastically less appealing options such as Walker Lockett, Chris Mazza, and Ervin Santana potentially taking the final three spots.

Syndergaard would obviously cost a significant price with his amount of control left, but starters like Marcus Stroman, Matthew Boyd, and Trevor Bauer also have control after this season for teams that would potentially acquire them.

On top of it, the Mets would be forced to potentially sell low on Syndergaard, who is in the midst of the worst year of his career as he currently has a 6-4 record, 4.68 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 1.278 WHIP, and 101 strikeouts in 105 2/3 innings (17 starts). He’s also dealt with injuries over each of the last three seasons, which is a risk any team would have to be prepared to take on.

Whether or not this is just rumors or a legitimate consideration on the Mets’ part remains to be seen, but Brodie Van Wagenen has so far proven to not be shy on pulling the trigger on big deals so there is certainly no reason to rule it out on July 1o with three weeks left until the trade deadline.

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