Veteran pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, the one-two punch many salivated over, have been average at best, each going on their own hot and cold runs. Rookies Francisco Álvarez and Brett Baty both got off to hot starts but have cooled down in the past month. Jeff McNeil looks nowhere near the batting champion he was last season and other veteran players have had their own troubles at the plate and field.

Tommy Pham. John Leyba-USA TODAY Sports

Start of Something New?

During a game against Philadelphia on June 23, Eduardo Escobar was traded to the Los Angeles Angels for pitching prospects Coleman Crow and Landon Marceaux. Escobar lost his starting role to Baty early in the season but seemed to have figured it out at the plate before his trade. He hit .236/.286/.409 with the Mets, but so far in his short four-game tenure with the Angels, he’s 6-for-16 and batting .375/.412/.500.

The decision to trade Escobar now instead of when his value might be higher seems puzzling, but it might just be setting the stage for a trade deadline like no other. Instead of being a buyer or seller, the Mets can create a new tier of trading for teams with overflowing wallets. They trade a veteran, paying the remainder of his contract, in exchange for prospects of their choice. As a result of negating the financial concern, the Mets can buy prospects of their choosing.

Who’s Next?

It feels like nobody is safe simply because money is no object. Someone like Tommy Pham, who has quietly become one of the Mets’ most reliable bats, might be an easy trade because of his value and budget-friendly contract. Other veteran players like David Robertson and Mark Canha, also in the final years of their contracts and finding success in Queens, might be on the trading block as well.

In 38 appearances with the Mets this year, Robertson is pitching to a superb 1.54 ERA in 35 appearances. Canha, meanwhile, has been a relatively consistent bat in the lineup the past two years with defensive flexibility and can help any contender bolster their lineup or bench.

If the Mets start to embrace this new trade philosophy, star power names like Scherzer come to mind as more lucrative potential trade candidates, too.

No stranger to the trade block, Scherzer was dealt in a blockbuster move a couple summers ago with Trea Turner in exchange for a slew of highly coveted prospects. While he hasn’t been putting up consistent numbers like his usual self, you know what to expect with a player like Max. To play for a contender, he would need to waive his no-trade clause. If Cohen were to ship a hefty check with Max, it’s not hard to wonder what slew of prospects the Mets can score in return.

The Future is Bright Either Way

It’s not too late to turn the 2023 season around. With the All-Star break less than two weeks away, the Mets still have plenty of baseball to play.  The pitching can figure it out. The bats can get on a hot streak. The Mets can easily clinch a spot in the postseason if everything works exactly opposite how it did through the first half of the year.

But according to Steve Cohen’s press conference on June 28, “If we don’t get better, we have decisions to make at the trade deadline.” This is an owner who is not only looking at the present but also thinking about a team suited for sustained future success. The question is, how will they get to that success?

The post 2023 Mets Trade Deadline: A Steve Cohen Approach appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

After outlasting the Cubs (34-57) in extras in game one Saturday afternoon, the Mets (58-34) went for the double header sweep in game two Saturday night. With Max Scherzer on the mound, New York had an excellent chance of winning. Unfortunately, the Mets’ bats were quiet again, and game two also went to extra innings. But thanks to some shaky defense by the Cubs, the Mets were able to take a two-run lead in the top of the tenth. And thanks to some huge defense by Eduardo Escobar in the bottom of the tenth, the Mets’ hung on to win 4-3.

The Mets’ offense started out the game with four straight strikeouts. J.D. Davis was the first Met to reach base, with a two-out walk in the second inning. Eduardo Escobar then doubled, followed by a Jeff McNeil hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Unfortunately, the Mets were unable score, as Tomas Nido flew out to left.

While the Mets were unable to score in the top of the second inning, the Cubs got to Scherzer in the bottom of the inning. Frank Schwindel led off the inning with a double to left. A single by Alfonso Rivas moved Schwindel to third, and Schwindel then scored on a ground-rule double by Yan Gomes. Scherzer was able to limit the damage, retiring the next two batters, but the Cubs had a 1-0 lead.

The Mets’ offense came right back in the top of the third, taking advantage of an error by Cubs’ center fielder Ortega. Brandon Nimmo singled to lead off the inning and reached third when Ortega failed to catch a well-struck fly ball off the bat of Starling Marte. Nimmo scored on a ground out third by Francisco Lindor, tying the game 1-1.

After Scherzer pitched a shut-down top of the third, striking out the side, Escobar gave the Mets a 2-1 lead with a solo homer. Escobar has dominated Drew Smyly in his career, and that dominance was on display again Saturday night.

The Escobar-provided lead did not last long, as the Cubs tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Patrick Wisdom doubled to left with one out, and he was driven in by a two-out single off the bat of Gomes, for Gomes’ second RBI of the night.

Things went quiet after the fourth inning. Lindor got a base hit in the fifth inning, extending his hitting streak to ten games. And Pete Alonso made a nice catch in the seventh inning on a pop-up to shallow right field, which retired Gomes for the first time in the game. But otherwise, there wasn’t much to write home about.

Scherzer’s night ended with one out and one on in the seventh inning. He gave up eight hits in his 6 1/3 innings and struck out 11, matching his season high. Colin Holderman came on in relief and got two fly-outs to right, one short and one long, to retire the side. He stayed on to pitch the eighth inning and set down the side in order.

Yoan López came on to pitch the ninth inning, with the game still tied 2-2. He pitched a scoreless inning, and the only blemish was a two-out walk to Gomes.

The Mets had Nimmo as the free runner in the top of the tenth. Marte hit an infield single to third, which the Cubs’ third baseman Wisdom should’ve eaten after he failed to field it cleanly. Instead, he tried to throw Marte out at first, and Nimmo took third on the throw. With first base open, the Cubs walked Lindor and opted to face Alonso with the bases loaded and no one out. Alonso was hit by an 0-2 pitch, and the Mets had a 3-2 lead with the bases were still loaded.

Unfortunately, Mark Canha grounded the first pitch he saw back to the pitcher, and the Cubs turned a 1-2-3 double play to keep another run off the board. But, the Cubs gave a run back to the Mets when Daniel Norris tried to pickoff Alonso at second, and threw the ball away into center field. Lindor scored, and the Mets had a 4-2 lead.

López stayed on to try to finish out the game in the bottom of the tenth. He struck out the first batter he faced, but then gave up a run scoring single that cut the Mets’ lead to 4-3. Seiya Suzuki then also singled, putting runners on first and third with one out. After Suzuki stole second, the Mets issued an intentional walk to load the bases.

The game ended on a beautiful play. Escobar completed a 5-5-3 double play to get López out of a jam and preserve the Mets’ victory. With the victory, the Mets secured their first regular season series win at Wrigley Field since 2013.

Player of the Game: Max Scherzer

In a game where the Mets offense was scuffling, Scherzer did everything he could to keep them in the game. He was a little off at the start of the game, but he seemed to find himself after striking out Ian Happ in the third inning. Overall, he turned in a solid performance and left the game with his team in a position to win.

Honorable mention to Escobar, for his 3-5 night at the plate and his much-needed nice play to end the game.

On Deck

The Mets and Cubs will play their final game before the All-Star break Sunday at 2:20 p.m. David Peterson will be on the mound for the Mets as they go for the four-game sweep. Adrian Sampson is scheduled to start for the Cubs.

The post Mets Sweep Doubleheader With Extra-Inning Thriller Against Cubs appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Oct 26, 2021; Houston, TX, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Eddie Rosario (8) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Houston Astros in game one of the 2021 World Series at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

It’s crunch time for the New York Mets (53-33) as they head to Atlanta to take on the Braves (52-35). The Braves had a historic month of June, going 21-6 and making up a ton of ground on the Mets, who once led the division by ten and a half games. The Mets’ lead is now down to a game and a half. At the end of this three-game series, the Mets will either find themselves still in first place in the NL East, or they’ll be looking up at the Braves.

The Mets are coming into this series having split a four-game series with the Marlins. The big issue for New York was the Marlins’ starting pitching. The Mets offense was held scoreless by the Marlins’ starters in games three and four and the Mets were shut out completely in game four.

Part of the problem for the Mets was that they are dealing with injuries and other absences. Starling Marte and James McCann both departed early from game three, Marte due to groin tightness and McCann due to an oblique injury. McCann is now on the injured list and expected to miss weeks, while Marte is day-to-day. The Mets will also be without the services of Jeff McNeil while in Atlanta. McNeil will be on the paternity list for three days, as his wife is due to give birth shortly.

While the Mets offense has definitely cooled off a bunch recently, they have still gotten some decent production over the last week, especially from their outfielders. Marte, Mark Canha, and Brandon Nimmo all have solid numbers over their last seven games. On the pitching side, Edwin Diaz has continued to be lights out, and the Mets got solid starts from Taijuan Walker and Trevor Williams in the series against the Marlins.

The Braves are coming into this series off a three-game sweep of the Nationals. Atlanta followed up their 21-6 June by going 8-2 so far to start July. Their excellent run has been powered in part by their offense. And powered is definitely the right word; they have hit an NL-leading 133 home runs this season and are behind only the Yankees for the MLB lead. The Braves pitching staff has also been excellent this year; they are second only to the Dodgers in the NL for ERA.

Shortstop Dansby Swanson is the hottest hitter on the Braves right now. He’s slashing .302/.357/.491 and his OPS+ is 130. Third baseman Austin Riley has the team lead in homers and RBIs, with 23 home runs and 56 RBIs. On the pitching side, Max Fried and Kyle Wright have been the Brave’s best starters.

Like the Mets, the Braves are also dealing with injuries and other absences. Closer Kenley Jansen has been on the IL since July 4 because of an irregular heartbeat, something he has dealt with before. Second baseman Ozzie Albies is on the 60-day IL after fouling a ball off his foot and fracturing it. The fracture needed to be stabilized with surgery and Albies is not expected back until at least mid-August. Finally, centerfielder Adam Duvall was placed on the paternity list on July 8. Prior to going on the paternity list, Duvall was dealing with a hand injury he suffered after getting hit by a pitch on July 2.

Finally, news broke Sunday evening that the Braves acquired Robinson Cano from the Padres for cash considerations. According to Jon Heyman of the NY Post, Cano could be added to the major league roster as soon as Monday.

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Monday, July 11, 2022: RHP Max Scherzer (5-1, 2.26 ERA) vs. LHP Max Fried (9-2, 2.52 ERA)

Scherzer returned from his time on the IL in fabulous fashion against the Reds. He tossed six scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out 11. Of course, the Reds are in last place in the NL Central, and historically Scherzer has always dominated the Reds. The Braves’ lineup will be a real test for Scherzer Monday night. In his career, Scherzer is 10-9 against the Braves with 3.88 ERA in 157 2/3 innings. At Truist Park in Atlanta, Scherzer’s has a 3.71 ERA against the Braves in 34 innings.

Fried has had a great first half of the season for the Braves this year and has made his first All-Star team as a result. In his last outing, against the Cardinals, Fried pitched six scoreless innings, giving up five hits and striking out four. Fried has generally pitched well against the Mets, and he has a 2.80 ERA in 74 innings against them in his career. Fried pitched against the Mets earlier this season on May 2. He went six innings, giving up two runs and striking out six.

Tuesday, July 12, 2022: LHP David Peterson (5-1, 3.48 ERA) vs. RHP Spencer Strider (4-2, 2.60 ERA)

Peterson’s start against the Rangers before he went on the paternity list was his best start of the season. He gave up three runs over six innings of work and he struck out ten, matching his career high. His first start after returning from the paternity list, against the Reds, was not as successful. Though his pitch count was similar (93 pitches vs. 90 against the Rangers), Peterson only made it through 3 2/3 innings, while again giving up three runs. In his career against the Braves, Peterson has a 5.84 ERA in 24 2/3 innings. He faced Atlanta earlier this season on May 3, and went five innings in that start, giving up four runs (three of them earned).

Strider has appeared in 19 games for the Braves this season, and he’s started eight of them. His ERA as a starter is 2.83, and he’s tossed 41 1/3 innings as a starter. As a reliever he’s pitched 24 1/3 innings and has a 2.22 ERA. Strider’s last outing was against the Cardinals. He went six innings in that start, giving up two hits and striking out 12. In his career, Strider has only faced the Mets as a reliever. In 2 1/3 innings of work across two relief outings against the Mets, Strider has a 3.86 ERA.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Wednesday, July 13, 2022: RHP Chris Bassitt (6-6, 3.94 ERA) vs. RHP Charlie Morton (5-3, 4.21 ERA)

Bassitt returned from the Covid-IL on July 8 to face the Marlins. That outing was his third in a row against the Marlins, but he pitched well despite the familiarity. He went 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits and striking out three. Bassitt faced the Braves for the first time in his career earlier this season on May 2. He pitched well, even though he ultimately took the loss that game. He gave up three runs in seven innings of work, striking out eight.

Morton’s last outing was against the Nationals. He went seven innings, giving up two runs on four hits and striking out seven. In his career against the Mets, Morton has a 3.49 ERA in 80 innings of work. Morton faced the Mets earlier this season, on May 1. He went 5 2/3 innings, giving up five runs (four of them earned).

Prediction:

With their depleted roster and the pitching matchups they face in this series, it’s tough to see the Mets coming away with a series victory against the Braves. I think the Mets will leave Atlanta in second place in the NL East, but I would be thrilled to be wrong.

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Jul 9, 2022; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets catcher Tomas Nido (3) lays down a sacrifice bunt in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

It’s Keith Hernandez day! On Saturday afternoon, the Mets (53-32) retired his number 17 before taking on the Marlins (40-43) in game three of their four-game series. The game went into extra innings, and the Mets were able to celebrate a 5-4 walk-off win thanks to a timely base hit by Tomas Nido and shaky defense on the part of the Marlins.

Carlos Carrasco got the start for the Mets and was in and out of trouble for most of the game. In the first inning he gave up a double and a walk to start the game, before getting Jesus Aguilar to hit into what should have been a run-scoring double play. Instead, catcher’s interference was called on James McCann, and the bases were loaded with no one out. Luckily, Carrasco struck out Jesus Sanchez and got Avisail Garcia to ground into a double play, ending the inning without giving up a run.

After a one-two-three second inning with two strikeouts and an easy third inning, Carrasco found himself in trouble again in the fourth. He gave up a leadoff double to Aguilar, who then advanced to third on a groundout off the bat of Sanchez. This time, Carrasco got out of trouble by striking out Garcia and getting Brian Anderson to groundout.

The Mets were held hitless through the first three innings of the game, and their only base runner was Luis Guillorme who was walked in the bottom of the third. They got their first hit in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to a solo home run by Pete Alonso, his 23^rd of the year. Alonso’s homer also gave the Mets a 1-0 lead.

Carrasco pitched well in the fifth inning but was back in trouble in the sixth. After striking out the first batter, he gave up two hits sandwiched around a walk to load the bases with one out. Anderson then singled to center, tying the game. The Marlins should have taken the lead, but Sanchez slid poorly into home and Guillorme’s relay throw nabbed him at the plate. McCann was injured on the tag and left the game.

The play was also the end of Carrasco’s night, as Seth Lugo came on in relief with men on first and second and two outs. Lugo uncorked a very wild pitch, and the Marlins took the lead 2-1, but then struck out Bryan De La Cruz to end the inning.

The Marlins lead did not last long. In the bottom of the sixth, Lindor banged a homer off the left field foul pole. Lindor’s two-out, two-run homer gave the Mets a 3-2 lead.

Lugo stayed in to start the seventh and got the first two outs before giving up a single up the middle to John Berti. Adam Ottavino was then called on to try to get the final out of the inning. Berti stole second, but Ottavino got Garrett Cooper to ground into a comebacker to end the inning.

After the Mets went down quietly in the bottom of the seventh, Ottavino stayed on to start the top of the eighth. He gave up a leadoff homer to Aguilar, and the game was tied 3-3. Ottavino was able to retire the next three batters, thanks in part to a great catch in right by Ender Inciarte. Inciarte came into the game in the bottom of the fourth, pinch hitting for the injured Starling Marte.

The Mets made a little noise in the bottom of the eighth, thanks to a Guillorme leadoff double. But they failed to score, and so Edwin Diaz came on in the top of the ninth trying to keep the game tied. Diaz retired the side in order with two strikeouts, and it was the Mets’ offense’s turn to try and win it. Unfortunately, Marlins’ reliever Antony Bass struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth, and the game went to extra innings.

Colin Holderman pitched the top of the 10th for the Mets. Lindor tried to throw out Billy Hamilton, the Marlins’ free runner, at third on an infield hit off the bat of Berti. Eduardo Escobar was unable to cover third in time, and Lindor’s throw got away, allowing Hamilton to score. Holderman was able to get out of the inning, with some help from Tomas Nido picking off Berti at second, but the Marlins had the lead, 4-3.

With Mark Canha on second as the free runner for the Mets, Escobar and Guillorme both struck out looking. It was down to Nido, who hit a spinning ground ball past the glove of Anderson at third for a double scoring Canha.

Brandon Nimmo then hit a comebacker to Marlins’ closer Tanner Scott. It should have been an easy out, but Scott threw the ball away, and Nido scored, giving the Mets the walk-off 5-4 win. The Mets are now 7-0 in extra inning games this season.

Player of the Game: Tomas Nido

Nido’s pickoff of Berti in the top of the 10th inning played a huge part in helping the Mets limit the Marlins to one run. It kept the Mets in the game and allowed them to come back in the bottom of the 10th. Nido’s at-bat in the bottom of the 10th was an even bigger part of the victory. His double past the third baseman’s glove was well-placed to tie the game.

On Deck

The Mets and Marlins will play game four of their series Sunday at 1:40 p.m. The game will be on PIX 11. Taijuan Walker will start for the Mets, while Sandy Alcantara will be on the mound for the Marlins.

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Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets (48-29) and the Texas Rangers (36-39) played game one of a three-game series Friday evening at Citi Field. The Mets came into the game having lost three in a row for the first time this season and were looking to get back to winning. They were successful, thanks to solid pitching from David Peterson and the bullpen, and a huge home run by Eduardo Escobar. The final score was 4-3 Mets.

Peterson got the start for New York in place of Chris Bassitt, who was placed on the COVID IL prior to the game. Peterson was on baby watch, as his pregnant wife is due to give birth at any moment. Despite the stress, he started the game well, breezing through the first two innings. Peterson was also cruising to start the third inning as well, getting two quick outs. But he then gave up a solo home run to Marcus Semien and the Rangers took a 1-0 lead.

The Mets had the lead-off man reach base in two of the first three innings but were unable to score. That changed in the fourth inning, when Francisco Lindor led off with a walk and eventually scored. After a Jeff McNeil walk put runners on first and second with one out, Mark Canha laced a double down the third base line, scoring Lindor to tie the game. Luis Guillorme was up next, but he grounded out and failed to advance the runners. It was left to Escobar to try and do some two-out damage, and boy did he. He blasted a three-run homer to right field, his seventh home run of the season, giving the Mets a 4-1 lead.

Peterson started off the fifth inning with a strikeout, his seventh of the game, but then he gave up a solo home run to Nathaniel Lowe, cutting the Mets lead to 4-2. Peterson bounced back nicely, striking out the next two batters bringing his strikeout total to nine.

After the Mets went down quietly in the bottom of the fifth inning, Peterson ran into some trouble in the top of the sixth. He gave up a leadoff single to Semien, who advanced to second on a fielder’s choice. A wild pick-off attempt from Peterson allowed Semien to reach third, and he scored on a groundout to Guillorme. The Mets were down to a one-run lead, up 4-3, but Peterson was able to finish the inning, striking out Kole Calhoun for the final out and ending. It was Peterson’s tenth strikeout of the game, matching his career high, and ending his night.

Seth Lugo came in to pitch the seventh inning. He set the Rangers down in order, with two strikeouts.  Adam Ottavino got the eighth inning for the Mets. He gave up a lead-off single, but then got Semien to ground into a double play, and retired the side with another ground out.

The Mets threatened in the bottom of the eighth, after Starling Marte led off with a single. He stole second on a Lindor strikeout and took third on a wild pitch. But both McNeil and Canha were unable to drive Marte in, and Mets lead remained 4-3 heading into the top of the ninth.

Edwin Diaz came in for the save situation and retired the side in order, for his 17th save of the season.

Player of the Game: Eduardo Escobar

Escobar really came up big in the fourth inning when he hit his three-run homer. He gave the Mets all the runs they needed to win the game. It was nice to see Escobar be the hero this game, especially with the struggles he’s had at the plate this season.

On Deck

The Mets and Rangers will play game two of their series Saturday afternoon at Citi Field. Game time is 4:10 p.m. and it will be aired on SNY. Martin Perez is set to start for the Rangers, while the Mets’ starter is TBD.

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After playing two games last week in Houston, the Mets and Astros are meeting again for another two-game series. The Astros swept the Mets. This time, the Mets have home-field advantage, which will hopefully help lead to a better outcome.

The Mets are coming home off a series victory against the Marlins in Miami. New York won the first two games before losing in walk off fashion in the ninth inning on Sunday. Francisco Lindor had a decent series in Miami, driving in four runs on two hits in game one and going 2-5 while scoring a run in game two. Pete Alonso hit two home runs in game two of the series, which was nice to see after back-to-back hitless games for Alonso–one against the Astros and one against the Marlins.

Jeff McNeil has missed the last five games after tweaking his hamstring during the final game of the last home stand. Buck Showalter announced after the game on Sunday that he was confident McNeil would return against the Astros on Tuesday. And, as confirmed by the lineup, McNeil is set to return to action tonight.

After sweeping the Mets in two games, the Astros went on to face the Yankees in a four-game series. It was a battle of the two best teams in the American League, and perhaps a preview of playoff games to come. The teams split the series: the Astros won games two and three, tossing a combined no-hitter in game three, while the Yankees won games one and four, both coming in walk-off fashion off Aaron Judge‘s bat.

When the Mets and Astros Met last week, Astros star rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña was on the injured list with a left thumb injury. He will be back in the lineup this series against the Mets. He was activated off the injured list on June 26 and played in the last game against the Yankees. Peña has had a solid year for the Astros, with a .277/.332/.472 slash line at the plate.

While getting Peña back is undoubtedly a boost for the Astros, they have other injury troubles to deal with. Star DH Yordan Alvarez is still dealing with a sore hand that he suffered while swinging on June 18. Of course, Alvarez hasn’t let the injury slow him down much, as he’s hit four home runs and driven in seven runs since the injury occurred. The Astros are also facing an injury to star outfielder Michael Brantley, who exited the final game of the series against the Yankees early because of discomfort in his right shoulder. Brantley is batting .288/.370/.416 so far this year, with five home runs and 26 RBIs.

Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

Tuesday, June 28, 2022: RHP Carlos Carrasco (8-3, 4.42 ERA) vs. LHP Framber Valdez (7-3, 2.90 ERA)

Carrasco’s most recent start was last week against the Astros. He went 2 1/3 innings and gave up five runs in a game the Mets ultimately lost 8-2. Five days earlier, Carrasco went 6 1/3 innings against the Marlins, giving up three runs in a game the Mets won 10-4. Carrasco’s June has been marked by alternating good and poor starts. Since his last start against the Astros was his worst start in June, hopefully Tuesday’s start is one of his best.

Valdez’s last start was against the Yankees. He went six innings and gave up three runs. Valdez has tossed exactly six innings in all four of his June starts this season. He also has not thrown less than six innings in any game since April 19, when he went 4 1/3 innings and gave up six runs against the Angels. It will be interesting to see if the top of the Mets lineup, which has been forcing opposing starters lately to work hard in the first inning, can manage to be the first team in months to knock Valdez out before the sixth inning.

Wednesday, June 29, 2022: TBD vs. RHP Justin Verlander (9-3, 2.22 ERA)

Verlander made one start in the abbreviated 2020 season before having Tommy John surgery in September of 2020 and missing the entire 2021 season. There were concerns about his age at the time of the surgery (37) and how well he would recover from it, but it’s fair to say that he has exceeded expectations in his return this season. In his most recent start against the Yankees, Verlander gave up one run in seven innings of work. Verlander has 84 strikeouts in 14 starts in 2022 and has given up one run or less in eight of his starts.

Given the multiple off days since the two teams played last week (and another to come Thursday), the Mets have the chance to reset the rotation. The team plays 17 games in 17 straight days ahead of the All-Star break.

Trevor Williams is a candidate to pitch Wednesday, but Taijuan Walker could also go on regular rest. That would allow Chris Bassitt, David Peterson and Carlos Carrasco (or Max Scherzer) to pitch in the weekend series against the Rangers.

Prediction

The Mets are facing tough starting pitching in this two-game series. I would love to predict that the Mets will return the favor and sweep the Astros like they were swept in Houston. Unfortunately, facing Valdez and Verlander makes a sweep by the Mets unlikely. A split of the series seems like a more reasonable prediction.

The post Series Preview: Astros Land in Flushing appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

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The New York Mets (41-23) and the Milwaukee Brewers (35-29) played game two of their three-game series Wednesday night at Citi Field. Brewers’ ace Corbin Burnes vastly outpitched Mets’ starter David Peterson, and the Brewers’ offense went on a tear, leading to a 10-2 Brewers victory.

The Brewers took the lead early in this one, scoring in the first inning. Peterson gave up a one-out double to Willy Adames and then promptly hit the next two batters to load the bases. Luis Urias singled past a diving Francisco Lindor and the Brewers were up 2-0.

The Mets had their chance for a comeback in the bottom of the first, as Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte hit back-to-back singles off Burnes to start the inning. Unfortunately, the next three batters were easy outs, and the Mets failed to score. Burnes would go on to retire the next 11 Mets batters.

While Burnes was mowing down Mets’ hitters, Peterson was in trouble against the Brewers’ offense. He pitched better in the second inning than he did in the first, but he was in and out of trouble in the third and fourth innings. The Brewers also tacked on a run in the fourth, thanks to back-to-back singles and a run-scoring fielder’s choice.

Jeff McNeil got the Mets on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run. His homer was the first hit off Burnes since the first inning and it cut the Brewers’ lead to 3-1. It seemed like the Mets were back in the game, but that didn’t last long.

The top of the fifth was an inning to forget for the Mets. Thirteen Brewers came to bat in the inning, and by the time it was over the Brewers had a 10-1 lead. Peterson started the inning but was lifted after giving up a lead-off single. Jake Reed was the first man up in relief, and he also did not make it out of the inning. Though Reed got the first two outs, four runs scored while he was on the mound, with the first one charged to Peterson. Trevor Williams was called in to try to get the third out, and three more runs scored (two of them charged to Reed) before Williams was able to get Urias to strike out to finally end the inning.

Williams stayed in for long relief and pitched the sixth and seventh innings. He fared much better in those innings, retiring the side in order in both.

The Mets got one run back in the bottom of the sixth inning. Nimmo tripled to lead off the inning, and McNeil eventually drove him in with a two-out single. Unfortunately, that was it for the Mets, as the inning ended with McNeil thrown out at second trying to stretch his single into a double.

The rest of the game was quiet compared to the first six innings. Adam Ottavino pitched a scoreless eighth and Joely Rodriguez pitched a 1-2-3 ninth. On the offensive side, the Mets went down quietly in the final three innings, outside of three walks in the seventh that ultimately yielded no runs.

Player of the Game: Jeff McNeil

Pickings were slim in this 10-2 loss, but Jeff McNeil gets the honors because he drove in both Mets’ runs. McNeil’s game wasn’t perfect, as he failed to turn what should have been a double play in the fourth inning and his base running blunder ended the sixth inning. But his home run was big when the Mets were only down three runs, and that alone is enough for player of the game in a game like this one.

On Deck

The Mets and Brewers will play the rubber game of this series Thursday at Citi Field. Game time is 7:10 p.m. and it will be televised on SNY. Tylor Megill is the scheduled Mets’ starter, while Aaron Ashby will get the ball for the Brewers.

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The Mets (40-22) are finally returning home to Citi Field after an extended west coast road trip, where they went 5-5 against the Dodgers, Padres, and Angels. Now the Mets are starting a seven-game home stand, beginning with a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers (34-28).

It was a strange trip to California for the Mets. Things stated off badly when Francisco Lindor fractured the tip of his finger in his hotel door and the Mets lost their first two games against the Dodgers. New York rallied for a 2-2 series split with the Dodgers and then headed to San Diego to face the Padres. The first game against the Padres went brilliantly, and the Mets won 11-5. But in game two they lost Pete Alonso and Starling Marte to injuries, and the Mets then lost games two and three of that series in lopsided fashion. Things got better in Anaheim, when New York won two of three games in their series against the Angels to end the road trip on a positive note.

Alonso has been one of the Mets hottest hitters this season, and that continued during the last road trip, even with his hand injury. He hit five home runs and drove in ten runs in nine games. J.D. Davis has started to heat up now that he has mostly taken over the DH role. He went ten for 33 on the road trip and hit his second home run of the season in the final game against the Angels. Closer Edwin Diaz did not get to pitch much in California, but in the three games in which he did appear, he was lights out. His best game was his last one, in the series finale against the Angels. He completed a five out save, striking out five of the six batters he faced, including Mike Trout. Interestingly, he is the first Mets’ pitcher to strikeout five in a five out save.

The Mets’ pitchers other than Diaz went through a bit of a rough patch in the last ten games out west. They gave up 16 runs in the four games against the Dodgers, 25 runs in the three games against the Padres, and 15 runs in the three games against the Angels.

On the Brewers’ side, things have been rough so far in June. They’ve won two of their last 11 games and sandwiched between those wins was an eight-game losing streak. This June swoon saw the Brewers fall out of first place in the NL Central, and they are now one game behind the Cardinals.

Some of the Brewers’ recent struggles can be explained by a weak offense. Former NL MVP Christian Yelich should be an offensive force for the Brewers, but he’s struggling at the plate again like he was last season. Catcher Omar Narvaez is the team leader in OPS+ at 123, and several of the Brewers’ starters have an OPS+ that is league average or lower. The Mets offense, for comparison, has much better numbers: Alonso leads the team with an OPS+ of 161, and no starters other than catchers Tomás Nido and Patrick Mazeika have an OPS+ lower than 100.

Milwaukee’s recent losing streak can also be explained by a faltering pitching staff. The Brewers’ gave up a little over seven runs per game on average during their losing streak, giving up 57 runs total over that eight-game span. The team also saw star closer Josh Hader blow his first save of the season, giving up two solo homers in a 3-2 loss to the Phillies.

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Tuesday, June 14, 2022: RHP Chris Bassitt (4-4, 4.35 ERA) vs. RHP Adrian Houser (3-6, 3.92 ERA)

Bassitt had a rough west coast trip. He gave up four runs in six innings of work against the Dodgers to start off the road trip. Things went worse for him in San Diego when he gave up seven runs in 3 1/3 innings of work against the Padres. Hopefully Bassitt can bounce back against the Brewers and give the Mets a chance to win his start.

Houser has never started a game against the Mets, though he has pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief against them. Those innings were logged in 2018 and 2019, so he was facing a completely different Mets team. In his last outing against the Phillies, Houser gave up five runs in six innings. The 2022 Mets offense should hopefully be able to score some runs against Houser.

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Wednesday, June 15, 2022: LHP David Peterson (3-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. Corbin Burnes (3-4, 2.48 ERA)

Peterson has struggled to go deep in his last three starts. He went 4 2/3 innings and gave up four runs against the Nationals, followed by a four-run, 3 2/3-inning outing in Los Angeles. In his most recent start, Peterson gave up one run in 2 2/3 innings against the Padres. The Mets have won Peterson’s last three starts, but that’s not a trend that’s likely to continue if he can’t give the team more innings each outing.

Burnes is the undisputed ace of the Brewers’ rotation. He won the NL Cy Young Award last season, when he led the league in a multitude of categories, including ERA (2.43) and strikeout rate (35.6%). He set records that season, including striking out 58 batters before issuing a walk to start the season. While Burnes has been excellent for most of this season, his last couple of outings have been on the shorter side. In his last start against the Phillies, he gave up three runs in only 4 1/3 innings. Hopefully they Mets hitters can knock Burnes out early on Wednesday.

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Thursday, June 16, 2022: RHP Tylor Megill (4-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. LHP Aaron Ashby (1-5, 3.91 ERA)

Megill’s return to the Mets rotation after almost a month on the injured list went about as expected. It was a short outing against the Angels, only 3 1/3 innings, but he was on a pitch limit. The only blemish on his start was the two-run homer he gave up in the second inning. If Megill can keep the ball in the park, and keep his pitch count low in the early innings, he should have a much better outing against the Brewers than he did against the Angels.

Like Houser, Ashby has only ever faced the Mets as a relief pitcher. He tossed one scoreless inning against the Mets in 2021. This year, Ashby has been both a starter and a reliever, appearing in 13 games and starting seven of them. In his last outing against the Nationals, Ashby went 4 2/3 innings and gave up six runs. With any luck, he’ll have a similar outing against the Mets on Thursday.

Prediction

It would be nice to see the Mets take advantage of a struggling Brewers team this series by winning at least two of the three games. The Mets will have their work cut out for them, since the Brewers are still a good team despite their June record. But if all goes well, a series win should be more than possible.

The post Series Preview: Bring On The Brewers appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets (39-21) traveled to Anaheim Friday night to take on the Angels (28-32) for the first time since 2014. The Angels came into the game off a 5-2 win against the Red Sox, a win which snapped their 14-game losing streak. The Mets came in having lost their last two games against the Padres in lopsided fashion. The Mets needed a win tonight to get their west coast road trip back on track and the offense delivered with a 7-3 defeat of the Angels.

The Mets bats were hot early, scoring three runs in the second inning and knocking Angels’ spot starter Jhonathan Diaz from the game. The inning started with back-to-back base hits by Eduardo Escobar and Jeff McNeil. After J.D. Davis struck out and Luis Guillorme lined out to the second baseman, the Mets got their first run of the game off a ground ball base hit by Tomas Nido. After a Brandon Nimmo walk to load the bases, Mark Canha followed with a sharp line drive double to right and the Mets had a 3-0 lead.

Nimmo would tack on another run for the Mets in the top of the fourth inning. He hit a two-out, solo home run, which was his first home run since April 25.

Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY

The Mets added more runs in the top of the sixth inning. Davis started the inning with a single, and Guillorme followed with a walk. Nimmo drove in Davis and Guillorme with a two-run double down the left field line. Canha followed with a single through the right side against the shift, and Nimmo scored from second. With their sixth inning hits, Nimmo and Canha each had three RBIs in the game.

Tylor Megill got the start for the Mets. It was his first start since going on the injured list on May 15 with biceps tendonitis. It was an expected short outing for Megill, and he only went 4 1/3 innings. Megill had a great first inning but faltered in the second. He gave up a two-run homer to Brandon Marsh, cutting the Mets’ lead at the time to 3-2. Megill was able to get out of the inning and finish the rest of his outing without giving up any more runs. In all, Megill struck out four, walked one, and gave up two runs in his return to the rotation.

David Peterson came on in relief of Megill with one out in the fourth inning and promptly got Tyler Wade to ground into a double play, ending the inning. Peterson allowed two runners to reach base in the bottom of the fifth innings, but he got a ground ball out for the final out to keep the Angels from scoring.  He was not so lucky in the bottom of the sixth, giving up a solo home run to Marsh, Marsh’s second home run of the game.

Drew Smith pitched the bottom of the seventh and tossed the first 1-2-3 inning for the Mets since the first inning. Joely Rodriguez started the bottom of the eighth and allowed the first two batters to reach, before striking out Marsh for the first out. Adam Ottavino then came on in relief of Rodriguez. Ottavino got the first batter he faced to ground into a double play to end the inning.

Edwin Diaz pitched the ninth inning in a non save situation. McNeil helped Diaz out with a great diving catch in right for the first out of the inning. Diaz followed with back-to-back strikeouts to seal the Mets 7-3 victory. Once again, the Mets avoided a three game losing streak.

Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY

Player of the Game: Brandon Nimmo

Nimmo had a great night at the plate for the Mets tonight. In addition to his three RBIs, he also had two runs scored. His final line was 2 for 4 with a home run and a walk. It was nice to see Nimmo have such a great game after he missed time at the end of last month due to a sprained wrist.

On Deck

The Mets and Angels play game two of their three-game series Saturday night in Anaheim. Game time is 10:07 p.m. EDT. Carlos Carrasco is scheduled to start for the Mets, while Michael Lorenzen is set to start for the Angels.

The post Mets Get Their Halos,Top Angels 7-3 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

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After falling behind the Dodgers 2-0 to start their four-game series, the Mets came back in exciting fashion to take the final two games for the series split. They now continue their west coast road trip, as the Mets (37-19) head south to take on the San Diego Padres (33-21) in a three-game series.

The Mets’ bats were quiet in the first two games against the Dodgers. Maybe it was the travel out west, or maybe it was bad luck running into good pitching, especially Tyler Anderson. Anderson had a 20-inning scoreless streak going before the Mets arrived and extended it to 26 innings in game two. Luckily, things turned around in game three, and the Mets won 9-4. Game four was tougher, but the Mets offense outlasted the Dodgers’ offense with the help of Adonis Medina, who pitched the tenth inning to remember.

Pete Alonso is arguably the Mets hottest hitter. He has 54 RBIs this season and 16 home runs. His homer in game two kept the Mets from being shut out in back-to-back games. He hit two clutch homers in game three against the Dodgers to help get the win and hit a game-tying double in game four. Francisco Lindor started the series off on the wrong foot hand, fracturing the tip of his right middle finger by catching it in his hotel room door. But after missing game one and going hitless in game two, he kicked things back into gear with a homer in game three and two hits in game four.

The Mets’ bullpen was excellent in the series against the Dodgers. As a unit, they only gave up four runs in 14 2/3 innings. The biggest issue was in game four, when Seth Lugo gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth, letting the Dodgers tie the game.

The Padres are coming into this series on a three-game win streak, having taken three of four games from the NL Central-leading Brewers. However, before they beat the Brewers, the Padres were swept by the Cardinals in a three-game series.

Joe Musgrove and rookie MacKenzie Gore have pitched excellently for San Diego. Musgrove and Gore each turned in scoreless outings against the Brewers, and their ERAs are 1.64 and 1.50 respectively. Luckily for the Mets, Musgrove and Gore are not starting in this series, so that should help New York’s chances of winning.

On the offensive side for the Padres, Manny Machado is having a fabulous year. He’s batting .333/.409/.551 on the year and has nine homers and 32 RBIs. Machado has stepped up for the Padres in the absence of their superstar shortstop, Fernando Tatis Jr. The Padres have also gotten decent production from Eric Hosmer, who they almost traded to the Mets before the season started. Hosmer’s slash line is .296/.357/.551 and he has driven in 25 runs.

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Monday, June 6, 2022: RHP Carlos Carrasco (6-1, 3.63 ERA) vs. LHP Blake Snell (0-2, 4.80 ERA)

Carrasco was solid for the Mets his last time out against the Nationals, tossing five scoreless innings and striking out five. Although Carrasco was the first Mets’ starter to pitch into eighth inning this season, in his last four starts he has not made it out of the sixth inning. With the bullpen a bit worn out after David Peterson’s short outing against the Dodgers on Saturday, and the extra inning game on Sunday, it would be great if Carrasco could give the Mets some length in game one.

Snell got a late start to his season, making his first start for the Padres on May 18. His first start of the season was supposed to be earlier on April 10, but he was scratched due to tightness in his left adductor muscle. He ended up on the injured list for more than a month and has only made three starts so far this year. In his last outing against the Cardinals, Snell struck out six and gave up two runs in six innings of work.

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Tuesday, June 7, 2022: RHP Taijuan Walker (3-1, 2.88 ERA) vs. RHP Yu Darvish (4-3, 4.03 ERA)

Walker pitched very well in his last outing against the Dodgers. He went 5 2/3 innings, giving up only two runs, and giving the Mets a chance to win the game. Unfortunately, the offense did not back him up, and the Mets were shut out that game for the first time this season. If Walker can hold the Padres to two runs or less on Tuesday, the Mets will have an excellent chance to win.

Darvish has had an interesting year thus far. He’s had his fair share of good games, where he’s gone six innings or more and given up less than three runs. But he’s also tossed a few poor outings. His worst game was his second outing of the year, where he gave up nine runs in 1 2/3 innings against the Giants. Darvish’s most recent outing was against the Cardinals, in the series where the Padres were swept. He gave the team length in that game, going 7 2/3 innings, but he also gave up five runs.

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Wednesday, June 8, 2022: RHP Chris Bassitt (4-3, 3.74 ERA) vs. LHP Sean Manaea (2-3, 3.77 ERA)

Bassitt has had a rough go of things against California teams this year. He gave up 13 runs in two starts against the Giants and he gave up four runs against the Dodgers in his last start. Bassitt has given up three runs or less in almost all of the rest of his starts. In a recent article from the Athletic’s Tim Britton, Bassitt mentioned that the number of talented left-handed hitters in the National League may explain his struggles. Britton explored how Bassitt’s repertoire works best when attacking right-handed batters. That worked well for him when he was pitching in the American league, where many of the most feared sluggers bat right-handed.

The Padres acquired Manaea from Oakland on April 3, right before the 2022 season was set to kick off. So far, he’s pitched as expected for San Diego. In his last start against the Brewers, Manaea struck out eight batters and gave up one run in six innings of work. Manaea’s biggest issue so far this season seems to be a lack of run support from his teammates. He has taken a no-decision in his last four starts, despite reaching the sixth inning in all four starts and pitching the seventh inning as well in two of them.

Prediction: 

The Mets have the pitching advantage on paper in all three games, since the Padres best starters are not pitching this series. Of course, anything can happen once the games are played. Still, the Mets should have a solid chance of taking two out of three from the Padres.

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