A review of the latest turn through the Mets starting rotation:
|
Name |
Innings |
Hits |
Earned Runs |
Strikeouts |
Walks |
ERA |
WHIP |
Quality Start |
|
Matz (7-3) |
4.1 |
9 |
6(6) |
0 |
0 |
3.29 |
1.19 |
No (13/8) |
|
DeGrom (3-2) |
8.0 |
7 |
0(0) |
6 |
1 |
2.67 |
1.12 |
Yes (13/10) |
|
Colon (6-3) |
7.0 |
6 |
1(1) |
2 |
1 |
2.86 |
1.17 |
Yes (15/9) |
|
Syndergaard (8-3) |
3.0 |
7 |
5(5) |
5 |
3 |
2.49 |
1.06 |
No (15/12) |
|
Harvey (4-10) |
3.2 |
4 |
1(1) |
3 |
3 |
4.55 |
1.40 |
No (16/7) |
|
Verrett (3-4) |
5.0 | 4 | 2(2) | 1 | 4 | 4.08 | 1.45 |
No (5/2) |
Best Start: With all the arm problems on display over the past couple of days, it’s easy to forget about Jacob deGrom‘s masterpiece against Atlanta on Saturday opposite apparent Met-stopper Julio Teheran, who has a 2.68
ERA in nine games against the Amazin’s over the past three years.
DeGrom got out of trouble, getting double plays in second, third and fourth innings, then escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth by getting Adonis Garcia to ground out. Basically his MO all year – produce quality starts and give innings to a team that refuses to provide any offensive support.
Granted, every Mets starter is getting a substantial lack of run support. However Neil Greenberg of the Washington Post points out that deGrom is getting
Just 2.9 runs in support per nine innings, the third lowest among NL starters qualifying for the ERA title. That’s resulted in New York losing three of the 10 quality starts deGrom has provided this season and a large reason why he is projected to finish the season with a 9-8 record.
We’re just a year removed from deGrom being the unquestioned ace of this team and doing this:
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With Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz dealing with ‘bone spurs’ and Matt Harvey still a lingering question, the Mets will need more performances like the eight innings from deGrom if they’re to ride out this latest hitting drought.
Worst Start: While both Syndergaard and Matz squandered unexpected run support (which is sadly what any run support looks like these days), Thor was the one who claimed his arm was fine after falling apart in the third inning against Washington.
While his velocity was fine. Bob Kkapisch of The Record notes that his fastball averaged 99 mph and the changeup was 92 mph, but the slider, “only induced four swings and misses of the 21 he threw.”
As always, it comes down to location and that he gave up a season-high three walks in three innings, the most free passes he’s given up in a start since a five-inning outing last July in Washington. But in that one he only allowed one run and one stolen base. He allowed FIVE stolen bases in one inning on Monday.
There’s clearly something wrong with our Norse god, but what is the answer? I’m somewhat disappointed that Terry Collins didn’t use more spot starts from Logan Verrett and Sean Gilmartin to allow his young pitchers some extra rest after last season. But would extra rest have prevented bone spurs?
Best of the Bullpen: It’s been a shaky couple of weeks for the pen, especially with the need for extra innings thanks to a few disappointing starts from the starters. Since allowing a two-run homer in the eighth to blow a loss for Harvey, Addison Reed has appears three times, picking up a win and striking out five in 3.2 innings.
Next Best Thing: This schedule doesn’t get any easier going forward with four games against the Chicago Cubs to start July with reigning Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta scheduled to face 2005 Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon on Saturday.
