For the second time this season, Jacob deGrom threw a gem across 7 innings of work and for the second time this season, something happened in the 8th inning to erase that gem. Last night, after 7 scoreless innings from both starters, the Mets scraped together 3 runs in the 8th inning and left two runners on base. The runners left on base ended up being the difference as the Braves scored 2 in the 8th and 2 in the 9th to win the game. Now the Mets will need a strong performance from Wheeler and their bats to split the series with the Braves today.
Wheeler has allowed 4 runs in 13.0 innings this year from 9 hits and 4 walks leading to a small sample size 2.77 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 1.000 WHIP and 141 ERA+. If we go one step farther and look at his game log, his first start was a 1 run, 7 inning gem, and his second start (against a good Nationals team despite what their record says) was an average 3 run over 6 inning performance. He avoided the Braves last season and in 2014, the last time he faced Atlanta, he had a 1-2 record over 5 games with a 2.97 ERA in 30.1 innings of work. The Braves have the following numbers against him:
- Freeman 7-14, 2 2B, HR, 9 BB (.667 OBP in 24 PAs)
- Suzuki 1-2
- Flowers 1-1, HR
The Mets draw Mike Folynewicz who looks better than he has at any point in his career. He is 1-1 over 4 starts and 21.1 innings with a 2.53 ERA, 3.34 FIP, 1.266 WHIP and 154 ERA+. His only smudge so far is 4 wild pitches, the most in the league, which already ties his mark for wild pitches in 154 innings of work last year. Speaking of last year he had a 4.79 ERA, 1.481 WHIP, 4.33 FIP and 89 ERA+. The last time he faced the Mets though was 2016 where he allowed 4 runs from 8 hits and 2 walks in 3.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
- Frazier 1-8, HR, BB
- Bruce 1-5
- Cabrera 3-5, 2B, HR
- Cespedes 1-5, HR
- Flores 2-4, 2B
- Conforto 1-3
- Lagares 1-3
Let’s Go Mets!
