There are two things the Mets needed in the worst way: an off day to rest the bullpen and to face a team that isn’t on top of their division. The Mets will enjoy both of those things twice this week as they have off-days sandwiching a series with the Baltimore Orioles. After getting swept by the Cubs this past weekend with the offense performing terrible, the Mets will try to put themselves back together before they have to face the Yankees this weekend. Tonight’s pitching match-up is entertaining if you’re into alternate universes as one of the pitchers a sizable portion of Mets fans wanted to sign this off-season was Alex Cobb and he’s facing off with the starting pitcher we did sign – Jason Vargas.
Vargas is 2-3 over 6 games and 25.1 innings with a 8.53 ERA, 5.80 FIP, 1.855 WHIP and 45 ERA+. Jason Vargas has made 4 terrible starts and 2 starts where he has held opponents to no runs over 5.0 innings allowing 2 hits and a walk. He did this against the Marlins on the 21st and and against the Braves on the 30th. I would almost consider this a fun fact, that his two good lines are nearly identical, but he’s been so bad in his other four starts that fun and Jason Vargas tend to be on two ends of a “Did I enjoy watching the Mets game” spectrum. In one start against the Orioles last year, Vargas allowed 3 runs over 5.0 innings from 4 hits and 2 walks. The Orioles have the following numbers against him:
- Jones 5-30, 2 2B, 2 BB, 5 K
- Gentry 5-23, 2 BB
- Trumbo 4-19, 10 K
- Davis 3-16, HR, BB, 5 K
- Valencia 3-16, 4B, BB
- Rasmus 3-13, 2 2B, 4 K
- Machado 2-10
- Schoop 0-4, 3 K
- Joseph 1-4, HR
The Mets bats will get a look at Alex Cobb who is 1-7 over 9 starts and 46.1 innings with a 6.80 ERA, 5.40 FIP, 1.813 WHIP and 62 ERA+. For only the 4th time this season, Cobb allowed 3 runs or less in his last outing where he allowed 3 runs over 7.0 innings, his longest start of the year. He has allowed 3 runs in 3 of his last 4 starts, so maybe he is turning the corner (In April he allowed 17 runs over 3 starts which in tonight’s game makes him the starting pitcher with the best start of the season). In one start against the Mets in his career he allowed 6 runs, 5 earned, in 6.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
- Bautista 3-17, 4 BB
- Cespedes 3-19 5 K (DL)
- Cabrera 2-11
- Reyes 1-6
- Frazier 1-5
- Bruce 0-3
- Gonzalez 1-3, 2B
- Mesoraco 1-3
Let’s Go Mets!
