Game Preview: Mets @ Reds

The Mets still have a mathematical chance, but it’s slim. However, yesterday went almost perfect for them. As the Mets were traveling to Ohio, the Nationals, Cubs and Phillies all lost. The Brewers won, so the Mets are now 3.5 games back instead of 3.0 but the Mets are now only 4.5 back of the Nationals. All the Mets can do at this point is win every game they have a chance to win and hope for the best with other teams.

Jacob deGrom will look to keep the Mets on that plan tonight. He is 9-8 over 30 starts and 190.0 innings with a 2.61 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 1.005 WHIP (league leading) and a 156 ERA+. He also leads the league in strikeouts at 239. This is the first game all season (outside of any small sample size stuff after the first start in April) that he enters leading the league in two statistical categories. In his last two starts he has allowed 1 run off 6 hits and 1 walk over 14.0 innings while striking out 19 batters. Against the Reds back on May 1st, he allowed no runs from 3 its and 2 walks in 7.0 innings. The Reds have the following numbers against him:

Derek Dietrich 6-28, BB, 13 K
Freddy Galvis 11-31, 8 K
Eugenio Suarez 3-12, BB, 5 K
Jose Peraza 3-12, 3 K
Joey Votto 1-11, BB, 2 K

The Mets bats draw Luis Castillo who is wrapping up a fine season. He is 15-6 over 30 starts and 178.2 innings with a 3.22 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 1.136 WHIP and a 141 ERA+. The last time the Mets faced him at the end of April, he was one of the best pitchers in baseball, entering the game with a 1.23 ERA (he allowed 2 runs over 6.2 innings from 5 hits in 3 walks against the Mets, in a game the Mets eventually won 4-3). In September he has allowed 7 runs from 12 hits and 9 walks in 18.2 innings, a 3.38 ERA with opponents only hitting .176 against him, but getting on base at a .273 clip (hello Brandon Nimmo – do your thing tonight). The Mets have the following numbers against him: