Game Preview: Braves vs Mets

The Mets improbable playoff push continues tonight as the Mets find themselves only 1.5 games out. Yesterday the Mets scored 3 runs in the first inning only to immediately give the lead back. At that point the game felt like it was off the rails. The Mets would tie the game in the 6th and then take the lead / break the game open in the ninth. They held on in the bottom of the ninth and here we are.

In a twist for the Mets this season – Steven Matz is back in the rotation! The contributions of Matz – Wacha – Porcello have not been great by any definition of the word great but I’d rather lose with Matz than either Wacha or Porcello. On the season Matz has pitched in 6 games and 24.0 innings with an 8.63 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 6.73 FIP and 50 ERA+. His first start of the season was against the Braves and it was by far his best start as he allowed 1 run from 2 hits over 6.0 innings in a game the Mets eventually lost 5-3. The Braves have the following numbers against Matz:

Ronald Acuna Jr 3-15, 3B, BB, 4 K
Ozzie Albies 3-21, 2B, 4 K
Adam Duvall 4-9, 2B, 3B, HR, BB, 3 K
Tyler Flowers 2-17, 2B, 3 BB, 6 K
Freddie Freeman 8-31, 2 2B, HR, 3 BB, 5 K
Adeiny Hechavarria 2-11
Ender Inciarte 3-9, 2B, BB, K
Nick Markakis 3-20, 2B, 2 BB, 5 K
Marcell Ozuna 5-20, 2B, 2 BB, 5 K
Dansby Swanson 3-14, 2B, BB, 4 K

Max Fried has been having a terrific season with the Braves. In 9 starts and 50.0 innings he has a 1.98 ERA, 2.51 FIP, 1.060 WHIP and a 244 ERA+. THis is in large part due to homers – he hasn’t allowed any. In previous seasons he had a HR/9 of 1.0, 0.8 and 1.1. Now its 0.0. That being said, he’s been more human the last two outings, allowing 5 runs over 10.0 innings from 10 hits against the Red Sox and Nationals. He started his season off against the Mets allowing 2 runs over 5.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him: