Game Preview: Orioles vs Mets

The Mets go for 6th in a row tonight against the Baltimore Orioles!

Nothing is ever easy for the Mets. After winning their 4th in a row, things looked like a lock for Sunday with the best pitcher in baseball on the mound, Jacob deGrom. After 4 perfect innings, he had a uncharacteristic inning where he walked 3 and something just looked off. His side was still tight and the Mets took him out of the game as a precaution and now added him to the IL to get some rest. Adding to the nothing is ever easy pile: the Mets draw one of the best pitchers in baseball tonight as they match up against John Means.

But first, lets start with the Mets. Marcus Stroman will make his 7th start of the season tonight. So far he has pitched 34.0 innings with a 2.12 ERA, 3.25 FIP, 1.029 WHIP and a 181 ERA+, all better than his career numbers. He’s coming off of a start where he allowed 4 runs, 2 earned, over 5.0 innings from 7 hits and a walk while striking out 6. A groundball pitcher, Marcus hasn’t had the best defense behind him his last three starts with 5 unearned runs scored. The Orioles have the following numbers against Stroman:

Freddy Galvis 1-2, BB
Trey Mancini 7-16, 2B, 3B, 3 K
Rio Ruiz 1-8, K
Cedric Mullins 0-3
Chase Cisco 0-3, 2 K

John Means will make his first start tonight since tossing a no-hitter in Seattle. In 7 games and 46.0 innings he has a 1.37 ERA, 2.99 FIP, 0.674 WHIP (league leading) and a 311 ERA+. Means also leads the league in H/9 at 4.1. He’s really hit a groove in his last four starts, allowing 3 runs over 29.1 innings, all from solo homers. That’s been the only weak part in his game this year – the long ball. If you don’t hit it out of the park, it could be a long night against Means. The Mets faced him on back to back starts last year with very different outings. The first time they faced him, they tagged him for 4 runs over 5.1 innings, which believe it or not actually lowered his ERA from 8.59 to 8.10. His next start against the Mets kicked off the streak he’s on now. He held the Mets to 1 run over 6.0 innings and from that game on he tossed 23.2 innings with a 1.52 ERA. The Mets have the following numbers against Means: