Game Preview: Braves vs Mets

Last night was a frustrating night for the Mets and makes tonight’s game even more important. Jerad Eickhoff was named the starter a couple of hours before pitching and allowed 10 runs, at that point the game became unreachable for the Mets bats. At this point the Mets executed their other plan – give key players in the bullpen a rest and got lucky with the Nationals beating the Phillies. The Mets were able to hold their 3.5 game lead in the east and they ended up using Eickhoff, Yennsy Diaz, Smith and Banda in the pen last night.

But that adds pressure to the game tonight. The Mets need a big start from Tylor Megill and a big night from the Mets bats. Megill has done everything the Mets have asked him to do this year, and more. In his first 6 starts and 30.0 innings he has a 2.10 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 1.100 WHIP and a 187 ERA+. In his last two starts he’s allowed no runs from 9 hits and a walk over 12.0 innings. His only average starts this year were his first two starts of his career – against the Braves. He allowed 5 runs from 8 hits and 4 walks over 9.1 innings. The Braves have the following numbers against him:

The Mets bats will look to do their part versus Max Fried tonight. Over 16 starts and 84.2 innings, Fried has a 4.46 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 1.370 WHIP and a 100 ERA+. In July he’s had one great start against the Rays where he allowed no runs over 7.0 innings, and three bad starts totaling 13 earned runs in 15.0 innings. In one start against the Mets this year he allowed 2 runs over 5.0 innings in a game the Braves won 20-2. The Mets have the following numbers against Max: