The Mets are in a tough stretch of the schedule now. From the start of game one of the doubleheader, the Mets and Cardinals are on track to play four complete games in the span of 50-51 hours.
Taijuan Walker gets the start for the night cap. Over four games and 18.0 innings this year, Walker has a 3.00 ERA, 4.49 FIP, 1.056 WHIP and a 132 ERA+. Walker is coming off of a strong start against the Nationals his last time out on the mound, shutting them out over seven innings while allowing only three hits. Also it was the first time this season he faced a team not named the Phillies. That being said, with a start against the Cardinals tonight, all five starts will be against teams that primarily use red as a color (does this qualify as a fun fact?). In his one start against the Cardinals last year, Walker held the birds to one unearned run over seven innings of work and only one hit while striking out eight. The Cardinals have the following numbers against him:
- Nolan Arenado 4-15, 2B, 2 BB, 2 K
- Albert Pujols 3-13, HR, 2 K
- Paul DeJong 1-0, BB, K
- Yadier Molina 4-9, K
- Corey Dickerson 4-8, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 2 K
- Harrison Bader 0-4, 2 K
- Dylan Carlson 0-3, K
- Tommy Edman 0-3, K
- Paul Goldschmidt 0-3, 3 K
Steven Matz returns to Citi Field! On the season Matz has made seven starts and pitched 32 1/3 innings with a 6.40 ERA, 4.06 FIP, 1.515 WHIP and a 60 ERA+. Matz had a great start at the beginning of May where he shut down the Royals over six innings with no runs. Since then he’s allowed 11 runs over 8 2/3 innings in two starts. Against the Mets this season he allowed four runs over four innings from six hits and two walks in a game the Cardinals eventually won 10-5. The Mets have the following career numbers against Matz:
- Starling Marte 1-14, BB, 5 K
- Eduardo Escobar 4-8, HR, 2 K
- Francisco Lindor 2-8, 2 2B, 2 K
- Brandon Nimmo 2-5, 2B, BB, 2 K
- Pete Alonso 2-4, HR, BB
- Mark Canha 2-4
- J.D. Davis 0-4, BB, 2 K
- Travis Jankowski 0-2, BB
- Dominic Smith 0-3, K
- Tomás Nido 1-2, 2B, K
Let’s Go Mets!
