Game Preview: Mets @ Braves

The last two days have been rough for the Mets who have lost back to back games while losing their starters at the beginning of the game due to injury. Before yesterday’s game we found out that Carlos Carrasco will be out for 3-4 weeks. Yesterday Taijuan Walker left after the second inning due to back spasms. Credit to the Mets bullpen – after Walker left they immediately gave up three runs but then locked the game down. The offense for the Mets last night was just not existent.

The Braves are now 3.5 games back behind the Mets. A win today and the Mets are immediately back to a comfortable 4.5 game lead. Let’s get the win Mets!

Max Scherzer will get the start for the Mets tonight. Over 16 starts (102 2/3 innings), Scherzer has a 1.93 ERA, 2.40 FIP, 0.925 WHIP and a 204 ERA+. Since returning from the injured list he has made eight starts tossing 53 innings with a 1.36 ERA (1.89 FIP) while striking out 67 batters. In his last two starts he has allowed one run over 14 innings from 13 hits and no walks while striking out 17 batters. This includes a game against the Braves where he shut them out for seven innings. The Braves have the following career numbers against Scherzer:

Marcell Ozuna 12-47, 6 2B, 2 HR, 4 BB, 15 K
Dansby Swanson 7-44, 3 2B, HR, 2 BB, 18 K
Travis d’Arnaud 7-30, 3 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 11 K
Ronald Acuña Jr. 7-26, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, BB, 9 K
Austin Riley 2-13, HR, 5 K
Adam Duvall 1-9, HR, 6 K
Eddie Rosario 1-8, 3 K
Robbie Grossman 1-5, 2 BB, 2 K
Matt Olson 1-6, 3 K

The Mets will get another look at Jake Odorizzi tonight. He’s made 14 starts this season, tossing 68 2/3 innings with a 3.80 ERA, 3.78 FIP, 1.267 WHIP and a 103 ERA+. In two starts as a Brave he has pitched 8 2/3 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, from 14 hits and four walks. That leaves him with a small sample size 4.15 ERA, 4.96 FIP and 2.077 WHIP. Against the Mets he pitched 4 2/3 innings allowing three runs, two earned, from six hits and three walks. The Mets have the following career numbers against him: