The Mets look to break their four game losing streak tonight as they take on Atlanta for game two of their series. Last night the Braves got on the board in the second inning and the Mets immediately responded by hitting two, two-run homers in the top of the third. The Mets would eventually give the lead back though and the offense couldn’t be bothered to produce any more runs.
Can the Mets offense break through the struggles tonight?
The Mets turn to Max Scherzer to right the ship tonight. In nine starts (47 2/3 innings) Scherzer has a 3.21 ERA, 4.12 FIP, 1.091 WHIP and a 129 ERA+. In his last four starts he has tossed 25 innings allowing only four runs, three earned, leading to a 1.08 ERA (2.16 FIP) while striking out 28 batters. He’s pitched seven innings now in back to back starts. Last season he pitched 26 innings over four games against the Braves with a 3.12 ERA. The Braves have the following career numbers against him:
- Marcell Ozuna 13-50, 7 2B, 2 HR, 4 BB, 15 K
- Travis d’Arnaud 7-33, 3 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 12 K
- Ronald Acuña Jr. 9-32, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, BB, 9 K
- Ozzie Albies 4-25, 3 BB, 10 K
- Austin Riley 4-18, 2B, HR, 7 K
- Eddie Rosario 1-12, BB, 6 K
- Matt Olson 3-12, HR, 6 K
- Michael Harris II 1-9, BB
- Kevin Pillar 3-8, 2 HR, 4 K
- Ehire Adrianza 1-5, K
- Orlando Arcia 2-5, 2B, 2 K
- Sean Murphy 1-3, 2B
The Mets bats will face off against the ageless Charlie Morton this evening. Over 11 starts (64 2/3 innings) Morton has a 3.62 ERA, 3.56 FIP, 1.438 WHIP and a 123 ERA+. His last two starts have gone about the same as his season numbers, allowing five runs over 12 1/3 innings from 13 hits and four walks while striking out 18 batters. In four starts against the Mets last year he allowed 13 runs, 12 earned from 25 hits and eight walks over 21 2/3 innings (4.98 ERA). The Mets have the following career numbers against him:
- Francisco Lindor 5-37, 2 2B, HR, BB, 10 K
- Pete Alonso 6-21, 2B, BB, 4 K
- Starling Marte 4-19, 2 BB, 7 K
- Jeff McNeil 5-18, 7 K
- Brandon Nimmo 4-18, BB, 6 K
- Daniel Vogelbach 5-15, 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 6 K
- Eduardo Escobar 5-17, HR, BB, 4 K
- Mark Canha 3-13, HR, BB, 5 K
- Omar Narváez 3-12, 2B, HR, BB, 3 K
- Tommy Pham 1-7, HR, BB, 4 K
- Brett Baty 1-2, 2B, K
- Francisco Álvarez 1-2
Three Things To Watch For:
- Strikeouts continue to stifle the Mets offense. Yesterday we talked about how the Mets have three consecutive games with double digit strikeouts as a team. They did it again yesterday with Nimmo, Vogelbach and Marte each having double digit strikeout days. Vogelbach fared the worst going 0-for-4 with three stikeouts. The Mets need to figure this out.
- Can the Mets score from anything other than a homer? I love home runs, this is not a knock on the Mets finding power after they went weeks without hitting a homerun. Last night was the second game in a row when all the Mets runs came on homers. On Sunday the Mets hit four solo homers. Last night they hit two, two-run homers. Sometimes though you need a good, small-ball rally for crooked numbers on the scoreboard and to make the other team work a little.
- Most of the Mets bullpen is ready to go tonight. The Mets used Ottavino and Smith last night (both gave up a run). Robertson and Raley are well rested though, they haven’t pitched since Saturday. It’s getting to the point that one or both of them may be used tonight even if game script doesn’t dictate it.
Let’s Go Mets!
