The Mets look to pick up the pieces from their latest series loss and end July on a high note as they welcome the San Francisco Giants to town. Last night the Mets had the bases loaded in the seventh and the ninth inning, but didn’t score at all and lost 3-2. They are now nine games below .500 at the halfway point of the season. The Giants are nine games above .500 and come to New York trying to stop a two game slide.
Carlos Carrasco will make his 11th start of the season tonight. Over 48 innings he has a 6.19 ERA, 6.57 FIP, 1.563 WHIP and a 67 ERA+. He’s coming off of a short start his last time out where he held the Phillies to only two runs, but couldn’t go beyond four innings after allowing five hits and two walks. Carrasco is still struggling to keep the ball int he ballpark. His April 15th start in Oakland is the only start this season where he hasn’t allowed a home run. The Giants have the following career numbers against him:
- Brandon Crawford 1-13, 2B, 4 K
- Mitch Haniger 4-9, 2B, HR,2 BB, 3 K
- Isan Díaz 0-6, K
- Wilmer Flores 1-6
- Joc Pederson 1-5, HR, K
- Mike Yastrzemski 2-6, K
- Thairo Estrada 1-3
- LaMonte Wade Jr. 1-3, K
- Alex Wood 0-2
The Mets bats will try to shake off the last two days as they take on Alex Cobb tonight. Over 14 starts, 78 2/3 innings, he has a 3.09 ERA, 3.25 FIP, 1.373 WHIP and a 139 ERA+ (his best ERA+ since 2013). Cobb is coming off of the injury list tonight. In mid-June he landed on the list due to an oblique strain. Last Saturday he made a rehab start with the Giants low-A team where he struck out nine batters over 3 2/3 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against Cobb:
- Francisco Lindor 4-13, 2B, 5 K
- Mark Canha 1-9, 3 K
- Starling Marte 3-7, 2B, 2 K
- Jeff McNeil 2-5, 2B
- Brandon Nimmo 2-6, 4 K
- Pete Alonso 2-5, HR
- Omar Narváez 0-2
- Tommy Pham 0-2
- Daniel Vogelbach 0-2
Three Things To Watch For:
- Carlos Carrasco could be traded. If the Mets continue to fall, the Mets are going to move veterans who are in their last season on contract. Carlos Carrasco is a veteran pitcher who could entice teams if he goes on a bit of a hot streak in his next three to four starts. Just like the Mets playoff hopes, time is running out for Carrasco to increase his trade value.
- Welcoming old friends back home. The San Francisco Giants still boast quite a few former Mets. J.D. Davis, Wilmer Flores, and Michael Conforto are all on their way back to Citi Field. Flores has been back a bunch of times already, so let’s focus on the other players. J.D. Davis is having a great year with a .829 OPS and a 126 OPS+. Both stats are the highest they’ve been since 2019. Michael Conforto is having an excellent return to baseball with 12 homers, .755 OPS and 106 OPS+. The Mets could be welcoming even more former Mets home tonight but Thomas Szapucki is on the 60-day injured list.
- Pham continues to rack up hits. After going 3-for-3 on Wednesday night, Pham went 2-for-4 last night. In the 25 games since May 28th he is now hitting .345/.402/.632 and is the Mets hottest hitter in the lineup right now. Tonight he will face off against Joc Pederson, which should continue to fire him up.
Let’s Go Mets!
