The Mets enter tonight’s game officially as sellers on the trade market. The Mets beat the Nationals last night 2-1, after a late rally that was interrupted by a weather delay. While this was all happening, Eppler was working out a trade involving the Mets closer, David Robertson.
For the Mets team, it’s definitely a reality moment. The only thing the Mets players can do at this point is keep playing the games. There are several other players who are expected to get traded this week, so every lineup and every in-game move the Mets make will get overly scrutinized.
Max Scherzer looks to rebound after his poor start his last time out in Boston. He allowed five runs on four homers in six innings. Homeruns have have been his downfall this year, allowing nine in his last four starts. Overall this season he has pitched 100 2/3 innings with a 4.20 ERA, 4.78 FIP, 1.192 WHIP and a 98 ERA+. Which Max shows up tonight? The one who allowed four homers in his last start or the wone who held the Dodgers to a hit and nothing else on July 16th?
Max has made one start against the Nationals this year where he held them to one run from two hits and two walks over five innings while striking out six. The Nationals have the following career numbers against him:
- Corey Dickerson 5-18, HR, 4 K
- Dominic Smith 0-17, 7 K, 3 BB
- Luis García 4-8, HR, K
- Lane Thomas 0-3, 2 K, BB
- Jeimer Candelario 1-6, 2 K, BB
- Keibert Ruiz 1-7, K
- Joney Meneses 0-4, 2 K
- CJ Abrams 2-4, 2B
- Ildemaro Vargas 0-3
MacKenzie Gore makes his 21st start of the season tonight. Over 101 innings Gore has a 4.37 ERA, 4.23 FIP, 1.436 WHIP and a 96 ERA+. He has fallen into a pattern recently where he allows one run or less in a start or five runs or more. This pattern alternates all the way back to June 10th. He’s coming off of a start where he allowed no runs over five innings to the Giants. The start before that he allowed five runs over 6 1/3 to the Cubs. Gore has faced the Mets tice this season allowing only one run from nine hits over 10 innings while striking out 13 batters. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:
- Tommy Pham 2-9, 6 K, BB
- Brandon Nimmo 1-5, 2 K, BB
- Pete Alonso 0-4, K, BB
- Mark Canha 0-5, 3 K
- Jeff McNeil 4-4, BB
- Francisco Lindor 0-5
- Francisco Álvarez 0-2, K
Three Things To Watch For:
- Is this Scherzer’s last start as a Met? Most likely, no. Scherzer will probably be a Met beyond the trade deadline because of his player option for next season. Even if Max isn’t a top tier ace next season, there are reasons to believe he can make adjustments in the off-season and become a #2 or #3 type pitcher for the Mets. In other words, he still fits in the 2024 plans. It’s not impossible though that someone tries to make a trade so there is still a chance that this is his last start as a Met.
- Hitters likely to be traded. The most likely hitters on the Mets to be traded are Mark Canha and Tommy Pham. Canha was a significant part of the Mets offense last night going 2-for-3 at the plate and plating a critical RBI on a sacrifice fly. Tommy Pham didn’t play last night as he is still recovering from his groin injury. All eyes will be on both players for the next several days as we head straight into #HugWatch season.
- The Mets are getting hit by a lot of pitches recently. Last night the Mets were hit by pitches three times. That puts them up to 72 on the season, far ahead of the Mariners at 66 and the Reds at 58. This is really dangerous! And notable! It didn’t feel like anything last night was on purpose, but that still doesn’t make it alight. It would be nice if the MLB / umpire crew came in and gave a warning to opposing pitchers that if they keep throwing inside, miss, and hit a Met that there will be consequences.
Let’s Go Mets!
