The Mets look to avoid the two-game series sweep tonight. Last night the Yankees got strong starting pitching and were able to hit Scherzer hard, ultimately beating the Mets 4-2.
Taijuan Walker returns to the mound for the Mets tonight. Taijuan exited his last start early due to back spasms and missed his regular start over the over the weekend to get a few more days to heal up. He’s made 21 starts this season and pitched 112 1/3 innings with a 3.36 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 1.202 WHIP and a 117 ERA+. He started August with a terrible start against the Braves where he allowed eight runs while recording three outs. Since then he has allowed two runs over eight innings while scattering six hits and five walks.
Walker faced the Yankees in July allowing three runs from seven hits and a walk over six innings. The Yankees have the following numbers against him:
- DJ LeMahieu 7-28, 2B, 5 BB, 6 K
- Josh Donaldson 2-15, 2B, HR, 6 K
- Aaron Hicks 4-11, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
- Anthony Rizzo 2-13, HR, BB, 2 K
- Aaron Judge 3-9, 3 HR, 2 BB, 3 K
- Harrison Bader 0-6, 2 K
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa 3-5, BB
The Mets bats will get a look at one of the Yankees’ big trade deadline acquisitions – Frankie Montas. Overall this season, Montas has started 22 games pitching 118 2/3 innings with a 3.87 ERA, 3.61 FIP, 1.205 WHIP and a 97 ERA+. Before the trade he made 19 starts tossing 104 2/3 innings with a 3.18 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 1.137 WHIP and a 117 ERA+. In his three starts since joining the Yankees he has allowed 14 earned runs over 14 innings from 18 hits and 6 walks. His K/9 has dropped from 9.4 to 5.1 while his WHIP has increased from 1.137 to 1.714. The Mets have the following career numbers against Montas:
- Francisco Lindor 4-9, 2 2B, 2 BB, 2 K
- Daniel Vogelbach 0-4, 2 BB, 3 K
- Starling Marte 3-5
- James McCann 1-4
- Tyler Naquin 2-3, 2B, K
- Darin Ruf 0-2, 2 K
- Mark Canha 0-1
Let’s Go Mets!
