213 Miles From Shea

The Mets look to split the series with the Marlins this afternoon behind a spot start from Robert Stock. Saturday was a quiet day for the Mets in multiple ways. On the field the Mets scored only two runs on seven hits, going 0-for-1 with RISP and committed two errors. Off the field the Mets didn’t make any trades despite avoiding using anyone in the bullpen that could be traded.

The roster the Mets have this morning will be quite different than the roster that takes the field again Tuesday night in Cleveland. The MLB trade deadline is basically here!

Robert Stock last pitched for the Mets in 2021, allowing three runs over five innings in two games. Last season he pitched 2 2/3 innings over two games for the Red Sox, allowing three runs from four hits. He has pitched in eight games across Syracuse and Brooklyn this season totaling 21 2/3 innings with a 2.91 ERA and 0.831 WHIP. The Mets need him to put up innings his afternoon. As much as possible the Mets are trying to avoid using anyone in the bullpen who may be moved today or tomorrow.

The Mets bats will face off against Sandy Alcantara. Alcantara has made 23 starts and is leading the league with 150 2/3 innings pitched. He has a 3.82 ERA, 3.96 FIP, 1.208 WHIP and a 105 ERA+. If the Marlins are going to go for it, they need to build around Alcantara who will be a free agent in 2027. If the Marlins decide to sell, why is Alcantara even making this start? Alcantara is coming off of a terrific game against the Phillies where he held them scoreless over seven innings, scattering four hits and a walk. The Mets have the following career stats against him:

• Francisco Alvarez 1-3
• Brett Baty 0-4, K
• Bo Bichette 1-6
• Francisco Lindor 10-33, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 BB, 4 K
• Jorge Polanco 0-3
• Luis Robert Jr. 0-3
• Marcus Semien 4-10, HR, 2 K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-6, 2 K
• Luis Torrens 1-5, 2 K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Hug Watch. The trade deadline is the number one story of the game. Overnight the Dodgers acquired Tarik Skubal, the top starting pitcher available for trade. This should get the market for all of the other starting pitchers moving. In addition to Clay Holmes and Freddy Peralta, the Mets have three or four relievers they move at the deadline. By the time you are reading this someone may have already been traded. Then there are hitters like Tyrone Taylor who smashed his 10th home run of the season yesterday. Keep your eyes peeled for hugs!
2. Francisco Lindor. Lindor has now recorded two hits in a game, in back-to-back games. Over his last three games he ahs gone 5-for-11 with two runs and home run. In his last 16 games played he is hitting .311/.400/.639 with five home runs. He’s starting to turn it on and if he keeps this up for a few more weeks he’ll still finish 2026 with a nice, statistical season.
3. Contain the back of the lineup. The Marlins bottom-third of the lineup on Saturday (Sanoja, Ruiz and Conine) combined to go 6-for-11 with three runs scored, three RBI’s, and two home runs. The Marlins lineup as a whole struggled, going 2-for-11 with RISP and leaving 10 runners on base. The score could have been a lot worse with how good the bottom of the lineup was hitting. Don’t let them repeat that today!

Let’s Go Mets!

The Marlins were able to push through the Mets Friday night. The Mets still have a chance to win the series, but that would require winning today and tomorrow. Freddy Peralta was scratched from the start a few hours before first pitch as trade talk started to ramp up. The Mets only used Curry in the bullpen last night, protecting everyone else who could be traded this weekend. We’ll see if the Mets use that same approach this afternoon.

Zac Thornton has made five starts totaling 29 2/3 innings this season with a 2.43 ERA, 3.20 FIP, 0.910 WHIP and a 173 ERA+. He started July off with two spectacular back-to-back starts allowing no runs over 13 innings. His last time out was more human, but still effective, holding the Braves to three runs over 6 1/3 innings while striking out five. This will be his first start against the Marlins and no one on the Marlins have faced Thornton in a Major League game.

Tyler Phillips has pitched in 27 games including 11 starts this season totaling 84 1/3 innings with a 3.52 ERA, 4.60 FIP, 1.364 WHIP and a 114 ERA+. Phillips fully joined the rotation in the second week of June and has a 5.05 ERA, 5.63 FIP over 41 innings. His last two starts have been a step in the right direction, allowing five runs, four earned, over 9 1/3 innings (3.86 ERA). In two games against the Mets this year he allowed three runs over 8 2/3 innings. The Mets have the following career stats against Phillips:

• Francisco Alvarez 0-1
• Brett Baty 1-4, 2 K
• Carson Benge 2-5, 2B, 2 K
• Bo Bichette 1-6, K
• A.J. Ewing 1-4
• Francisco Lindor 1-3
• Jorge Polanco 1-1, 2B
• Marcus Semien 2-4, 2B
• Tyrone Taylor 1-1, BB
• Luis Torrens 0-2
• Jared Young 1-2, K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Francisco Lindor. Lindor went 2-for-3 yesterday with a home run and a walk (we are just going to ignore the stretching a single into a double, getting caught in a rundown situation last night). He’s now one homerun away from 10 on the year, something he has done every year his career except for the covid season. Since July 19, Lindor has slashed .333/.444/.689 with two doubles, a triple and four home runs over 12 games.
2. Carson Benge. Benge has a four game hitting streak going where he has gone 7-for-15 at the plate with two doubles and a stolen base. Since the start of July Benge has slashed .302/.371/.430 over 23 games. Benge and Ewing will be the brightest spots of this 2026 season.
3. Jonathan Pintaro. The Mets recalled Pintaro after putting Cionel Pérez on the injured list. Pintaro’s role this weekend is to eat innings that would normally go to the pitchers the Mets will trade by Monday. Over five games this season Pintaro has pitched 12 1/3 innings with a 5.11 ERA, 5.53 FIP, 0.730 WHIP and an 83 ERA+. He has struggled to keep the ball in the park, already allowing three homers this season. Twice this season he has pitched three or more innings and four out of five games he has tossed more than 40 pitches.

Let’s Go Mets!

On July 8, the Marlins had 51.5% chance of making the playoffs according to Fan Graphs. Their odds rose around 40% in one month. Since their 12 game losing streak, they are down to a 15.1% chance. About a month ago, they were very likely going to be buyers at the trade deadline. Now who knows where they are going to be.

The Mets have long been labeled sellers, however they have played good ball lately winning four of their last five games. As of writing the Mets have already made their first trade of the weekend sending A.J. Minter to the Twins. Who knows who is going to be on the Mets by the the weekend. If the Mets can keep playing this weekend, they’ll force the Marlins into sell mode on Monday.

Freddy Peralta was originally schedule to make his last start as a Met tonight. He signaled after his last start that he didn’t think he would be starting today. That being said, the Mets didn’t pull him from today’s start until around two in the afternoon. Most of Friday made it seem like today was going to be his last audition.

Kodai Senga will be getting the start in place of Freddy Peralta tonight. Over 12 games, Senga has tossed 40 2/3 innings with a 8.85 ERA, 6.89 FIP, 1.844 WHIP and a 47 ERA+. He has not pitched since July 18 where he allowed two runs in 1 1/3 innings against the Red Sox. It’s just been an abysmal season for Senga. Senga is signed through 2027 and has a team option for 2028. It’s unlikely at this point the Mets would find a trade worth it at the deadline for Senga. It would be a wonderful development if the Mets could get Senga back on track before the end of this season. The Marlins have the following career stats against him:

• Griffin Conine 1-4, K
• Xavier Edwards 4-13, 2B, 4 K
• Heriberto Hernandez 1-2, K
• Liam Hicks 1-2, 2B
• Otto López 0-5, BB, K
• Jakob Marsee 1-2, 2B, BB
• Graham Pauley 2-4, 2B, K
• Esteury Ruiz 1-2
• Javier Sanoja 1-2, 2B
• Kyle Stowers 1-4, HR, BB, 3 K

Janson Junk has made 14 starts this season totaling 73 2/3 innings with a 4.89 ERA, 4.35 FIP, 1.357 WHIP and an 83 ERA+. He has done alright in his last four starts posting a 4.34 ERA over 18 2/3 innings. His stats through his last four are heavily impacted by a game where he allowed six runs over four innings. The Mets have the following career stats against Junk:

• Bo Bichette 3-4
• Luis Robert Jr. 0-2
• Jared Young 0-1, K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Walk Francisco… Alvarez? The Dodgers, Braves and Marlins have been giving Alvarez a lot of free passes in his last five games. He has gone 3-for-12 at the plate with seven walks, good for a .526 OBP. He only has 27 walks on the season. Since July 3, Alvarez has slashes .302/.439/.491 with three home runs and 12 walks.
2. Bichette’s Audition Weekend. Bo’s contract would be difficult to move at the deadline, but not impossible. Over his last 11 games he has gone 15-for-46 with two doubles slashing .326/.360/.370. A drop in power, but a massive bump for his batting average. Since June 12, he’s been a different hitter going .313/.349/.438 with eight doubles and four home runs over 41 games. Maybe this is enough to entice a contender.
3. Luis Robert Jr. The centerfielder trade market is thin. Robert Jr. has struggled since returning from the injured list going 4-for-29 with two home runs and three walks (.138/.219/.345). He had a huge two-RBI night for the Mets on Thursday. He has said in interviews this week that he would rather stay here, but a good weekend may cause a team to come calling.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets have won three of their last four games, all against good teams! The Mets won the first two games of their series against the Braves by a combined score of 17-5, with Monday’s 14-3 win doing a lot of the heavy lifting there. Thus it was disappointing, but inevitable considering how the Mets played this season as a whole, that they would lose the night cap on Wednesday 1-0.

The Marlins come to New York in a weird spot. They just snapped a 12-game losing streak on July 27th and now have won three games in a row. They would love to regain some of their footing before the trade deadline. The Mets could help evaporate the Marlins playoff dreams with a solid weekend series!

Nolan McLean has made 21 starts this season totaling 119 1/3 innings with a 3.32 ERA, 3.34 FIP, 1.115 WHIP and a 125 ERA+. In his last five starts he has pitched 30 innings allowing only four earned runs while striking out 36 batters (1.20 ERA, 2.24 FIP). The Mets defense behind him has led to five unearned runs during this stretch. Against the Marlins this season he has allowed one run un two hits over five innings. The Marlins have the following career stats against McLean:

• Xavier Edwards 0-2, BB
• Liam Hicks 0-2, BB
• Otto López 0-2
• Jakob Marsee 0-1, BB
• Esteury Ruiz 0-1, BB
• Javier Sanoja 0-2, BB
• Kyle Stowers 0-3, 2 K

Eury Pérez has made 18 starts for the Marlins this season and just passed his previous season high in innings for a single season. Over 98 2/3 innings, he has a 3.56 ERA, 4.07 FIP, 1.115 WHIP and a 113 ERA+. In his last eight starts he has pitched 46 1/3 innings with a 1.55 ERA, 2.79 ERA. This hot stretch was kicked off against the Mets where he allowed only one run over 6 1/3 innings. The Mets have the following career stats against him:

• Francisco Alvarez 0-1, BB, K
• Brett Baty 0-4, K
• Carson Benge 0-3
• Bo Bichette 3-8, 2B, K
• A.J. Ewing 0-2, K
• Francisco Lindor 0-4, 2 BB, 2 K
• Luis Robert Jr. 0-3, 2 K
• Marcus Semien 0-2
• Tyrone Taylor 1-4, 2B, 2 K
• Luis Torrens 0-2, K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Carson Benge. Benge managed to get one of two hits the Mets had in the nightcap on Wednesday, with Eric Wagaman getting the other hit. Overall Wednesday was a good day for Benge going 3-for-7 with a double and an RBI. He also had an astounding catch in the outfield. Benge’s Arm Value according to Statcast is in the 92nd percentile and his Arm Strength is in the 98th. But last night’s catch was all about his range which he’s actually kind-of average at right now (OAA 56th percentile).
2. Bullpen. The only pitchers the Mets didn’t use out of the pen Wednesday were Brooks Raley and Kodai Senga. There’s a good chance the Mets trade Raley before the deadline, and the Mets are probably managing game loads right now for all of the arms they may move, which is like half of the bullpen. Raley has pitched in 43 games this season pitching 38 2/3 innings with a 2.09 ERA. He hasn’t pitched since last Sunday. Senga hasn’t pitched since July 18th where he allowed two runs over 1 1/3 innings against the Phillies.
3. Francisco Lindor. Lindor’s next triple will be his fifth of the season, something that he has done only once before in his career, back in 2022. Lindor is also 13 home runs away from 300 for his career. He will need to go on a hot streak to reach that mark this season, but it’s still possible!

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets and Braves close out their water logged three game series with the night cap tonight. It should be a fun pitching matchup with 10-time All-Star Chris Sale taking on Christian Scott. Sale has reinvented himself in Atlanta, earning an All-Star game nod each of the three seasons he’s been with the team. Christian Scott is continuing to establish himself as a major pitcher for the Mets starting rotation for the rest of this season and next.

Christian Scott has made 14 starts this season totaling 63 1/3 innings with a 3.13 ERA, 3.70 FIP, 1.263 WHIP and a 135 ERA+. Scott is coming off of a rough start against the Brewers where he allowed three runs from four hits and three walks over 3 2/3 innings. In his two starts before that he allowed no runs from six hits and a walk over 10 2/3 innings. Against the Braves this season he allowed three runs from two hits, both home runs, and four walks over four innings while striking out seven batters. The Braves have the following career stats against Scott:

• Ronald Acuña Jr. 0-3, 2 K
• Ozzie Albies 1-5, HR, K
• Drake Baldin 0-2
• Joey Bart 0-2, K
• Mauricio Dubon 0-0, 2 BB
• Michael Harris II 4-5, HR
• Jorge Mateo 0-2, K
• Matt Olson 0-4, BB, 4 K
• Austin Riley 0-3, 2 BB, 2 K
• Dominic Smith 0-2, K
• Mike Yastrzemski 0-4, 3 K

Chris Sale has made 19 starts this season pitching 111 innings with a 2.19 ERA, 2.61 FIP, 1.054 WHIP and a 192 ERA+. He’s coming off of a start where he allowed three runs over six innings and still managed to strike out 11 batters. In his two starts before that he allowed no runs over 10 innings with 11 strikeouts. Against the Mets this season he allowed three runs from two home runs over five innings. The Mets have the following career stats against Sale:

• Francisco Alvarez 0-4, K
• Brett Baty 0-1, BB, K
• Carson Benge 0-2
• Bo Bichette 1-6, 2 K
• Francisco Lindor 16-41, 2 2B, 2 HR, BB, 9 K
• Jorge Polanco 7-19, 2B, 8 K
• Luis Robert Jr. 2-5, HR, K
• Marcus Semien 6-18, 3 HR, 2 BB, K
• Tyrone Taylor 2-6, HR, BB
• Luis Torrens 0-3
• Eric Wagaman 1-2, BB

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Luis Torrens. Monday night the Braves and the Mets each had two catchers in their lineup, with one being the DH. Luis Torrens is having another solid season with the Mets, putting up 1.3 bWAR over 64 games. He had 1.3 bWAR last year in 92 games and only has 3.0 bWAR for his entire career. He’s not a free agent until 2023 with the Mets signing him to a two year extension earlier this year. He’s been a critical for the Mets throughout Alvarez’s injuries. That being said, there is still a possibility the Mets could trade him this week.
2. Luis Robert Jr. Robert Jr. was the only Met not to have a fantastic game on Monday night. He went 1-for-6 at the plate with three strikeouts. Since his return from the injured list he has gone 3-for-21 with three walks (.250 OBP) hitting two home runs. He’s shown all of things that make him great. He’s had pop. His fielding has been strong. But he he has also shown why teams are skeptical of him. He’s struck out nine times in his 21 AB’s.
3. Christian Scott. Scott is in the 88th percentile for K% this season despite his Whiff% being in the 54%. It’s been his sweeper that has been helping him out the most. He only throws his sweeper 22.6% of the time but opponents have a .183 xBA and 34.1% Whiff%. That’s 9% higher than his overall Whiff% of 25.9%.

Let’s Go Mets!

Monday night was quite the night at Citi Field! The Mets racked up 19 hits and six walks in their 14-3 rout of the Braves. Five different Mets had at least three hits. The Mets slugged four home runs. It was a dominant performance for the Mets. The type of performance that makes you wonder what could have been for this team this year.

The Mets will play a split-doubleheader with the Braves today with the trade deadline hanging overhead of both games. This is the last time the Braves will be in New York this season, with no off-day tomorrow everyone would love to get both games in today. There are a chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout the afternoon and evening. We’ve been water logged the last few days, and the forecasted weather is a big reason why the Braves and Mets just played through the weather on Monday night.

Sean Manaea has pitched in 22 games including eight starts this season totaling 85 2/3 innings with a 4.52 ERA, 4.27 FIP, 1.354 WHIP and a 93 ERA+. Since joining the rotation he has a 4.01 ERA, 4.54 FIP over 42 2/3 innings. Manaea is coming off of a strong start against the Dodgers where he held them to one run over six innings. He has one good start and one start where a lot went wrong against the Braves this season. In his good start he allowed only two runs over six innings. On July 4th he allowed six runs, but only three earned over five innings against the Braves who have the following career stats against him:

• Ronald Acuña Jr. 1-2
• Ozzie Albies 2-9, 2 2B
• Drake Baldwin 0-2, BB
• Joey Bart 1-7, 4 K
• Mauricio Dubon 2-12, HR
• Michael Harris II 1-8, 3 K
• Jorge Mateo 0-6, 2 K
• Matt Olson 4-11, HR, 5 K
• Austin Riley 3-8, HR, BB, 3 K
• Dominic Smith 2-4, BB
• Eli White 4-7, 2B, 2 HR, K
• Mike Yastrzemski 2-8, 3B, BB, 3 K

AJ Smith-Shawver makes his 2026 debut today, returning to the mound for the first time since May 2025. Smith-Shawver tore his UCL last season and has been on the long road back from Tommy John surgery. Before his injury last season he made nine starts totaling 44 1/3 innings with a 3.86 ERA, 3.90 FIP, 1.421 WHIP and a 108 ERA+. The only Met who has seen him in a Major League game is Eric Wagaman (1-for-2, BB).

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Francisco Lindor. The leader of the Mets reminded everyone Monday night why he is a super-star. First at-bat, triple. Next time up, home run. He would later hit another home run later in the game. It was the third time in his last nine games where he had three hits. Overall in his last eight games he has gone 12-for-32 with two doubles, a triple, three home runs and 11 RBI’s (.375/.474/.781).
2. A.J. Ewing. Ewing had back-to-back games against the Dodgers not getting on base at all, which is highly unusual for him. In the two games since he has gone 4-for-8 with four runs scored and two walks. He now has a 2.5 bWAR, just behind Juan Soto for the team lead. He’s only four stolen bases behind Carson Benge for the team lead, despite playing 35 fewer games.
3. Tyrone Taylor. At some point the rest of the league is going to take notice to Tyrone Taylor. Monday night he went 3-for-5 with a home run. Since Independence Day, Tyrone Taylor has gone 13-for-32 with four doubles, six home runs, four walks, 12 RBI’s and 11 runs scored (.406/.486/1.094). He has raised his season OPS from .551 to .799 over this stretch!

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets salvaged the last game of the series against the Dodgers yesterday with a comeback win. This week the Mets head deep into hug-watch territory with MLB trade deadline one week away. After yesterday’s game Peralta said he probably made his last start with the Mets. The Mets are off on the trade deadline and will probably have a very different looking team on the fourth in Cleveland.

The Mets and Braves will also have to battle the weather this week. There is a chance of a thunderstorm this afternoon and tonight. Then there is much better chance of rain Tuesday and Tuesday night. As of now Wednesday looks the worst for rain.

Zac Thornton makes his fifth start tonight. Over his first four starts he has tossed 23 1/3 innings with a 1.93 ERA, 2.98 FIP, 0.857 WHIP and a 219 ERA+. He has already accumulated a 1.1 bWAR which puts him seventh on the Mets pitching staff. He’s trailing starting pitchers Clay Holmes (1.9), Nolan McLean (1.8) and Christian Scott (1.7). In his last twos tarts he has allowed no runs from five hits and three walks over 13 innings while striking out seven batters. This will be the first time in his career facing the Braves or anyone on the Braves roster.

Martín Pérez has pitched in 19 games, making 15 starts this season totaling 85 1/3 innings with a 3.38 ERA, 4.45 FIP, 1.195 WHIP and a 125 ERA+. Pérez had three rough starts in a row leading to the All-Star break where he allowed 12 runs, 11 earned, over 13 1/3 innings (7.43 ERA, 8.14 FIP). This includes a start against the Mets where he allowed five runs, four earned, over 4 1/3 innings. He bounced back in his first start after the All-Star Break allowing no runs on one hit and four walks over four innings against the Padres. The Mets have the following career stats against him:

• Francisco Alvarez 0-4, 2 BB, K
• Brett Baty 2-4, 2B
• Carson Benge 0-4, BB
• Bo Bichette 6-12, 2 2B, BB, K
• A.J. Ewing 1-2, HR, K
• Francisco Lindor 9-22, 2B, 5 BB, K
• Jorge Polanco 4-14, 2B, HR, 2 BB, K
• Luis Robert Jr. 4-10, 2B, BB
• Marcus Semien 10-39, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 8 K
• Tyrone Taylor 2-5, BB
• Luis Torrens 0-7, 2 BB, 3 K
• Eric Wagaman 0-2, 2 K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Marcus Semien. Semien had a huge home run yesterday to give the Mets some late insurance runs. In his last four games Semien has gone 2-for-11 with both hits being home runs. He is getting on base at a rate far below last season (.305 vs .263) but his power is some what comparable (.364 SLG last season to .344 this year). Hopefully as he gets healthier he starts to hit closer to what he did last season.
2. Bo Bichette. Bichette is one of the more interesting names heading into the deadline. Bichette has an opt out after the season (and the next season). It’s difficult to imagine Bichette getting as lucrative as a deal next year, but you can’t table the idea of Bichette getting on a hot streak. The Mets have already paid 40 million of the 42 million he’s owed this year. Bichette has had two hits in two tames in a row. Since July 3rd he has hit .294/.347/.324 over 18 games. He’s getting on base a lot more, but has seen his power drop off a bit.
3. Tyrone Taylor. We mentioned yesterday that Tyrone Taylor was a player to watch and he hit a massive, go-ahead, three-run home run for the Mets yesterday. In his last five games he has gone 5-for-10 with two home runs, a double and six RBI’s. He’s only started two of those games! Since returning from the injured list Taylor is hitting .382/.462/.941 with five home runs over 18 games.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets look to avoid being swept by the Dodgers this afternoon. It’s been a frustrating series for the Mets who have lost the first two games by a score of 4-2 and 4-3. The Mets had opportunities to win both games but just couldn’t get it done for a variety of reasons.

Today is probably the most important game of the series for the Mets because Freddy Peralta will be on the mound. Peralta is one of the larger names that will be available at the end of this month, despite his recent state of play. A strong start against a strong Dodgers lineup can go a long way for both him and the Mets.

Freddy Peralta has made 21 starts this season totaling 109 2/3 innings with a 5.01 ERA, 4.51 FIP, 1.459 WHIP and an 83 ERA+. His ERA+ is the lowest in his career, and the first time it’s been below 100 since 2019. He’s coming off of a dreadful start against the Brewers where he allowed seven runs over 5 1/3 innings. In the two starts before that he allowed five runs but only three earned over nine innings while striking out 12 batters. The Dodgers have the following career numbers against Peralta:

• Mookie Betts 1-14, HR, BB, K
• Alex Call 0-4, BB, 3 K
• Tommy Edman 7-26, 2 2B, BB, 7 K
• Freddie Freeman 6-29, HR, 2 BB, 5 K
• Teoscar Hernández 3-9, 2B, HR, BB, 3 K
• Max Muncy 3-13, 2B, 3B, HR, BB, 4 K
• Shohei Ohtani 3-12, 2 HR, 2 BB, 4 K
• Andy Pages 1-8, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Miguel Rojas 4-16, BB, 2 K
• Kyle Tucker 5-14, 2B, 6 BB, K

Emmet Sheehan has made 18 starts totaling 87 2/3 innings, both are career highs. He has a 5.13 ERA, 4.50 FIP, 1.266 WHIP and an 81 ERA+ this season which is a massive departure from his 2.82 ERA, 2.93 FIP, 0.968 WHIP and 146 ERA+ over 73 2/3 innings last season. His HR/9 has jumped from 0.9 in 2025 to 1.7 in 2026. Sheehan was starting to build momentum with three consecutive strong starts with a 2.45 ERA, 3.11 FIP but in his last start he allowed six runs over 5 1/3 innings. The only Mets who have faced him in a Major League game before are Bo Bichette (0-for-1, K) and Marcus Semien (1-for-3).

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Please stop Freddie Freeman. Freddie Freeman went 3-for-4 again last night. In this series he is 6-for-8 with a double and a stolen base. It’s actually his third consecutive game collecting three hits (9-for-12, 3 2B, 4 R, 2 SB). He’s as locked in as you can be right now.
2. Fielding. The Mets had another rough night fielding, with Brett Baty picking up his seventh error on the season on a throw. Baty was playing first base as the Mets continue to try to figure out where to put Baty with Marcus Semien, Luis Robert Jr. and Bo Bichette all playing. After the game Andy Green lamented the rules that allow base runners to make that throw more difficult. Ultimately fielding has cost the Mets so much this season.
3. Tyrone Taylor. Taylor had a massive two-run, pinch hit double last night. It was his eighth double on the season. The Mets collectively went 2-for-11 with RISP and left 10 runners on base, those stats would have been worse if it wasn’t for Taylor. Taylor has seen his play time drop recently with the Mets getting healthier. He has came in as a pinch hitter in his last three games and is 2-for-4 with two doubles and two walks.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets look to avoid a three game losing streak tonight. Last night felt like a microcosm of the season for the Mets. They flashed real promise, like Carson Benge throwing a runner out at home on a 100-mph throw. The Mets hit two home runs. Sean Manaea had a great start. But the team also struggled to get runners on base, Juan Soto got injured and the Mets ultimately lost a close game.

Holding the Mets record aside, tonight’s game should be exciting. Two aces battling it out. Should be a fun one!

Nolan McLean has made 20 starts this season pitching 113 1/3 innings with a 3.34 ERA, 3.30 FIP, 1.094 WHIP and a 125 ERA+. He’s in a groove right now, allowing five runs, but only two earned, in his last four starts (24 innings) while striking out 29 batters (0.75 ERA, 1.81 FIP). Taking a farther step back, he has had a 2.08 ERA, 2.91 FIP over 52 innings in his last nine starts. He had a brilliant start against the Dodgers earlier this season holding them to one run over seven innings while striking out eight. The Dodgers have the following career numbers against him:

• Alex Freeland 0-2
• Freddie Freeman 0-3, 2 K
• Teoscar Hernández 0-3, 3 K
• Max Muncy 1-3
• Shohei Ohtani 0-3
• Andy Pages 0-3, 2 K
• Kyle Tucker 0-2, BB

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has made 18 starts this season totaling 119 2/3 innings with a 2.78 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 0.877 WHIP and a 150 ERA+. His FIP is the highest in his career (previous seasons at 2.61 and 2.94) and its probably due to slight uptick in home runs (0.7 HR/9 to 1.0 HR/9). On July 11th he had a rough start against the Diamondbacks where he allowed six runs over six innings. He then tossed a complete game against the Yankees, allowing only two runs. Yamamoto had a great start against the Mets back in April holding the Mets to one run, from a solo homer, over 7 2/3 innings. The Mets have the following career stats against him:

• Francisco Alvarez 1-4, BB
• Brett Baty 0-3, 2 K
• Carson Benge 1-3
• Bo Bichette 2-6, 2B, BB, K
• Francisco Lindor 3-10, HR, 3 K
• Jorge Polanco 0-3, K
• Luis Robert Jr. 0-3
• Marcus Semien 1-6, 2 K
• Juan Soto 1-3, HR

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Luis Robert Jr. The Mets are hoping that Luis Robert Jr. goes on a massive hot streak over the next week to up his trade value. Since returning from injury he has played in four games, including three starts, going 2-for-13 with five strikeouts. Both hits have been solo home runs. The pop is there!
2. Francisco Alvarez. In his six games he has gone 7-for-19 with three home runs with four walks (.368/.478/.842). There are not a lot of catchers available on the market, and he’s starting to generate some trade interest. How do the Mets see Alvarez? He’s only a couple of seasons removed from being one of the top prospects in baseball and when healthy, he flashes so much potential.
3. Contain Freddie Freeman. Freddie Freeman feasted on Mets pitching last night going 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Freeman is hitting .294/.377/.486 with a 138 OPS+ this season, which is not to far off of his career line of .299/.386/.510 and a 142 OPS+. Against the Mets he has hit .305/.391/.499. Somehow, it has felt a lot worse than that.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets schedule doesn’t get any easier. They opened the second half of the season against the Phillies and Brewers on the road. Now they welcome the Dodgers and Braves at home. The Mets went 3-3 against the Brewers and Phillies and just dropped the series against the Brewers. They had a real shot at beating the Brewers in rubber game, but they couldn’t get beyond a key error by Brett Baty in the outfield. The Mets will try to shake if off against the Dodgers tonight.

We are now 10 days away from the MLB trade deadline. As of writing, the Mets haven’t dismantled the team yet. The hug-watch isn’t fully on yet, but it’s starting to creep in.

Sean Manaea has pitched in 21 games making seven starts totaling 79 2/3 innings. He has a 4.74 ERA, 4.35 FIP, 1.356 WHIP and an 88 ERA+. July hasn’t been the best for Manaea allowing 13 runs, 9 earned, over 16 2/3 innings (4.86 ERA, 7.01 FIP). This month he has struggled to keep the ball in the park, allowing six home runs. Specifically he’s allowed two in each start. This was after three consecutive starts to end June allowing no home runs. The Dodgers have the following career numbers against Manaea:

• Mookie Betts 10-36, 2 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 3 BB, 5 K
• Alex Call 0-6, 2 BB, 2 K
• Tommy Edman 4-5, 2B, 2 HR
• Freddie Freeman 5-20, HR, BB, 4 K
• Teoscar Hernández 5-18, HR, 2 BB, 4 K
• Max Muncy 2-9, 2 HR, 2 BB, 2 K
• Shohei Ohtani 3-12, 2 BB, 5 K
• Andy Pages 1-5, 2B, 3 K
• Miguel Rojas 3-10, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Kyle Tuker 8-22, 2B, 4 HR, 4 K

Roki Sasaki has made 17 starts totaling 86 2/3 innings with a 4.98 ERA, 5.35 FIP, 1.338 WHIP and an 83 ERA+. He’s coming off of a solid start against the Yankees in New York where he allowed one unearned run over 5 2/3 innings. In his five starts before that he allowed 22 earned runs over 23 innings from 25 hits including nine home runs (8.61 ERA, 8.15 FIP). The only two players on the Mets to face Sasaki previously are Bo Bichette (0-for-1) and Marcus Semien (0-for-3).

Three Things To Watch For:

1. RISP. Until the Mets have a breakout day at the plate with runners in scoring position, we have to talk about it. The Mets have been putrid with RISP over their last nine games, going 1-for-68. Wednesday they went 1-for-7. Against the Brewers the Mets went a combined 3-for-21. Just absolutely brutal.
2. Marcus Semien. Semien went 0-for-9 in his first two games back from the injured list. Since then he has gone 2-for-7 with a HR and a walk. Not lighting the world on fire, but so much better than his first two games back. In those first two games back he had five strikeouts, since then one strikeout.
3. A.J. Ewing. Ewing went 2-for-5 with a double on Wednesday, his second game with two hits in his last four. Ewing has a 2.2 bWAR slashing .274/.345/.426 with a 114 OPS+. His 2.2 bWAR is second on the team, behind Juan Soto (2.6) and ahead of Carson Benge (1.8). Over on Statcast, Ewing is not lighting up any of the batting stats, but outside of striking out he’s not bombing either. He is dominating in other ways though. His arm strength is in the 91st percentile, range in the 83rd and spring speed is in the 95th.

Let’s Go Mets!