Sunday’s 13-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates means the New York Mets have won nine of their last ten and are just three games back in the National League Wild Card standings.
An onslaught from the beginning, the New York Mets jumped on Pittsburgh Pirates starter Joe Musgrove early in Sunday’s game, scoring three runs in the first inning and three more in the third.
Ultimately, Musgrove allowed eight runs in just 3.1 innings of work as the Mets totaled 13 runs and 16 hits.
Three Mets – Michael Conforto (22), J.D. Davis (11) and Jeff McNeil (13) – went deep in the game. Conforto and Davis hit their home runs three batters apart in the top of the first to pad an early lead for starter Noah Syndergaard.
The way he was pitching, Syndergaard didn’t need much help anyway. He went seven innings, surrendering just one run on three hits. While he only recorded three strikeouts, he only walked one Pirate and threw just 91 pitches in his seven innings, good for a very effective 13 pitches per inning.
Sunday was the fifth consecutive start of at least seven innings for Syndergaard. Having 141 innings under his belt across 22 starts, he is on pace to throw a career-high number of innings in 2019.
While rumors were aplenty, the Mets elected to keep Syndergaard at the trade deadline and make a second-half push. This looks like a wise decision so far.
Standing at 55-56, the Mets have an opportunity to move above .500 on Monday thanks to their doubleheader at Citi Field vs. the Miami Marlins.
The odds in the first game seem very promising as Jacob deGrom opposes Sandy Alcantara. Looking like his vintage self, deGrom has allowed just one run over 21 innings in his last three starts. He also has a 30/6 K/BB ratio in this span.
Walker Lockett will square off against Robert Dugger in the second game. Drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2015, Dugger was acquired in the Dee Gordon trade and will be making his MLB debut.
The afternoon half of Tuesday’s action is set to begin at 4:10PM ET, followed by the nightcap at 7:40PM ET.
Despite their recent run, it wouldn’t be the Mets if they didn’t have bullpen concerns.
Having allowed runs in each of his last four appearances, manager Mickey Callaway commented on Edwin Diaz’s struggles on Sunday.
“We have to be open minded…we can’t lock ourselves into one thing,” Callaway told reporters, as reported by Tim Healey of Newsday.
Possessing a 5.44 ERA and 1.47 WHIP, Diaz has failed to secure five of his 29 save opportunities in 2019. Just three games back in the Wild Card race, these five losses are looming large.
This makes Callaway’s statement even more logical. Seth Lugo, for example, has a 2.68 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 53.2 innings. With four saves and 97 appearances over the last two seasons, he is certainly capable of slamming the door.
You can never have enough relief pitching and there is a new name to keep an eye on for the Mets: Zack Godley.
Designated for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday, Godley has struggled to a 6.39 ERA and 1.526 WHIP in 76 innings in 2019.
Making 57 starts over 2017-18, Godley had been moved to a bullpen role in 2019 as just nine of his 27 appearances have been starts.
He would fill a similar role for the Mets. Chris Mazza has been very hittable in his 8.2 innings and it would be worth a shot to see if Godley can provide an upgrade.
There was a bit of bad news for the Mets on Monday afternoon. Second baseman Robinson Cano was placed on the 10-day IL due to a left hamstring injury.
In 86 games, Cano is hitting .252/.295/.415 with 10 home runs and 32 RBI.
Luis Guillorme will take Cano’s spot on the active roster.
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