The Mets, by virtue of a four-game sweep of the once red-hot Diamondbacks, are smack dead in the middle of NL Wild Card race once again. Never count them out…
This Mets team never quits. Written off numerous times over the last two weeks, here they are a mere two games out of the race for the final Wild Card in the NL. You wouldn’t know this if all you had to reference was the dwindling attendance figures for the Mets on this homestand. But that’s another story.
The Mets not only beat the D’Backs, but they also overwhelmed them. Six home runs (a team record), including two by weak-hitting Juan Lagares, highlighted the offensive barrage against Arizona’s best and last hope, Alex Young, whose ERA in September had been a microscopic 0.038.
More significantly, Marcus Stroman pitched into the seventh inning, allowing only four hits and one run while needing only 97 pitches to complete his outing. This is the Stroman the Mets gave up Anthony Kay for, and the pitcher the team has been waiting to see.
But wait, the best is yet to come. The Los Angeles Dodgers make their annual visit to Citi Field this weekend for three games. Here are the pitching matchups:
Friday: Noah Syndergaard & Wilson Ramos vs. Clayton Kershaw
Saturday: Jacob deGrom vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu
Sunday: Zack Wheeler vs. Walker Buehler
That’s right. Mickey Callaway has made his decision, and he is not going to abide by Synergaard’s request to have Tomas Nido as his personal catcher. Good for him. It’s the right call. Wilson Ramos and his bat are what’s best for the team. And that (Noah) is all that should matter now.
Almost exiled, Todd Frazier has rebounded to become a vital part of the team down the stretch, providing a veteran presence to complement Pete Alonso, J.D. Davis, Amed Rosario, and Brandon Nimmo – all of whom have never felt the day to day stress of being in the forefront of a pennant race.
The Mets Face Yet Another Daunting Task
The Mets have their work cut out for themselves this weekend. The team has faced Kershaw fourteen times over the years, and they have never beaten him (9-0 with a .211 batting average against). Ryu has started seven times against the Mets, and they have defeated him once in five decisions.
The Mets have fared better against Walker Buehler, but it’s a small sample over one start in which he lasted only five innings giving up seven hits, two of which were home runs, and five earned runs. (Source for all stats – Baseball Reference – Pitching Splits)
Scoreboard watchers will want to pay close attention to the Brewers who are in St. Louis facing the first-place Cardinals, the Cubs who get a break against Pittsburgh at home. The Phillies, who are tied with the Mets in the all-important loss column, are at home facing the crumbling Boston Red Sox.
Meaningful Games In September – Who Could Ask For More
Given the pitching match-ups, the Mets have an excellent chance to take two of three from the Dodgers. Syndergaard has something to prove to fans and his teammates after the previous outbreak of his quarrel with Brodie Van Wagenen and Mickey Callaway. And Jacob deGrom is – well – he’s Jacob deGrom who never misses a beat as the ace of the staff.
The Mets are insanely close to taking over New York City, despite the incredible season the Yankees are having. Temperatures are starting to get a bit chilly at night in the Northeast.
Bundle up Mets fans because this is real…
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal.
