Morning Briefing: Braves Now Tied With Mets In NL East
Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Good morning, Mets fans!
Well, actually it isn’t. Far from it.
After being forced to enjoy the sights that Pittsburgh has to offer on Monday following a rain out – that isn’t a bad thing by the way – the Mets returned to action on Tuesday as they opened up a three-game set against the Pirates.
However, it was one to forget. Taijuan Walker was beat up and was run out of the game, allowing four earned runs on six hits. The Mets gave up a total of eight runs to the lowest-scoring team in the majors, and they’ve now scored a combined total of just four runs in their past three games against two bottom-feeders in the Pittsburgh and the Nationals. Not good. Oh, and to top it all off, Starling Marte also left Tuesday’s game with a hand injury. Not great Bob, not great (Old Mad Men reference there for you all).
The Braves made matters even worse for the Mets later Tuesday night, beating the Athletics 10-9 in a back-and-forth affair. That gave the Braves an 85-51 record – identical to the Mets, tying them for the top spot in the division.
Because of Monday’s postponement, the Mets will play a doubleheader at PNC Park on Wednesday before heading to Miami to open up a three-game series against the Marlins on Friday. Chris Bassitt (12-7, 3.32 ERA) is scheduled to start Game 1 of the doubleheader, while Jacob deGrom (4-1, 1.98 ERA) will take to the mound for Game 2. The Pirates have yet to announce their starter for Game 2, although Duane Underwood Jr. (1-5, 4.60 ERA) will start Game 1.
Latest Mets News
It appears there may have been a valid reason for Walker’s struggles on Tuesday. Per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, Walker was dealing with a blister on his right index finger. However, the starter doesn’t believe it will impact him from making his next start.
Mets manager Buck Showalter came under a little bit of pressure on Tuesday for leaving Bryce Montes de Oca in the game. However, Showalter defended his thinking by revealing that Joely Rodriguez was unable to come into the game because of a stiff neck.
Edwin Díaz has been enjoying a historical season, pitching to a stellar 1.52 ERA with 29 saves and he’s emerged as a true star of the game. And his stellar year continues to get better with the elite closer now set to pitch for Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Brandon Nimmo made arguably the catch of the year in last week’s crucial win over the Dodgers at Citi Field, absolutely robbing a Justin Turner home run at the wall. It was one of the best catches you will ever see and it has rightfully been crowned MLB’s Play of the Week. Right decision.
After finishing up a three-game series in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, the Mets will head to Miami on Friday. However, whether Max Scherzer takes the mound in the opening game of that series against the Marlins remains to be seen. Per Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets are still somewhat in a holding pattern with their ace. Scherzer left his last start on Saturday after just 67 pitches with left side fatigue and the Mets are still proceeding with caution it seems when it comes to the future Hall of Famer.
Starling Marte was forced to leave Tuesday’s game after the first couple of innings. The veteran outfielder took a 96 mph fastball from Mitch Keller to the hand and, while he tried to continue, he was eventually forced to leave the game and he will undergo imaging on his right hand. The Mets will be praying for the best possible outcome.
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The New York Yankees have absorbed another body blow with Anthony Rizzo to go on the IL. Ronald Guzman will be added to the active roster on Wednesday.
Travis Blankenhorn, a Mets fan-favorite, suffered a collision with the outfield wall while playing for the Syracuse Mets and, as a result, his 2022 season has now been brought to a premature end. Everyone at MMO would like to wish Travis a speedy recovery.
Latest on MMO
Chris Bello recaps the ugly 8-2 blowout loss to the Pirates in Game 1 on Tuesday.
Mojo Hill caught up with Mets pitcher David Peterson, who is having quite the year on the mound. In an MMO exclusive interview, Peterson discussed his season, playing under Buck Showalter and learning from two of the greats in Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer.
We all know that the New York Mets have been hit by a lot of pitches this season. And we mean a lot. Rich Sparago took a deep dive in how the Mets have taken full advantage of being the most hit team in the majors.
It has been a very, very mixed week for the Mets. However, two players have stood out in particular and Alex Horowitz crowned those individuals the stars of the week.
On This Date in Mets History
Birthdays:
- Brian Stokes (43)
- David Newhan (49)
- Jason Isringhausen (50)
- Darren Bragg (53)
- Rick Sweet (70)
The post Morning Briefing: Braves Now Tied With Mets In NL East first appeared on Metsmerized Online.