Category: Baseball
Final Recap: Phillies 5 – Mets 2
The Philadelphia Phillies (2-4) defeated the New York Mets (2-3) this afternoon by the final score of 5-2, to take the 3-game series at Citi Field. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…
Game Notes:
- Matt Harvey was charged with the loss this afternoon. Harvey pitched 6 innings, while allowing 3 runs on 6 hits. Harvey walked 2 and struck out 3.
- Yoenis Cespedes was 2-4 with a 2-run home run.
- David Wright was 2-4 with a double and a run scored.
- Jim Henderson pitched a perfect 7th inning, striking out the side.
- The Mets only had 4 hits this afternoon.
- The Phillies surpassed their win total at Citi Field from last year, with today’s victory. Last year at Citi Field the Phillies were 1-8, this season they are now 2-1.
It was a real struggle again this afternoon with the Mets bats going mostly silent. Yoenis Cespedes hit a 2-run bomb in the bottom of the 6th to cut the Phillies lead to 3-2, but that would be the only offense the Mets would muster this afternoon. It’s tough to point out exactly what is wrong with the Mets offense, as collectively they came into the game with the league’s 28th ranked batting average. It is a major contrast to the pitching, as they came into today with the best team ERA in the Majors at 1.29. The only place I could start to look at would be Curtis Granderson at the top of the lineup starting the season 1-20. If Granderson is not getting on base it will be tough for the Mets to manufacture runs, as he was an on-base machine last year. To Granderson’s credit he had some hard hit balls this afternoon, so maybe he’s on the verge of turning his bad fortunes around. Harvey had another uneven start with his biggest mistake coming in the top of the 6th when he allowed a 2-run home run to Odubel Herrera. Harvey has innings where he looks crisp and the ball is coming out nicely, and other innings where he has been running into trouble with elevated pitch counts. However this was a much better start than his Opening Night start against the Royals. There is plenty of time for Harvey to right the ship, and get back on track to his dominant self as I predicted him as my Cy Young award winner this season.
- The Mets return to action tomorrow night when the Miami Marlins come to Citi Field for a 3-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm et. Tomorrow’s game can be seen on SNY and ESPN.
- Rookie Steven Matz (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his first start of the 2016 season against Marlins right-hander Jared Cosart (0-0, 0.00 ERA) who will be making his 2016 debut as well.
Jacob deGrom to miss next start.
It was announced this morning that Jacob deGrom will be scratched from his next scheduled start on Wednesday against the Marlins. Manager Terry Collins stated that deGrom’s right lat has “improved, but not enough.” It seems the Mets will take a day-to- day approach with deGrom before they consider placing him on the disabled list.
Right-hander Logan Verrett will start in deGrom’s place on Wednesday.
Lineups: Mets vs. Phillies 1:10 pm et
Phillies:
1. Freddy Galvis (S) SS
2. Cesar Hernandez (S) 2B
3. Odubel Herrera (L) CF
4. Maikel Franco (R) 3B
5. Ryan Howard (L) 1B
6. Carlos Ruiz (R) C
7. Cedric Hunter (L) LF
8. Peter Bourjos (R) RF
9. Jeremy Hellickson (R) P
SP: Jeremy Hellickson RHP (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Mets:
1. Curtis Granderson (L) RF
2. David Wright (R) 3B
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) CF
4. Lucas Duda (L) 1B
5. Neil Walker (S) 2B
6. Michael Conforto (L) LF
7. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
8. Kevin Plawecki (R) C
9. Matt Harvey (R) P
SP: Matt Harvey RHP (0-1, 4.76 ERA)
Today’s game can be seen on SNY and MLB Network.
Game Notes:
SERIES NOTES: The Mets will play their first rubber game of the season today…New York went 7-10 in rubber games in 2015, including 3-4 at home…The Mets have won eight on their last nine series vs. the Phillies.
VS. PHILADELPHIA: The Mets are 10-2 vs. the Phillies in their last 12 games at Citi Field dating to August 31, 2014… New York went 14-5 vs. the Phillies (8-1 at home) last year… The 14 wins were the most in team history in a single-season vs. the Phillies…New York had a franchise high-tying 10-game winning streak vs. the Phillies from May 9-August 31, 2015… The Mets are 28-12 vs. Philadelphia over the last three years (including 2016).
METS PITCHING: The Mets lead the majors with a 1.29 ERA… The staff has allowed three runs, two earned, in its last 29.0 innings (0.62 ERA) dating to the eighth inning of their first game on April 3 at Kansas City.
THE BULLPEN: Has not allowed an earned run in 11.1 innings this season…The Mets are the only team in the majors whose bullpen has not permitted an earned run…The pen has not issued a walk and struck out 12.
HARVEY AT HOME: Since 1950, Matt Harvey has the third- best home ERA (2.05; 54 earned runs/237.0 innings) of any starter in his first three major league seasons (min. home 30 starts)…In Matt Harvey’s last 11 home regular season starts dating to June 16, 2015, he is 5-1 with a 1.25 ERA (10 earned runs/72.0 innings)…Harvey has allowed more than two earned runs in just one of his last 11 home starts…Last year he was 8-3 with a 2.23 ERA (28 earned runs/113.0 innings) at Citi Field.
1986 JERSEYS: Every Sunday home game this season, the Mets will wear replica 1986 jerseys in honor of the 30th Anniversary World Series championship team.
NOTABLE METS VS HELLICKSON:
- Curtis Granderson: .176 (3-17, 1 2B, 1 HR)
- Neil Walker: .400 (2-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI)
- Yoenis Cespedes: .333 (2-6, 1 2B, 1 K)
- Alejandro De Aza: .267 (4-15, 3 2B, 1 RBI)
- Asdrubal Cabrera: .250 (2-8, 1 BB, 1 K)
- David Wright: 1.000 (2-2, 1 2B, 1 BB)
Final Recap: Phillies 1 – Mets 0
The Philadelphia Phillies (1-4) shutout the New York Mets (2-2) this evening by the final score of 1-0. For a full postgame recap follow the link below…
Game Notes:
- Bartolo Colon pitched 6 solid innings with his lone mistake coming on a Ryan Howard home run in the bottom of the 5th. He allowed 5 hits, allowed no walks, and struck out 7. Colon also made a beautiful over the shoulder catch on a Freddy Galvis bunt attempt in the top of the 6th inning.
- Asdrubal Cabrera was 2-3 with a double.
- Lucas Duda was 1-4 with a single.
- Hansel Robles, Antonio Bastardo, and Jeurys Familia combined for 3 scoreless innings.
- The Mets only had 3 hits tonight and were 0-5 with RISP.
- Ryan Howard now has 45 career home runs against the Mets, which is the most among all active players in baseball.
It was a pretty ho-hum night at a cold and wet Citi Field. The Mets were unable to get anything going on offense, despite the pitching doing a great job of keeping them in the game. Hopefully with better weather expected tomorrow, the Mets offense will come alive and put some runs on the board. I can’t believe Mets fans already are beginning to boo Yoenis Cespedes. Yes I understand he has started the season 2-12 at the plate, but lets not start those shenanigans this early on a proven commodity in Cespedes. I also provided the beautiful Willie Mays-esque catch that Colon made below, as it is the only Mets play worth highlighting tonight.
- The Mets and Phillies will play the rubber game of their 3-game series tomorrow afternoon with a 1:10 pm et start time. The game can be seen on SNY and MLB Network. The Mets will also be debuting their 1986 throwback uniforms tomorrow that they will wear on all Sunday home games at Citi Field.
- The Mets will send Matt Harvey (0-1, 4.76 ERA) to the mound to oppose Phillies right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
Final Recap: Mets 7 – Phillies 2
The New York Mets (2-1) defeated the Philadelphia Phillies (0-4) by the final score of 7-2 at Citi Field this afternoon. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…
Game Notes:
- Jacob deGrom was fantastic this afternoon picking up the win, pitching 6 innings and allowing 1 run on 5 hits. DeGrom did not allow a walk and struck out 6. He also had an RBI on a groundout with the bases loaded. DeGrom exited after only throwing 76 pitches with right lat tightness.
- Michael Conforto was 2-3 with with a double and 3 RBI’s.
- Neil Walker was 2-4 with 2 RBI’s and 2 runs scored.
- Travis d’Arnaud was 1-3 with an RBI single.
- David Wright kept his Home Opener hitting streak alive going 1-4 with a double. He now has a hit in every Home Opener since his first in 2005.
- Jim Henderson pitched a scoreless 7th inning, striking out 2.
- Jerry Blevins inherited two baserunners in the top of the 8th and got a double play on an infield fly rule, which also included a base running blunder by Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez. Batters are 0-19 against Blevins as a Met.
- 44,099 attended today’s ball game which is the largest regular season crowd in Citi Field history.
The Mets absolutely laid it on the Phillies this afternoon, as deGrom was completely dominant, and the offense came to life late against starting pitcher Jerad Eickhoff, and the Phillies league leading worst bullpen in the Majors. DeGrom was making easy work of the Phillies offense for most of the afternoon despite his velocity continuing to hover between 91-93 mph. He got many swings and misses, and he already has declared he has no issue with his velocity. DeGrom departed the game early in the 6th after only throwing 76 pitches and being in a groove, which led many to speculate that baby deGrom was on the way, but that was not the case. The Mets told the SNY booth that it was right lat tightness, as for the reason deGrom was pulled early. Hopefully it is nothing serious as Steven Matz dealt with this injury last year and ended up missing two months. David Wright continues to show that his back injury is not affecting him currently, as he made an absolute gem of a play in the field today, with a barehand throw on a bunt by Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera. Wright also notched a double, and was aggressive on the bases this afternoon on a hit and run play in the bottom of the 7th, going from first to third on a Yoenis Cespedes single. Neil Walker and Michael Conforto also continue to be the hottest bats in the Mets lineup currently, as they had a heavy hand in today’s offensive outburst against the Phillies. Look for them to keep it going into the rest of the weekend as they both seem to be seeing the ball really well right now. The Phillies clearly have the worst bullpen in baseball currently, as they have been getting absolutely torched the past four games, and that is an area of weakness the Mets should continue to look to exploit over these final two games.
- The Mets and Phillies will play the second game of their three game series tomorrow evening with first pitch slated for 7:10 pm et. The game can be seen on WPIX and MLB Network.
- Bartolo Colon will make his first start of the season, after making a relief appearance on Opening Night, against Phillies highly regarded right-hander Vincent Velasquez, who was acquired in the Ken Giles blockbuster trade with the Houston Astros this past offseason.
Wheeler to have minor procedure on elbow…
ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin is reporting that Zack Wheeler is expected undergo a minor procedure on his elbow to remove an undissolved stitch from last year’s Tommy John Surgery. This operation is considered minor in nature and he will resume his normal pitching activities within two weeks after the wound is healed.
Both Wheeler and Edgin had been examined in New York yesterday, and besides the stitch problem, Wheeler’s MRI came back clean and Edgin was given a clean bill of health.
A huge sigh of relief for Mets fans as any surgery involving the elbow is never good, but this is simply to remove a stitch off of the surgically repaired elbow of Wheeler’s. It is about as minor of a surgery any baseball player could have on their elbow. Wheeler is still expected to make his debut on July 1st, although there is a slim chance that may be pushed back to mid-July with the procedure. He will also be on hand this afternoon, along with Edgin for the Mets pre-game NL Championship ceremony.
Phillies vs. Mets Lineups 1:10 pm et.
Phillies:
1. Freddy Galvis (S) SS
2. Cesar Hernandez (S) 2B
3. Odubel Herrera (L) CF
4. Ryan Howard (L) 1B
5. Andres Blanco (S) 3B
6. Cedric Hunter (L) RF
7. Cameron Rupp (R) C
8. Emmanuel Burriss (S) LF
9. Jerad Eickhoff (R) P
SP: Jerad Eickhoff RHP (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Mets:
1. Curtis Granderson (L) RF
2. David Wright (R) 3B
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) CF
4. Lucas Duda (L) 1B
5. Neil Walker (S) 2B
6. Michael Conforto (L) LF
7. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
8. Travis d’Arnaud (R) C
9. Jacob deGrom (L) P
SP: Jacob deGrom RHP (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Today’s game can be seen on SNY and MLB Network.
Game Notes:
HOME OPENERS: The Mets are 34-20 (.630) in Home Openers, including 4-3 at Citi Field.
WRIGHT IN HOME OPENERS: David Wright has at least one hit in every home opener since making his first Opening Day roster in 2005…Wright is hitting .386 (17-44) in 11 home openers.
deGROM deOPENER: For the second straight season Jacob deGrom will start the Home Opener vs. the Phillies…Last year, deGrom fired 6.1 scoreless innings and picked up the win in a 2-0 victory over Philadelphia in the Home Opener on April 13.
FIRST TIME SINCE: The Mets will play the Phillies in their Home Opener for the second straight year…The last time the club played the same team in consecutive Home Openers was also vs. Philadelphia (2007-2008).
PHILLIES-METS NOTES: The Mets have won double-digit games vs. the Phillies the last four years, going 47-28 during that span. The Mets went 14-5 vs. the Phillies (8-1 at home) last year…The 14 wins were the most in team history in a single-season vs. the Phillies…New York had a franchise high-tying 10-game winning streak vs. the Phillies from May 9-August 31, 2015.
NEIL WALKER: Hit his first home run with the Mets on Tuesday, a two-run shot…Walker has 70 home runs since 2012, the most among NL second basemen.
WRIGHT ON THE BASES: Wright swiped two bases Tuesday in Kansas City…He had two stolen bases in 38 games last year…His last game with two stolen bases was June 25, 2013 at Chicago White Sox.
HOME OPENER DETAILS: Prior to today’s game, the Mets will raise the National League Pennant banner…Former NL Champions Rusty Staub (1973), John Franco (2000) and Edgardo Alfonzo (2000) will hoist the flag.
- Michael Conforto: .500 (4-8, 1 HR, 2 RBI)
- Yoenis Cespedes: .167 (1-6, 2 K)
- Curtis Granderson: .200 (1-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI)
- Wilmer Flores .167 (1-6, 1 K)
Mets receive National League Championship Rings today.
The rings are crafted in 10-karat white gold, and the ring features 110 round diamonds, as well as 42 round sapphires, with a total weight of 2.75 carats. The inside of the ring features the National League Championship trophy and the years that the Mets have won the pennant.
Retired outfielder Michael Cuddyer joined the Mets today for the ceremony. The Mets also flew in pitchers Zack Wheeler and Josh Edgin from Port St. Lucie to participate in the ceremony.
Where the Mets top 30 prospects will start 2016.
With the New York Mets full season affiliates celebrating Opening Day today, MLB.com has rolled out a list of where each player on the Mets top 30 prospect list will be opening the season. Click the jump to see where each player will be opening the 2016 season. Continue reading
Final Recap: Mets 2 – Royals 0
The New York Mets (1-1) defeated the Kansas City Royals (1-1) by the final score of 2-0 this afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…
Game Notes:
- Noah Syndergaard was absolutely dominant this afternoon pitching 6 scoreless innings, only allowing 3 hits. He only walked 1 and struck out 9 batters this afternoon.
- Neil Walker was 2-4 this afternoon, with a 2-run home run.
- David Wright was 1-3 with 2 walks, and 2 stolen bases.
- Jim Henderson, Addison Reed, and Jeurys Familia combined to pitch 3 hitless innings to end the game, while combining to strike out 3. Familia recorded his first save of the season.
That was one hell of a performance by Noah Syndergaard this afternoon. When Alcides Escobar led the game off with a triple, you could almost imagine every Mets fan thinking, “here we go again.” But that wasn’t the case as Syndergaard struck out the side and pretty much cruised the rest of the afternoon besides for the sixth inning. In the sixth the Royals had him on the rocks, with the bases loaded and two outs, but he struck Kendrys Morales out with three straight pitches. Syndergaard is primed for a huge season, and as I said earlier this spring he just seems to grow and get better with every start he makes. Syndergaard’s slider is becoming a dominant pitch, as he only struck out eleven batters with it all last season, and today he struck out six Royals batters with the slider. That is a pitch he has worked hard on all spring and the results are showing early. Syndergaard also found it very amusing that the Royals played the song “American Woman” as he took the mound to start the game.
It was nice to see Neil Walker as the hero this afternoon, a day after former Met Daniel Murphy played hero for the Washington Nationals. Walker hit a line drive to right field that got over the fence for a 2-run home run in the top of the 4th, which ultimately decided today’s game. Jim Henderson pitched the 7th inning this afternoon and was throwing gas. Henderson’s fastball topped out at 96 mph and he struck out two batters in his lone inning of work. It will be interesting to see how Terry Collins uses him this season to keep him healthy, as he could basically use Henderson and/or Hansel Robles both in the 7th inning. Jeurys Familia pitched a clean 9th and you’ve got to believe that felt good for him today after blowing three saves against the Royals in the World Series. The only area the Mets lacked in today was with runners in scoring position, as they were 0-7.
All in all a great win for the Mets as they head home for Friday’s big home opener at Citi Field. There is sure to be tons of emotion flying around the stadium, as the Mets will be recognized for their great season last season as National League Champions, and they will be facing another opponent who has been waiting for another crack at the Mets since last October. On September 30th in a meaningless game against the Phillies an all out war erupted which included four hit batters, seven wild pitches, the benches clearing, an incensed Larry Bowa, and two ejections. It will be an interesting series to watch this weekend to see if there is any carry over from the series at the end of last season.
- The Mets are off Wednesday and Thursday, but take the field for the home opener on Friday afternoon at 1:10 pm et. The game can be seen on SNY and MLB Network.
- Pending the birth of his child, Jacob deGrom is scheduled to tote the rubber against Phillies young right-hander Jerad Eickhoff. If deGrom is unable to pitch, Bartolo Colon or Steven Matz will take the hill.
Above The Mendoza 