N.Y. Mets: On the Difference Between Sweeping and Being Swept

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Braves Sweep Series 3-0

I - ATL 2; NYM 1

II - ATL 9; NYM 5

III  ATL 2; NYM 1

The Metropolitans are in the midst of the 18 most pivotal games of their season.  Having completed their series with Cleveland and Atlanta, they next play the Chicago Cubs, followed by Philadelphia, Washington, then Philadelphia again.

So far the first six games have garnered mixed results.

vs. Cleveland

• Game #1:  Mets 9; Indians 2
• Game #2:  Mets 4; Indians 3
• Game #3:  Mets 2; Indians 0

They sweep a good Cleveland Indians team, outscoring them by a 15-5 margin for a plus-ten run differential.  Starters Steven Matz, Marcus Stroman, and Noah Syndergaard, join forces in allowing just two earned runs on twelve hits and three walks with 13 strikeouts over 16.1 total innings pitched.


vs. Atlanta

• Game #1: Braves 2; Mets 1 *14 innings
• Game #2: Braves 9; Mets 5
• Game #3: Braves 2; Mets 1

The Mets are outscored 13-7 for a minus-six run differential - a far cry from the Cleveland series.  Mets batters go 24 for 115 (.209) against Braves pitching - barely above the Mendoza Line.  They draw a mere seven walks through three games and strikeout 29 times.  Moreover, the Mets go 4 for 25 (.160) with runners in scoring position.  Todd Frazier, Juan Lagares, and Michael Conforto, just to name a few, combine on 0 for 8 with RiSP.  Then ponder how in game one the Mets play 14 innings and their lone run of the game comes on a home run off the bat of Jacob deGrom.  How and why should that be?  Once again the Mets get effective pitching from the ranks.  In fact the bullpen matches deGrom pitch for pitch.

• deGrom: seven innings; four hits; one earned run; one walk; 13 strikeouts.
• Bullpen: seven innings; four hits; one earned run; four walks; 13 strikeouts.

Yet, the Mets go 0 for 7 with RiSP and leave nine men on base.  The line-up is a mere 6 for 47 (.128) for the game with just four walks and 14 strikeouts through 14 innings.

On Sunday Steven Matz limits the Braves to one run on just two hits and one walk with six strikeouts through six innings pitched.  But third baseman Josh Donaldson connects off Paul Sewald in the seventh giving the Braves a 2-0 lead.  The Mets muster one run in the ninth when Todd Frazier legs out a fielder's choice, but nothing more.


Mets Offense vs. Braves

• Game #1 - 6 for 47 (.128); 4 walks; 14 K; 9 LOB; 0 for 7 w/risp.
• Game #2 - 11 for 37 (.297); no walks; 8 K; 5 LOB; 3 for 10 w/risp.
• Game #3 - 7 for 31 (.226); 3 walks; 7 K; 7 LOB; 1 for 8 w/risp.

Mets Pitching Last Six Games:

• Starters: 35.1 innings; 23 hits; 8 ER; 9 BB; 35 K; 2.31 ERA; 0.912 WHiP.
• Bullpen: 23.2 innings; 15 hits; 8 ER; 9 BB; 35 K; 3.49 ERA; 1.034 WHiP.
• TOTAL: 59.0 innings; 38 hits; 16 ER; 18 BB; 70 K; 2.44 ERA; 0.949 WHiP.

The next twelve games represent the Mets best opportunity for controlling their destiny and will likely define their entire season.  They host the Cubs starting Tuesday, then play at Philadelphia and Washington before returning home to host the Phillies.  They have no games scheduled against Milwaukee nor St, Louis.  But the path to the postseason is nevertheless laid out before them.  All they need do is seize the moment.