N.Y. Mets Earn First Win Despite More Late Inning High-Jinx

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Mets vs. Phillies; 1-1

I - PHI 5; NYM 3

II - NYM 8; PHI 4

METS

vs.

PHILLIES

FROM

BROAD STREET GROUNDS

BULLPEN ALREADY SINGING THE BROAD STREET BLUES

With Tuesday's 8-4 victory over Philadelphia scribbled in the book, we've been afforded a small glimpse into the Mets' pitching one-two punch.  

I do not begrudge the Mets for removing Jacob deGrom from Monday's season opener when they did.  The club is proceeding cautiously.  Jacob was limited to 77 pitches, with 50 (65%) going for strikes.  Marcus Stroman was similarly limited to 85 pitches, of which 53 (62%) went for strikes.

Otherwise, their first respective starts of the season provided quite the teaser.  Jacob yielded no runs on just three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts through six innings pitched, and Stroman allowed just one run on three hits (solo home run) and two walks with three strikeouts also over six innings.  That translates to six hits and four walks with ten strikeouts and a 0.75 ERA through the rotation's first twelve innings pitched.

• Sophomore lefty David Peterson climbs the bump Wednesday afternoon and will be opposed by  Aaron Nola.

Otherwise, the bullpen has been a mixed bag of goods.  On Monday, they wasted no time relinquishing their first lead, earning their first blown save, and ultimately achieving their first loss of the new season.  Miguel Castro tossed an effective seventh inning.  However, new acquisitions Trevor May and Aaron Loup joined together in the eighth inning to yield five runs, two earned, on three hits and one walk.  

On Tuesday, Trevor May and Miguel Castro respectively made their second straight appearance.  This time Castro in the seventh yielded a run on three hits with two strikeouts.  However, Trevor May fared better in his second outing, fanning two in the eighth.  Jeurys Familia, to no one's surprise, struggled while closing out the ninth.  Handed an 8-2 lead, Jeurys surrendered two runs, one earned, on two hits and a walk with one strikeout.  That strikeout, by the way, came against pinch-hitter Andrew McCutchen on a high fastball which I believe is one of the most effective yet underutilized finishing pitches in baseball.  Jeurys may want to take that into consideration ... 

All told, six relievers were utilized over the two games.  They collectively threw 118 pitches, with 75 (63%) going for strikes.  Together, they've yielded eight runs, four earned, for an unsightly 7.20 ERA, eleven hits, and two walks with six strikeouts through five innings pitched.

And if you've noticed, the Mets have allowed four unearned runs due to late-inning defensive miscues; three errors, to be exact.

a second straight game featuring late-inning defensive folly = coincidence. Three times is a trend ...

— The Metsian Podcast with Sam, Rich and Mike (@THEMetsianPod) April 7, 2021