Seth Lugo

New York Mets: Sunday’s Doubleheader Disappointment to the Yankees

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New York Mets, Edwin Diaz

After a terrific start to their five-game series against the New York Yankees, the New York Mets continuously beat themselves towards the end of the series. The bullpen disappointed the Mets in both games of the doubleheader, setting their season back even more.

The Mets were in a perfect position to turn things around from Saturday’s loss with a five-run lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Jared Hughes and Edwin Diaz combined to allow five runs in the inning, including an Aaron Hicks line-drive home run to tie the game. Diaz pitched in the eight, allowing Gio Urshela to hit a game-winning RBI single.

Adding On the Pain in Game 2

Deivi Garcia shut down the Mets in his major league debut. He threw six innings and struck out six while only allowing one unearned run. Seth Lugo went 3.2 innings for the Mets, striking out seven and only allowing one run. The bullpen disappointed again as Drew Smith allowed four runs in extra innings to give the Yankees a good cushion for the bottom of the inning.

The Mets added on a run, but Wilson Ramos struck out with the bases loaded in another frustrating loss. Over the three-game losing streak, every flaw Brodie Van Wagenen created and failed to fill was exploited. To make matters worse, the poor managing of rookie manager Luis Rojas was fully exposed as well.

On Monday, the Mets head back to their home park for a makeup game with the Miami Marlins. Jacob deGrom takes the mound for the 1:10 p.m. ET start against Trevor Rogers.

New York Mets: The Rust Showed in Doubleheader Loss to the Marlins

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New York Mets, Billy Hamilton

The New York Mets finally resumed play after a five-day layoff due to COVID-19 precautions but did not show any excitement to be on the field. After the extended time off, the Mets looked like they were sleepwalking on the field. No play symbolized how awful the Mets looked when Jon Berti turned into Ricky Henderson on the base paths.

After a walk in the sixth inning of game two, he stole all three bases to give the Marlins an insurance run. It was partly due to the inexperience catcher Ali Sanchez and the lack of awareness from the Mets infielders. Berti stole third and home with a delayed steal, showing what an extended layoff does to a team. The Mets lost both games of the doubleheader (4-0, 3-0) and failed to score in either game.

The offense that was red hot prior to the cancellation of Thursday’s game and failed to show up in either game. The Mets left 19 men on base and went hitless in 15 plate appearances in the doubleheader. It was worse than any box score could show as the Mets looked like a careless team, completely going through the motions.

Lugo Dominant

Despite the failures at the plate, Seth Lugo came out firing in his first start since the 2018 season. He threw three perfect innings and struck out five batters. Manager Luis Rojas said Lugo could throw about 50-60 pitches but yanked him after 39 for Jared Hughes. Like most of the moves Rojas has made this season, it blew up in his face. Hughes allowed two runs and it was all the Marlins needed in game two.

As for game one, Rick Porcello allowed four runs over three innings. The Marlins got him for three two-out hits to bring home their opening runs against the Mets starter. Luckily, a rain delay allowed Corey Oswalt to shine in relief with four shutout innings. Oswalt has put together two good outings since his return to the big leagues and puts himself in line to earn a start over the weekend.

Hopefully, the inexcusable performance is just due to the five-day layoff. After the Marlins leave, the competition gets tougher with the New York Yankees come into town. If they cannot compete against a group of major league journeymen and minor league call-ups, they will be lucky to win another game this month.

Jacob deGrom hopes to right the ship on Wednesday night against Elieser Hernandez at Citi Field. Unlike game two, the Mets will be the home team in their own ballpark at 7:10 p.m. ET.

New York Mets Series Preview: Miami Marlins (8/25-8/27)

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The New York Mets are finally back in action after a couple of positive COVID-19 tests halted their season. They will pick up with the same team they left off against in the Miami Marlins. Their schedule is jammed packed for the next week, and it starts with four games in three days.

Probable Pitching Matchups

Tuesday, 8/25 @ 5:10 p.m. ET: Daniel Castano (0-2, 5.91 ERA) vs. Rick Porcello (1-3, 5.76 ERA)

Tuesday, 8/25 @ Directly After the First Game: TBD vs. Seth Lugo (1-2, 2.61 ERA)

Wednesday, 8/26 @ 7:10 p.m. ET: Elieser Hernandez (1-0, 2.29 ERA) vs. Jacob deGrom (2-0, 1.93 ERA)

Thursday, 8/27 @ 7:10 p.m. ET: Sixto Sanchez (1-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. TBD

For everyone speculating about who the Met with COVID is, we have our list narrowed down to two. Tomas Nido and Andres Gimenez were put on the injured list without a specific injury, which is the norm when it is a COVID-19 related listing. The player without a positive test is on the IL likely due to close contact with the staff member who tested positive.

Back to the Schedule

The Marlins are a team familiar with returning to the field after a long layoff. They have to miss a large chunk of their schedule after the virus spread throughout their team very early in the season. It stunted their hot start to the season, and their record has not recovered yet.

Rick Porcello gets the first start of the twi-night doubleheader and looks to continue his good stretch on the mound. After putting up a 13.50 ERA during his first two starts, he has a 3.32 ERA since despite hitters batting over .300 against him over that stretch. One of those two numbers is going to balance out the other. It is tough to maintain success when batters are continuously getting on base.

Seth Lugo also returns to the starting rotation for the first time since the 2018 season. Lugo will remain in the rotation as long as he pitches well, but the Mets will have to be careful when building up his stamina. He has been pitching with a partially torn UCL, and there has to be a concern that becoming a starter will cause more damage if pushed too far. As such a valuable asset to the Mets pitching staff, the Mets desperately need him healthy.

Matchups to Look Out For

Jacob deGrom vs. Lewis Brinson: 4-for-22 (.182), Double, 8 Strikeouts

Jacob deGrom vs. Jon Berti: 6-for-15 (.400), 3 Doubles, 2 Strikeouts

Dominic Smith w/RISP: .318/.393/.682, Home Run, 15 RBI

Seth Lugo Career As a Starter: 13-8, 4.06 ERA, 31 Starts

New York Mets boot Steven Matz from the rotation, Seth Lugo takes his place

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The New York Mets rotation is in shambles. Noah Syndergaard was lost in March to Tommy John surgery, Marcus Stroman opted out of the season due to COVID-19 concerns, Michael Wacha is out with shoulder inflammation, David Peterson is also on the injured list and Rick Porcello and, most notably, Steven Matz have struggled.

Matz, according to Mets’ manager Luis Rojas, has been demoted to the bullpen. He has a 9.00 ERA in five starts and 23.0 innings. His place in the rotation will be occupied, from now on, by Seth Lugo, starting on Thursday.

“Seth has been a starter for us in the past, and with the ability for him of navigating through a lineup, his repertoire and command, we’re going to go that way with him,” Rojas said to MLB.com. “That’s the route we’re taking right now, is for him to start more and stretch him out.”

The Mets’ pitching wild card

Lugo has always preferred to be a starter, but he was considered such a big part of the bullpen that the New York Mets always chose to leave him there. He is now going to be a starer out of necessity.

He has 31 starts in his career, but the last time he took the ball to start a game was on June 25, 2018. He needs to be stretched out, which could take a few games.

The Mets needed Lugo in the late innings of Wednesday’s game, and given that he was slated to pitch today, Rojas chose not to use him as Dellin Betances and Edwin Díaz blew a two-run lead in the eighth. Thankfully, Michael Conforto saved the day with a two-run homer in the ninth.

“We blew a save opportunity there, but Díaz did a good job coming right back showing what he can do,” said Rojas, referring to Díaz striking out the side in the ninth. “We trust our ‘pen; we trust the guys that we have there.”

New York Mets: Ninth Inning Comeback Wasted in 6-5 Walk-Off Loss

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New York Mets, Amed Rosario

The New York Mets spent all night searching for a big hit with runners in scoring position. When down to their last out in the top of the ninth against the Philadelphia Phillies, Robinson Cano came through to tie the game. Unfortunately, all it did was extend the contest another half-inning as Bryce Harper walked it off with an RBI single against Seth Lugo in the bottom of the inning.

The laziness of Wilson Ramos gave the Phillies a win as Michael Conforto had Roman Quinn out by 10 feet at home plate. Ramos attempted to reach across home plate to place the tag, but Quinn snuck his hand in there to give the Phillies a much-needed win.

The Mets were in a 5-4 hole due to the start of Walker Lockett. He was tasked with the tough role of replacing an injury Jacob deGrom, who was scratched with a neck issue. Lockett survived through four innings, but manager Luis Rojas attempted to push his luck for another inning due to the low pitch count. J.T. Realmuto made him pay with a three-run home run to continue his hot 2020 season.

Get a Job Done

Between the horrid Phillies bullpen and even worse Mets hitting with runners in scoring position, there was no reason for them to lose this game. The Mets went 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position, leaving ten runners on base. Pete Alonso led the way with 8, as he continued to prove why he should be nowhere near the three spot in the order.

Dominic Smith and Robinson Cano finally got the chance to team up and lead the Mets offense. They both homered, and it was Cano’s first game off the Injured List. Luis Guillorme also recorded three hits and is 9-for-19 on the season.

The Mets and Steven Matz attempt to rebound on Saturday when they face Aaron Nola at a 6:05 p.m. ET start from Citizens Bank Park.

 

New York Mets: Offense, Bullpen Picks Up deGrom in 4-2 Victory

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New York Mets, Andres Gimenez

New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom is the king of day games but did not have his best stuff on Sunday. Despite only getting through five innings, he gave the Mets all they needed to get the 4-2 victory as they attempt to climb back to .500.

A lingering issue with his middle finger started bothering deGrom in the second inning. It forced him to elevate his pitch count and even drew a visit from the trainer. deGrom worked through the outing to pitch five innings, strikeout six and hold the Marlins to two runs. It was his second win of the season, and the only blemish on his line was a Jesus Aguilar two-run homer in the fifth inning.

Gimenez Leads the Way

Andres Gimenez continued to prove his worth at the big league level. He recorded three hits, including a double, and showcased his speed on the bases. Gimenez had a bunt single, stolen base and scored on a shallow sacrifice fly.

The Mets also took advantage of a weak Marlins outfield defense to record their runs. In the third inning, Jeff McNeil was robbed of a single with the bases loaded, but the fielder’s choice gave the Mets a 1-0 lead. Following that, a Corey Dickerson error gave the Mets their second run of the game.

A base hit from Brandon Nimmo in the fourth and a sac fly from McNeil in the sixth were all the Mets needed. It was important for the Mets to put together good at-bats in these situations where putting the ball in play score the Mets runs, instead of relying on the home run.

Bullpen Flexes Muscle

The bullpen depth the Mets signed in the offseason finally showed up. Jared Hughes and Dellin Betances started with back to back scoreless innings then the Edwin Diaz roller coaster began. By bringing in Diaz during the eighth, with a lead, it was clear the Mets want him back in the ninth when fully ready.

Diaz looked sharp, striking out the first two but then a single and double put the tying run in scoring position. In a situation where he would break, Diaz struck out Monte Harrison to get the Mets out of the jam. Seth Lugo slammed the door shut in the ninth as the closer role is firmly his at the moment.

Steven Matz takes the mound on Monday as the Mets begin a four-game set with the struggling Washington Nationals. The 7:10 p.m. ET game has the same matchup as last week with Patrick Corbin on the mound for the Nats.

New York Mets: d’Arnaud Burns His Former Team in 11-10 Loss

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yankees, New York Mets, Luis Rojas

Just as once Brodie Van Wagenen move blows up in their face, another comes back to haunt him as Travis d’Arnaud burns the New York Mets as his three-run double and five total RBIs helped the Atlanta Braves come back in an 11-10 Mets loss. For another night, the Mets could not get the big hit they needed as Wilson Ramos struck out with the tying run on second to end the game.

Van Wagenen designated d’Arnaud for assignment way too early in 2019, and it continues to blow up in their face. The Mets bullpen was supposed to be a strength for them, but it is clear they have significant issues to address there. Every reliever they turned to allowed a run, and Dellin Betances and Seth Lugo hurt them the most. Both of them did their best Edwin Diaz impression; they combined for a five-run outing to prevent the Mets from winning once again.

At this point in the season, Jeurys Familia and Drew Smith are the only relievers to pitch with any consistency. It would not be a surprise if Familia got the next opportunity to close for the Mets.

Don’t Forget About Porcello

Rick Porcello is partly responsible for the problem as his four-inning, four-run outing forced manager Luis Rojas to turn to the bullpen early. After the Mets took an 8-2 lead, the bullpen began to falter. The loss is their third straight and drops them to 3-5 on the season.

The Mets offense was not the problem as they scored ten times and homered three times. J.D. Davis, Robinson Cano, and Amed Rosario were responsible for the Mets’ longballs. Cano’s latest hot streak moved him to a .360 average on the season. Andres Gimenez also had an impressive offensive game, providing two hits and great defense at third base.

The Mets hope to break their three-game losing streak as Michael Wacha makes his second start of the season. The Saturday night matchup starts at 7:10 p.m. will be opposed by Touki Toussaint.

New York Mets Series Preview: Atlanta Braves (7/31-8/3)

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New York Mets, David Peterson

The New York Mets head down south to begin a four-game series with their division rival Atlanta Braves. They fell to 3-4 on the season after dropping two straight tough games against the Boston Red Sox. The Braves opened up the season by taking two out of three from the Mets to start the season.

Probable Pitching Matchups:

Friday (7/31) @ 7:10 p.m. ET: Rick Porcello (0-1, 27.00 ERA) vs. Sean Newcomb (0-0, 2.70 ERA)

Saturday (8/1) @ 7:10 p.m. ET: Michael Wacha (1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. TBD

Sunday (8/2) @ 1:10 p.m. ET: David Peterson (1-0, 3.18 ERA) vs. Kyle Wright (0-1, 16.88 ERA)

Monday (8/3) @ 7:10 p.m. ET: Jacob deGrom (0-0, 1.64 ERA) vs. Mike Soroka (0-0, 1.59 ERA)

The first series between the two teams started terrific for the Mets but concluded in misery as Edwin Diaz, and Rick Porcello headlined their pitching struggles. The Braves pitching kept the Mets bats in check, holding them to only five runs in the entire series.

Fool Me Once Shame on You, Fool Me Twice Shame on Me

Rick Porcello had a very poor Mets debut, allowing seven runs in two innings in a 14-1 loss on national tv. The first game of the series is a rematch of the pitching matchup from the blowout loss, and Porcello hopes to show the Mets he is reliable as their third starter.

David Peterson also gets an opportunity to pitch against a better offense, which is built on power. They are third in home runs but lead the entire major leagues in strikeouts. The swing and miss rate is why deGrom and Matz thrived in their starts.

Mets Problems

The Mets’ biggest issue through the first week of the season is their inability to plate runners in scoring position. They lead the league in strikeouts w/RISP but are one-hit behind the Dodgers the NL hits lead. While their average is not much better than the Mets, they have only struck out eight times in these situations. Emphasis on putting the ball in play will scratch out an extra 1-2 runs per game.

Manager Luis Rojas said Edwin Diaz is “no longer the closer” in every way possible without using those words. Diaz struggled mightily in his outing against the Red Sox. The Mets have plenty of options in the bullpen, and Seth Lugo has to be at the top of the list to close games. In situations where Rojas does not want to bring Lugo in on back-to-backs, Jeurys Familia or Dellin Betances will slide into the role. Diaz will not pitch in the first game of the series, but it will be interesting to see the next situation he pitches in.

Matchups to Lookout For:

Rick Porcello vs. Freddie Freeman: 5-for-11 (.455), RBI, 3 Walks, Strikeout

Sean Newcomb vs. Amed Rosario: 5-for-12 (.412), 2 Doubles, RBI, 3 Strikeouts

Jacob deGrom vs. Freddie Freeman: 15-for-55 (.273), 2 Doubles, 3 Home Runs, 6 RBI, 8 Walks, 15 Strikeouts

Jacob deGrom vs. Ozzie Albies: 5-for-34 (.147), Double, RBI, Walk, 7 Strikeouts

Mike Soroka vs. Michael Conforto: 3-for-15 (.200), Walk, Strikeout

New York Mets: Bullpen Struggles, Red Sox Hold Off Mets in 6-5 Loss

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New York Mets, Jacob deGrom

It is a rare sight when a Jacob deGrom start is not the topic of conversation after the game. Seth Lugo and Justin Wilson‘s rare struggles following him accounted for four Red Sox runs. The New York Mets also had no outs with the bases loaded in the ninth but could not come back in the 6-5 loss.

The usually reliable Lugo replaced deGrom after six innings and allowed a game-tying home run to Christian Vazquez. It was just the beginning of Vazquez terror on the Mets bullpen. In the eighth inning, he extended the Red Sox lead to three with a two-run double against Wilson.

The eighth inning showed the fatigue on Wilson, who made his fourth appearance in six games. He consistently missed up with his fastball and gave up three of everything: walks, hits, and runs. Two of the hits Wilson allowed, fell into the cheap category. Wilson’s control is what got him into trouble and made the cheap hits hurt.

The Mets attempted a comeback, down two in the ninth by loading the bases with no one out against Red Sox closer Brandon Workman. A J.D. Davis infield single got the Mets their only run. It was sandwiched between a Michael Conforto and Yoenis Cespedes strikeout, which led to a Robinson Cano soft liner to end the game. The Davis single came on a ball smothered by third baseman Rafael Devers which prevented the ball from heading to left field, allowing the tying run to score.

The Mets offense collected 15 hits on the night, but the Mets were 3-for-14 with RISP and left 11 runners on base. Pete Alonso led the way with four hits, all singles, and a hit by pitch. Cespedes and Brandon Nimmo also homered.

The Mets prized prospect, Andres Gimenez, made his first start at shortstop and excelled going 2-for-3 with a triple. He still looked like a new player at the big leagues after being picked off after his first hit. Once the Red Sox realized he could hit their fastball, they gave him a steady diet of curveballs in his final at-bat.

deGrom Doing His Job

Jacob deGrom was throwing bullets out of the gate, including a 101.1 mph fastball, the fastest of his career. He still did not have his best stuff throughout and only punched out four Red Sox. Despite that, he gave the Mets six strong innings, only allowing two runs on three hits. Out of caution, Rojas removed him after 88 pitches, but expect him to reach 100 in his next start.

The Mets send Steven Matz to the mound against Martin Perez in hopes of taking three out of four from the Red Sox. The first pitch is at 7:07 p.m. ET.

New York Mets Find Their Offense and Wacha Shines in 7-4 Win

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The New York Mets only needed four innings to surpass their scoring total from the first three games of the season. They did all of their scoring during innings 2-4 and used three home runs to fuel their 7-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox. The win was also Michael Wacha‘s first in a Mets uniform.

Two-run home runs from Michael Conforto and Pete Alonso in the second and third inning got things started. Both were monster shots but in different ways. Conforto’s traveled 434-feet while Alonso’s was a missile coming off the bat at 116 mph. Dominic Smith added a three-run homer in the fourth to extend the Mets lead to seven. Wilson Ramos also added a double and single to the Mets offense.

Splendid Debut

Michael Wacha had an opposite debut to Rick Porcello. He gave the Mets five strong innings, allowing five hits, striking out four and the only run coming on a Mitch Moreland home run. Wacha kept the Red Sox off balance throughout his start, using his changeup and cutter very effectively. It is a good sign for the Mets rotation, which had significant concerns after Porcello’s disastrous start.

Chasen Shreve pitched two innings following Wacha with the only blemish coming on a Xander Bogaerts home run. The line for Jeurys Familia was uglier than it was during the game. Outside of a Rafael Devers double, the Red Sox did not do too much damage.

A groundball Jeff McNeil could have thrown home in a closer game resulted in an out, and the other hit came on a seeing-eye single up the middle. Familia’s control was not as sharp as it was during his first outing, but his slider was very sharp.

Seth Lugo cleaned up the mess in the eighth and carried the momentum to the ninth inning to retired all four batters in his four-out save. Through the first two outings, it is evident that Lugo is already the best Mets reliever.

For Tuesday’s matchup, the Mets still have not named a starter as of 11 p.m. on Monday. The likeliest option is either David Peterson to make his MLB debut or a bullpen game. Whoever pitches will be opposed by Matt Hall from the Red Sox. The first pitch is at 7:30 p.m. ET.