Mets Starting Lineup:
1. Brandon Nimmo-CF
2. Startling Marte-RF
3. Francisco Lindor-SS
4. Pete Alonso-1B
5. Daniel Vogelbach-DH
6. Jeff McNeil-2B
7. Mark Canha-LF
8. Luis Guillorme-3B
9. Tomas Nido-C
The pitching match-up is RHP Chris Bassitt (7-7, 3.83 ERA) vs. RHP Anibal Sanchez (0-3, 7.47 ERA)
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| Mets RHP Jacob deGrom (Photo Credits to Alex Brandon-AP) |
RHP Jacob deGrom made his first start in 391 days after he never returned last year after the All-Star Break last year due to forearm and elbow discomfort and was shutdown from throwing in spring training this year due to a stress reaction on right scaptula.
deGrom cruised through the first three innings with five strikeouts, but ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth after he gave up a lead-off single to CF Victor Robles and then a RBI double to SS Luis Garcia, but did not any more runs in the inning.
DeGrom had a scoreless bottom of the fifth and was taken out after the inning.
His final line was five innings, three hits, one run, zero walks and six strikeouts.
DeGrom was in midseason form and did not show any rust in his first start after a long layoff with a blazing fastball topping out at 102 mph with a sharp slider and change-up.
It bodes him for him and the rest of the rotation if he and RHP Max Scherzer continue to pitch like this at the top of the rotation.
RHP Stephen Nogosek came in next and had a difficult outing allowing three runs on back-to-back homers on a two-run homer by Garcia and a solo homer to LF Yadiel Hernandez.
RHP Yoan Lopez followed in the bottom of the seventh and gave up a solo homer to CF Joey Menesis.
RHP Tommy Hunter threw a scoreless bottom of of the eighth.
The offense did not much against RHP Corey Abbot until SS Francisco Lindor hit a solo homer in the top of the sixth.
The bats struggled all night outside of Lindor's homer and went 0-3 with runners in scoring position and left seven runners on base.
The Mets next game is tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday August 3rd at the Nationals at 4:05 p.m.
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| Mets RHP Mychal Givens (Photo Credits to Charles LeClaire-USA Today Sports) |
Givens has had a solid season with a record of 6-2 and a 2.66 ERA in 40.2 innings for the Cubs and has two saves with 51 strikeouts, a 1.254 WHIP and only walked 19 batters.
He has also not given up a earned run since June 15 which is a streak of 15 consecutive appearances.
Givens had experience playing for manager Buck Showalter since he played under Showalter during his time with the Baltimore Orioles from 2015-2018.
He is a three-pitch pitcher and primarily uses his fastball, change-up and slider.
Givens has proven to be a reliable reliever for years and provides another veteran arm in the eighth inning as a set up man for star closer RHP Edwin Diaz.
He helps fill a void in a bullpen that has has been inconsistent all year.
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| Mets OF Darin Ruf (Photo Credits to Getty Images) |
Ruf is hitting .216 with 11 homers in 90 games and is a right-handed power bat who can provide versatility as well play left field and first base in addition to DH.
He has well against left-handed pitching throughout his career with an OPS of .929 and a OPS+113 for his career.
Ruf will most likely serve as the right-handed half of a DH platoon with Daniel Vogelbach. He is under contract for next year making $3 million and his contract includes a $3.5 million team option for 2024.
Mets Starting Lineup:
1. Brandon Nimmo-CF
2. Startling Marte-RF
3. Francisco Lindor-SS
4. Pete Alonso-1B
5. Daniel Vogelbach-DH
6. Jeff McNeil-2B
7. Tyler Naquin-LF
8. Luis Guillorme-3B
9. Tomas Nido-C
The pitching match-up is RHP Jacob deGrom (Season debut) vs. RHP Cory Abbot (0-0, 2.25 ERA)
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| Mets SS Francisco Lindor (Photo Credits to Brad Mills-USA Today Sports) |
After a scoreless top of the first, 1B Pete Alonso walked to lead off the top of the second against LHP Patrick Corbin and two batters later LF Mark Canha singled.
3B Eduardo Escobar flew out, but then 2B Jeff McNeil hit a RBI single which scored Alonso to tie the game.
Catcher Tomas Nido followed with a RBI single and then Brandon Nimmo reached on an infield single to load the bases.
RF Starling Marte followed with a RBI single to bring in the third run of the inning.
In the top of the third, Alonso hit a solo homer on a line drive to left center field for his 27th homer of the year.
After scoreless innings in the top of the fourth and fifth, Nimmo doubled with two outs and then Marte was hit by a pitch.
Lindor came up next and broke the game open with a three-run homer to left center field in the bullpen for his 18th homer of the year.
RHP Max Scherzer had a tough beginning after he gave up a walk to RF Juan Soto and then 1B Josh Bell hit a flyball to Marte and then Marte threw it in to second, but no one was there which allowed Soto to score and resulted in an unearned run due to the error by Marte.
Scherzer was able to recover after that with scoreless innings in the bottom of the second and third, but then ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth.
He gave up a lead-off homer to Soto and then gave up singles to LF Yadiel Hernandez, DH Nelson Cruz and SS Luis Garcia which brought in another run.
Scherzer settled down in the inning and was able to keep the lead and then was able to get into a groove with scoreless innings in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings.
He retired the first two hitters he faced in the bottom of the seventh and was then taken out.
His final line was 6.2 innings, six hits, three runs (two earned), two walks and five strikeouts.
Scherzer battled through despite not having his best stuff and managed to overcome some jams to throw a terrific outing.
He picked up his seventh win.
LHP Joely Rodriguez followed and got the last out in the bottom of the seventh and the first two outs in the bottom of the eighth and was taken out.
RHP Adam Ottavino appeared next and closed it out by recording the last four outs.
The Mets next game is tomorrow night, Tuesday August 2 at the Nationals at 7:05 p.m.
Mets Starting Lineup:
1. Brandon Nimmo-CF
2. Starling Marte-RF
3. Francisco Lindor-SS
4. Pete Alonso-1B
5. J.D. Davis-DH
6. Mark Canha-LF
7. Eduardo Escobar-3B
8. Jeff McNeil-2B
9. Tomas Nido-C
The pitching match-up is RHP Max Scherzer (6-2, 2.09 ERA) vs. LHP Patrick Corbin (4-14, 6.49 ERA)
