David Peterson combined with three relievers on a 7-hit shutout, leading the Mets to a 6-0 victory Monday afternoon at Citi Field. With the win, the Mets take the series, 3-1.
Peterson’s final line looks good – 5.1 IP, 0 R, 2 BB and 7 Ks – but he pitched in and out of trouble all game. The Marlins had their chances but went 0-10 with RISP and it’s hard to win that way.
Meanwhile, this was a game for the small-ball enthusiasts. The Mets’ first four runs came on a walk, a wild pitch and two sacrifice flies. Their final runs came on a two-run single by Eduardo Escobar, which snapped an 0-23 stretch.
The Mets’ inability to come up with a key hit early was a little frustrating but what was really annoying was Buck Showalter’s decision to use Drew Smith in the eighth inning of a game where they had a four-run lead. That’s typically a sub-optimal decision but it’s made even more head-scratching with the news that Seth Lugo is on the paternity list.
Showalter had to go to Adam Ottavino when Peterson couldn’t get out of the sixth inning and left with two runners on base. But there was no reason to use Smith when he did. So, in a close game tomorrow, Showalter will have to use one of his set-up men on a back-to-back outing. Showalter should be looking for easy to gain advantages and holding Smith for tomorrow would have been one of them.
Other less-than-good items from this game was Jeff McNeil leaving with a hamstring injury and J.D. Davis getting hit in the hand, the 50th time this year a Met has been hit by a pitch.
Ending with some good news, this was the 11th shutout of the year for the Mets, tying them with the Yankees for the MLB lead. It also raised their record to 20-4 in games following a loss, which is almost impossible to fathom.
Wow! Playoffs and a WS appearance
more and more likely. A DH and a solid reliever.What will it take? Vientos? Maybe Mauricio but I hope he stays.
Gut Reaction: Peterson had a good game but he wasn’t efficient. He needs to improve to crack a championship caliber rotation. On most teams he would be a starting pitcher with his 3.18 ERA and 4.15 FIP. It isn’t a knock on Peterson. It is a testimony of how good the Mets are.
There is young talent on the Marlins but they aren’t fundamentally sound. They give too much away.
We call it small ball but the Met players call it grinding. It works.
There were options besides Smith.
5-2 homestand, another series win, life is good now split in Houston. LGM
The use of Smith in the 8th did not bother me. Sure, it would have been better to spend a lesser arm with a 4 run lead, but I’ll take securing the W today. With Lugo away and May still out, they’ll be short on the back end for the Astros series, but they’ll have Diaz for both games if needed, Smith for one, and off days Thursday, the following Monday, and the following Thursday.
There has to be a plan to back up Williams who starts tomorrow and hasn’t been stretched, plus, you now can only carry 13 pitchers. I can see Peterson going on family leave and then using the spot to add an arm.
Most impressive thing from this gam for me today was Peterson’s star line considering he threw 100 pitches in just over five innings. Take the W and run!
Williams threw 86 pitches in his last start so he’s stretched out. The issue is that he’s likely only going to give you 5 IP or maybe the 5.1 that Peterson did. It makes the decision to use Smith, who’s capable of going 2 innings, in a 4-0 game maddening. We’ll see more of the lefties on Tuesday than we’d likely prefer…
Per MLBN this past Wednesday:
Lower Opponent Exit Velocities
1. Adam Ottavino 81.6 mph
2. Tyler Rogers 82.7
3. Anthony Banda 83.1
4. Joely Rodriguez 83.3
5. Caleb Theilbar. 83.4
Too, I was looking at Castro’s numbers for the Yankees… not too flattering. Honestly, I can live with Rodriguez but it’s Shreve that has not been good especially with inherited runners.
Smith has not pitched on back to back days all season, from what I gather, so Buck was going to have him for only one game in Astros series regardless, and then an off day to reset. Conceivably he could have Diaz for both, and Ottavino for one inning either night. With Williams up and middle relief missing Lugo and May, the Mets will need to win tonight with the bats.
At least he got through the 5th this time. He hasnt been able to for a while. Its incremental progress but still progress. Our 7th pitcher on the depth chart should be able to handle the marlins and give the team a chance to win. He did.