The train continues to pick up steam. The Mets earned their sixth straight win with a 6-4 decision over the Braves Saturday night in Atlanta. With the Mets’ win and a loss by the Nationals, the magic number is down to 12.
- The Mets broke up a tie game with two runs in the ninth, despite the Braves using four pitchers in the inning.
- Jeurys Familia retired the side in order in the ninth for his 40th save of the season. He becomes just the third player in franchise history to reach that plateau, joining Billy Wagner and Armando Benitez.
- Tyler Clippard, pitching for the fourth time in five days, gave up three runs in the eighth to tie the game. He’s now allowed runs in three of his last five games and desperately needs a couple of days off. Familia has now pitched in five of the last six days. Sean Gilmartin hasn’t pitched in a week.
- Yoenis Cespedes hit another homer. Ho-hum.
- Noah Syndergaard allowed just three baserunners, two hits, over seven innings in his first start since having a turn skipped. He looked in complete control.
My worst nightmares are coming true. The Mets are blowing this thing out of the water and i’ll have nothing to watch the last weeks of the season.
There’s still the race for HFA in the NLDS.
Indeed. we are now 7 behind the Cardinals, who are falling fast with 2-8 in their last 10. Might have to keep an eye out on those Pirates.
I finally feel confident about this team’s chances.
Yesterday here in the House of Horrors we officially eliminated the Braves. Today, we vanquished the losing record streak, and tomorrow, we have a winning record while
Likely eliminating the Marlins.
Awesome game here. A lot of Mets fans!!! The whole 3B side in rose and blue. Tons of Let’s go Mets shouting all game. We’re never out of it! Clippers looked tired as a dog from the first pitch. He needs a couple days off. Familia up close is scary. When they say he’s impossible to hit, I now really get it.
Day game tomorrow…and we’re pretty good at those.
I am glad you saw Noah pitch a gem. It is great being at the ballpark and experiencing the awesomeness of a Familia. I had the same feeling with deGrom.
Enjoy this afternoon !
We still trail the Dodgers and our magic is #12. Remember, fatigue cause injuries , so be careful with the bullpen TC. Another thing that causes injuries is a tie breaking (and hand breaking) Cespedes home run. Right Mr Storen ?
It was great to see Noah return with no ill effects from the time off, which is something that does seem to effect different pitchers differently. To that end, if I ran the Mets circus I believe that Matt Harvey’s next start would be Sept 26th against the Reds, the thinking being: sacrifice that start if need be, get Matt one more start on regular rest after that, have him ready for the 2nd post season contest. I know that Boras spoke out against a lengthy interruption in Harvey’s work, but I have to ask whether that is mostly about preserving a certain image for his client. And anyway, who is running this nine?
And, hey: it couldn’t have been easy, but Terry Collins’ patience with various individuals in the bullpen seems to have paid off. Clippard probably showed the effects of overwork last night (or, he just gave up a home run), but after sifting through several suspects, the Mets pen for the post season should look thus: Familia, Clippard, Robles, Goeddel, Reed, Gilmartin, Colon. If the team is in danger of elimination they could always turn to Matz for an out against a tough lefty; otherwise, go with the best arms.
I think the Pen is ready to go.
With the Mets running away from Washington, the new focus is the race for home field advantage. As Brian told Name above, the Dodgers are half a game in front of the Mets and those games in the NL West are always brutal. No one gives up out there, and they still need to play the Angels.
If I’m reading things correctly the Mets actually only need to tie the Dodgers’ record to get HFA for the playoffs, since they beat LA 4 out of 7 this year. Am I off on that?
Currently 1 back in the loss column.
You are correct