Well, if you didn’t particularly like the results from the Wild Card series last year, my hope is that you didn’t watch this game. The Mets continued to make Joe Musgrove look like a Hall of Famer while Max Scherzer continued to serve up gopher balls. The end result was a 6-2 loss in the final game of the year before the All-Star break.
Scherzer gave up a three-run homer to Manny Machado in the first inning and then just for kicks, he gave up a two-run homer to Machado in the fifth. His 5 IP, 5 ER line has him finish the first half with a 4.31 ERA.
The Mets had chances against Musgrove and the Padres relievers, due in no small part to a team-record five hit-by-pitches. But they hit into four double plays and were just 1-6 with RISP.
Their only runs came in the eighth inning. Luis Guillorme led off with a double and Brandon Nimmo walked. Mark Canha followed with a two-run double. But Francisco Lindor grounded out and Pete Alonso lined into a double play to end the threat.
Canha was in the game in the two-hole, as he entered in the bottom of the first inning as a defensive replacement for Tommy Pham, who left the game with a groin injury.
Another day off the calendar. Would have been nicer to end the first half with another series win. We did not hit and the middle of the Padres lineup with Soto, Totis Jr. and, Machado and Bogaerts is overwhelming. Who might beat you tonight? And then there’s Max. So the question is will they come back from the break and beat up on the Dodgers or will they lose that series? If they get by the Dodgers, the White Sox and Red Sox are a break from the stronger teams and they could really start to climb. Can’t wait till Friday and the next game recap.
Gut Reaction: in an important game Scherzer didn’t rise up to the occasion and Machado and Musgrove did. The Mets didn’t expect Max to have a 4.31 ERA at the All-Star break. They didn’t expect McNeil, Marte and Baty to be below average players either. They are again 7 games out of the playoffs with five teams in front of them for the last playoff position. There is hope but it is fleeting rapidly.
Mighty Max no longer mighty. His trade value at the deadline is very very low. Is he going to do Uncle Steve a solid and opt out or retire after this season?
Also, Mr. Home Run Competition is looking like Steve Balboni. Nothing to be embarrassed about, but not a middle of the lineup stud worth investing mega-millions in.
The 2nd half of 2023 is. Dry important to this franchise, and that has nothing to do with the wild card race.