It started off good for Tylor Megill but ended up in predictable lousiness as the Mets fell to the Braves, 4-0, Saturday afternoon at Citi Field. The loss snapped the club’s five-game winning streak and was also the Braves’ first win after losing six-straight games.
Megill retired the first 10 batters he faced but then was done in by the gopher ball. He gave up back-to-back homers in the fourth inning, a scratch run in the fifth and a leadoff home run in the seventh. He fell to 2-5 on the year and saw his ERA go up to 5.20 for the season. But, sure, the Mets don’t need to add a starter – they’ve got Megill!
Meanwhile, the Mets’ offense took the day off. They managed just four hits, two of which were bloops in the ninth inning. And if the lack of hits wasn’t bad enough, they fanned 14 times in the game and did not draw a single walk. Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil each had a double. But J.D. Martinez had a Golden Sombrero, including a whiff in the ninth with two runners on base. Mark Vientos was spared a similar fate only because he just batted three times and went down swinging in each of them.
The two reliever Youngs combined for three scoreless innings and seven strikeouts. Danny Young threw two innings and struck out five, while Alex Young closed out the ninth with two strikeouts.
David Peterson and his bag of mirrors goes Sunday, as the Mets hope to claim the series win.
Gut Reaction: Megill in his nine starts this season he has one quality start. Apparently he isn’t a starter. He should be transitioned to a relief pitcher to see if that can salvage his career.
They can win the series on Sunday and pass the Braves in the standings.
Would be thrilled with a series win and being ahead of the Braves. Decent day of pitching and some of the Braves batters were long overdue for some long ball. DJ Stewart has become this seasons Daniel Vogelbach. Would have promoted Trace Thompson, before he got moved, even if he’s a righty, and DFA Stewart. He is shell of the player who arrived last year with a flurry of HRs. He’s hitting under my weight. Three of Peterson’s last five outings were five innings or less and while the Mets have won his last five starts, it’s on the strength of too many bullpen innings. Which Peterson will appear at Citi Field today is a mystery. Mets back to the third wild card spot. Twins up next after the Braves and they’ve been slumping. Trade deadline in the middle of the series even though moves have already started. Can we go anywhere in the playoffs with a collection of #3 starters? Maybe if we get a couple of lock down relievers.
#1 and #2 starters don’t go 7 innings either.