Series Finale Between Mets, Reds Means A Little More For This Starting Pitcher
· Yahoo Sports
The New York Mets are trying to salvage its three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds Wednesday night after losing the first two games by the same score of 7-2.
The Mets appeared to be out of the early season funk that saw the team drop 12 straight games in mid-April, having won 11 of its first 16 games this month, but are now 1-7 in its last eight games.
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New York has lost more ground in the National League East after losing being swept by the Miami Marlins over the weekend and have split or lost three series in a row. Reds lefty Nick Lodolo outpitched Mets ace right-hander Nolan McLean in the opener, while National League Cy Young contender Chase Burns outpitched lefty David Peterson in Game 2.
Burns didn’t have his best stuff, but he still pitched 5.1 quality innings of two-run ball on four hits and two walks while striking out eight to earn his seventh win of the season. Peterson was shelled again, throwing five innings of six-run ball on 11 hits and three walks while fanning four.
Peterson has had about as much of an up-and-down season as possible, and the downs are especially bad. He is now 3-5 with a 5.57 ERA and 1.67 WHIP through 12 games (seven starts, 53.1 innings).
New York’s offense has gone cold over the last week or two but having star Juan Soto back in the lineup should help some. The series finale will feature a pitching matchup of Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott and Mets righty Huascar Brazoban, who will open for righty Jonah Tong.
Abbott is having a decent season thus far, posting a 4-2 record with a 3.97 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 38 strikeouts through 11 starts (56.2 innings). The strikeout rate is a bit lower than what he’s used to, but he’s thrown some quality innings for Cincinnati.
Abbott’s last time out came against the Philadelphia Phillies, and he threw 5.1 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks while striking out three to earn his fourth win of the year.
Brazoban has been very effective for the Mets this season, and the 36-year-old is 3-1 with a 1.73 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 19 strikeouts through 22 games (three starts, 26 innings). He will likely go one or two innings before turning the ball over to Tong, who needs to pitch well in this one.
Tong struggled mightily when he was called up last season, posting a 7.71 ERA and 1.77 WHIP in five starts (18.2 innings). He didn’t make the starting rotation out of spring training and the Mets wanted him to develop further in Triple-A Syracuse.
He made his season debut May 22 and dazzled, albeit in just three innings of work – Tong allowed just one baserunner (walk) and struck out two. A dominant start likely keeps him in the rotation, but he did struggle in Triple-A Syracuse (5.68 ERA in nine starts) despite having great strikeout numbers (55 in 38 innings).
First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. EDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.