MMO Game Thread: Braves vs Mets, 7:08 PM

Sunday, July 26, 2020 • 7:08 p.m.

Citi Field • Flushing, NY

LHP Sean Newcomb (2019: 6-3, 3.16) vs. RHP Rick Porcello (2019: 14-12, 5.52)

ESPN • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM

We are only a few days into the new season and I’m going to offer my controversial Hot Take from yesterday: I think Díaz threw a good pitch, and sometimes you get beat.

It’s hard saying that in the backdrop of what happened last year and his performance this spring/summer. As you know by now, Díaz allowed the tying run in the ninth and the Mets went into extras with Hunter Strickland – who performed exactly like his numbers suggested he would – and the Mets couldn’t recover.

Heartbreaking losses are now 2.7 times more heartbreaking in 2020, and I don’t know about you but I forgot how to lose so it was a rough night.

But now we’re back. The Mets have one of the Sunday night games as they finish off their series with the Braves. Since teams are essentially playing in geographic divisions, Sunday night baseball is now a double header, moving the Mets to a much more normal 7 p.m. start rather than 8 p.m. start.

Mets Lineup

1. Amed Rosario – SS
2. Jeff McNeil – 3B
3. Pete Alonso – 1B
4. Yoenis Cespedes – DH
5. Michael Conforto – RF
6. J.D. Davis – LF
7. Robinson Cano – 2B
8. Tomas Nido – C
9. Brandon Nimmo – CF

Braves Lineup

1. Ronald Acuna Jr. – RF
2. Ozzie Albies – 2B
3. Freddie Freeman – 1B
4. Marcell Ozuna – LF
5. Matt Adams – DH
6. Dansby Swanson – SS
7. Austin Riley 3B
8. Ender Inciarte – CF
9. William Contreras – C

Rick Porcello will make his Mets debut tonight! Porcello is coming off an awful year, pitching 174.1 innings over 32 starts with a 5.52 ERA, 4.76 FIP, 87 ERA+, and 1.394 WHIP.

The only time his FIP has ever been higher was in his rookie year, where he posted a much better 114 ERA+ (his ERA+ has been above 100 four times in 11 seasons). The last time he faced the Braves was in 2018 and it was a good start, allowing only one run on two hits over five innings.

The Braves have the following numbers against him:

• Freddie Freeman 5-11, BB, K
• Adam Duvall 3-4
• Matt Adams 1-3, K
• Adeiny Hechavarria 4-22, 2B, HR, 2 K
• Charlie Culberson 1-4, 2 K
• Ender Inciarte 0-3
• Ozzie Albies 0-2, K
• Ronald Acuna Jr. 0-3, K
• Johan Camargo 0-2, K

Sean Newcomb returns to the rotation for the Atlanta Braves. He made his debut in 2017 at 24-years-old and made 19 starts over 100 innings with a 4.32 ERA. The following year he made 30 starts and pitched 164.0 innings with a 3.90 ERA.

Last year, the Braves moved him mostly to the bullpen, and he pitched in 55 games with four starts totaling 68.1 innings with a 3.16 ERA, 4.24 FIP, 1.317 WHIP, and 144 ERA+. Last year was his best in ERA+, ERA, and WHIP and his worst in FIP.

His numbers against the Mets were not good last year. He logged only 6.1 innings despite pitching in relief for six games and starting one, allowing eight runs from nine hits and three walks.

Despite that stat line, for the most part, the Mets’ numbers against him are not that scary:

• Robinson Cano 1-2
• Pete Alonso 1-2, 2B, K
• Amed Rosario 5-10, 2 2B, BB, 3 K
• Rene Rivera 4-6, 2 2B, 2 BB,2 K
• J.D. Davis 0-2, 2 BB
• Jeff McNeil 2-6, 2B, K
• Dominic Smith 1-5, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Yoenis Cespedes 1-8, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Michael Conforto 0-7, 3 BB, 3 K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-7, 2 BB, 3 K

Game Notes

New York starters have allowed only one run after two starts, tossing 11.0 innings and allowing three hits and two walks while striking out 15. In 2019, the Mets starters owned a 3.84 ERA (402 earned runs/941.1 innings) with 273 walks and 964 strikeouts. The team’s 3.84 ERA ranked seventh in the majors and fourth in the NL, while the 964 strikeouts ranked fourth in the majors and second in the senior circuit.

Rick Porcello is tied for 11th among active pitchers with 149 career wins. He’s earned at least 10 victories in all but one of his 11 major league campaigns. He is one of just five pitchers with at least 10 seasons with double-digit wins since his rookie year in 2009, joining Zack Greinke (11), Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Jon Lester.

Porcello tonight will make his fifth career start against Atlanta. In his previous four starts, he’s 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA (eight earned runs/24.0
innings). He has won each of his last two starts against the club, both in Atlanta, in 2016 and 2018.

Let’s Go Mets! Check 213 Miles From Shea!