Game Thread: Mets @ Dodgers, 8:10 PM

Monday, May 27, 2019 • 8:10 p.m.
Dodger Stadium • Los Angeles, CA
RHP Jacob deGrom (3-5, 3.72) vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw (4-0, 3.33)
SNY • ESPN • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050 AM

Two weeks ago the Mets played terribly losing 5 games in a row to sub-500 teams. This past week the Mets won six of seven games against sub-500 teams. The result? The Mets are back to .500. The reward? They get to play the best team in the National League – the Dodgers who boast a .660 winning percentage (next best is the Cubs with .588). The Dodgers have the league best run differential at +79 (the Mets are at -12) and are kings at home with a 19-6 record. But the Mets have their ace Jacob deGrom to oppose Clayton Kershaw and the Dodger’s top ranked lineup.

Mets Lineup

1. Amed Rosario SS
2. J.D. Davis LF
3. Michael Conforto RF
4. Pete Alonso 1B
5. Todd Frazier 3B
6. Adeiny Hechavarria SS
7. Juan Lagares CF
8. Tomas Nido C
9. Jacob deGrom P

Dodgers Lineup

1. Joc Pederson LF
2. Max Muncy 1B
3. Justin Turner 3B
4. Cody Bellinger RF
5. Corey Seager SS
6. Alex Verdugo CF
7. Chris Taylor 2B
8. Russell Martin C
9. Clayton Kershaw p

DeGrom is 3-5 over 10 games and 58.0 innings with a 3.72 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 1.138 WHIP and 107 ERA+. He struggled back on May 17th, allowing seven runs, six earned to the Marlins but rebounded in his last start holding the Nationals to one run over six innings. In two starts against the Dodgers last year, deGrom held them to four runs over 12.0 innings from seven hits and four walks while striking out 12. The Dodgers have the following numbers against deGrom:

• Justin Turner 6-25, 3 2B, HR, 3 K
• Joc Pederson 2-17, 2B, 6 BB, 5 K
• Corey Seager 6-14, 3 2B, BB, 5 K
• Enrique Hernandez 0-6, BB, 2 K
• Max Muncy 1-5, HR

Clayton Kershaw is 4-0 over seven games and 46.0 innings this year with a 3.33 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 0.978 WHIP and 125 ERA+. The month of May has been a bit rougher on Kershaw, despite going 3-0, he has allowed 12 runs over 26.0 innings, a 4.15 ERA. He had a limited start against the Mets last year allowing 2 runs off 5 hits and a walk in 3.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Carlos Gomez 7-24, 2 2B, HR, BB, 4 K
• Todd Frazier 4-15, 2 2B, 5 K
• Juan Lagares 1-15, 4 K
• Wilson Ramos 2-12, 4 K
• Adeiny Hechavarria 1-10, 2 K
• Robinson Cano 0-9, K
• Michael Conforto 1-6, 2B, 2 K
• Aaron Altherr 1-5, HR

Game Notes

Last week’s 6-1 homestand was the team’s best homestand of at least seven games since their 10-0 homestand from April 13-23 in 2015.

Tonight’s game will be the third time that deGrom and Kershaw have started against each other, including the postseason. DeGrom received the loss in last year’s match against Kershaw, but deGrom defeated the Dodgers lefty in game one of the 2015 NLDS with seven shutout innings and 13 strikeouts.

DeGrom is 32 strikeouts away from passing Al Leiter for seventh on the Mets’ all-time strikeout list. Leiter struck 1,106 as a Mets. DeGrom also has a chance to surpass Ron Darling (1,148) and David Cone (1,172) on the list.

The Mets’ last five wins have been come-from-behind victories, including four last at-bat wins. The Mets are tied for eighth in the majors with 12 come-from-behind wins and lead the majors with nine last at-bat victories.

Let’s Go Mets!