Game Thread: Matz Takes the Mound Against Braves, 7:15 PM – FOX

Saturday, September 28, 2019 • 7:15 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Mike Foltynewicz (8-5, 4.46) vs. LHP Steven Matz (10-10, 4.37)
FOX • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050 AM

On Friday night, Pete Alonso tied Aaron Judge for the rookie home run record at 52 bombs. Now Pete has two more games this season to break the record. Besides that, 2019 continues to wind down at Citi Field as Marcus Stroman made his last start last night, capping off a successful month of September after a lackluster month of August. Tonight Steven Matz makes his last start of 2019 as we continue to say goodbye to Mets baseball.

Mets Lineup 

1. Brandon Nimmo  CF
2. Pete Alonso  1B
3. Robinson Cano  2B
4. Michael Conforto  RF
5. J.D. Davis  LF
6. Amed Rosario  SS
7. Todd Frazier  3B
8. Rene Rivera  C
9. Steven Matz

Braves Lineup

1. Dansby Swanson  SS
2. Ozzie Albies  2B
3. Freddie Freeman  1B
4. Josh Donaldson  3B
5. Nick Markakis  RF
6. Adam Duvall  LF
7. Brian McCann  C
8. Billy Hamilton  CF
9. Mike Foltynewicz  P

Steven Matz is 10-10 over 31 games and 21 starts logging 154.1 innings with a 4.37 ERA, 4.64 FIP, 1.348 WHIP and a 93 ERA+. Last year he finished at exactly 154 innings, so it’s already the first time in his career that the has had back to back years of 150+ innings of work. Although his season ERA jumped (4.37 this year compared to 3.97 last year) some of his peripherals stayed practically the same (94 vs 93 ERA+, 4.62 vs 4.64 FIP). His WHIP did jump a full tenth of a point.

Anyway, the last two starts tanked his ability to finish the season at a sub 4.00 ERA, he’s allowed 13 runs over nine innings so it would be nice if he can finish on a high note. He is 1-2 in five starts against the Braves this year allowing 11 runs in 25 innings, a 3.96 ERA. The Braves have the following numbers against him:

• Freddie Freeman 7-28, 2 2B, HR, BB, 4 K
• Tyler Flowers 2-17, 2B, 3 BB, 6 K
• Nick Markakis 3-18, 2B, BB, 4 K
• Ozzie Albies 3-15, 2B, 3 K
• Ronald Acuna Jr. 3-12, 3B, BB, 3 K
• Josh Donaldson 3-9, 2 HR
• Adeiny Hechavarria 2-11, K
• Dansby Swanson 3-9, 2B, BB, K

The Mets bats will get another look at Mike Folynewicz who is 8-5 over 20 starts and 113.0 innings with a 4.46 ERA, 4.88 FIP, 1.257 WHIP, and 102 ERA+. In his last six starts and 37.2 innings, he has allowed only six runs, five earned, which translates into a 1.19 ERA as opponents have batted .167/ .220/.258 against him.

That stretch started against the Mets where he held them to one run over seven innings from two hits and two walks. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Joe Panik 2-15, 3 K
• Todd Frazier 1-13, HR, BB, 7 K
• Michael Conforto 1-9, BB, 3 K
• Wilson Ramos 1-8, 2B, BB, K
• Juan Lagares 1-6, K
• Brandon Nimmo 1-5, HR, K
• Amed Rosario 0-5, 2 K
• Pete Alonso 0-3, K
• Jacob deGrom 1-2, HR (and not playing)

Game Notes

Michael Conforto has safely reached base in nine straight starts, batting .310 (9-29) with six runs, three doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI, 10 walks, a .487 OBP, a .724 SLG and a 1.211 OPS. He ranks ninth in the NL overall with 83 walks this season, two away from a new career-high.

Pete Alonso has hit 26 home runs at Citi Field this year. That is now the most home runs at home in team history. He surpassed Darryl Strawberry, who hit 24 home runs at Shea in 1990.

No rookie in baseball’s “modern era” has finished a season as the majors’ outright leader in homers. Two rookies since 1900 tied for the most home runs in a season: Tim Jordan for Brooklyn in 1906 (12 homers) and Mark McGwire with Oakland in 1987 (49).

J.D. Davis is batting .355 (71-200) with a 1.073 OPS at home this season. Only two Mets have ever finished a season with a higher average at home (min. 200 PA): Cleon Jones (.379, 1969) and Keith Hernandez (.366, 1984). No Met has ever finished a season with a higher home OPS.

New York’s .629 (44-26) second-half winning percentage is the third-best in the NL and is the seventh-best in the majors…The pitching staff has a 3.51 ERA since the All-Star break, the fifth-lowest mark in the majors and the third-best in the NL. The staff has surrendered 76 homers in the second half, tied for the second-fewest in the majors.

Let’s Go Mets!