Game Thread: Mets vs. Braves, 3:10 PM — Last Licks, Folks!
Sunday, September 29, 2019 • 3:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Mike Soroka (13-4, 2.60) vs. RHP Noah Syndergaard (10-8, 4.30)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050 AM
The 2019 season is finally over. A season marred with trades that didn’t pan out, a bullpen that under performed and an offense that went missing for a better part of the month. A season that saw a team go from 11 games under .500 to almost getting a postseason berth via the Wild Card. A season that saw new rookie home run record holder in Pete Alonso. A season that saw another dominant, possibly Cy Young level, campaign from Jacob deGrom. Personally, this may be one of the more memorable Mets seasons in my lifetime. Today they put on the cleats one more time and then we’ll just have to wait for next year.
Mets Lineup
- Brandon Nimmo (L) CF
- Pete Alonso (R) 1B
- Michael Conforto (L) RF
- Robinson Cano (L) 2B
- J.D. Davis (R) LF
- Amed Rosario (R) SS
- Todd Frazier (R) 3B
- Tomas Nido (R) C
- Noah Syndergaard (L) P
Braves Lineup
- Dansby Swanson (R) SS
- Ozzie Albies (S) 2B
- Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
- Josh Donaldson (R) 3B
- Nick Markakis (L) LF
- Brian McCann (L) C
- Matt Joyce (L) RF
- Rafael Ortega (L) CF
- Mike Soroka (R) P
Noah Syndergaard takes the mound for what could be, but most likely won’t be, his last start as a Met. He is 10-8 over 31 starts and 190.2 innings with a 4.30 ERA, 3.61 FIP, 1.243 WHIP and a 94 ERA+. He pitched more innings this year than he ever has and stats are generally the worst in his career. For four consecutive starts he has allowed four earned runs over five to 5.2 innings from six-10 hits per start raising his ERA from 3.97 to 4.30. In his one start against the Braves this year he allowed three runs over 5.2 innings in a game the Mets won 8-5. The Braves have the following numbers against Noah:
- Nick Markakis 7-for-20, 2B, 2 BB, 4 K
- Freddie Freeman 9-for-20, 3 2B, 3B, HR, BB, 4 K
- Ender Inciarte 4-for-14, BB, 2 K
- Dansby Swanson 7-for-14, 3 K
- Ronald Acuna Jr. 4-for-10, 2B, HR, 3 K
- Ozzie Albies 2-for-9, HR, K
- Josh Donaldson 2-for-8, 2 2B, BB, 2 K
- Adeiny Hechavarria 2-for-8, 2 K
The Mets bats will end the season against the young stud pitcher for the Braves, Mike Soroka who is 13-4 over 28 games and 169.2 innings making his last warm-up for the post-season. He has a 2.60 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 1.090 WHIP and 177 ERA+ this season. His 0.7 HR/9 is the lowest in the league. That being said, he’s been more human the last two months posting an ERA of 3.46 over his last seven starts and 41.2 innings of work. And although he beat the Mets both times he played them, he didn’t dominate them like he has to other teams. He first beat the Mets after allowing three runs overs six innings, a game that rose his ERA from 1.92 to 2.12 in the middle of June. A week later he beat the Mets despite allowing three runs from seven hits over 6.1 innings. In both games the Mets homered. The Mets have the following numbers against Soroka:
- Michael Conforto 2-for-12
- Todd Frazier 2-for-11, 2 K
- Amed Rosario 2-for-9, 2B, 2 K
- Pete Alonso 3-for-6, HR, K
- Robinson Cano 2-for-6, HR
- Tomas Nido 3-for-5, 2B, K
Notes
New York has hit 123 home runs in 80 games at Citi Field this season…That is a new franchise record for homers at home…The previous franchise record for home runs in a season at home is 112, set in 2016…Overall, New York socked 75 homers in 81 home games last year.
J.D. Davis is batting .351 (71-for-202) with a 1.065 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.
Since being activated, Brandon Nimmo has reached safely in 39 of his 89 plate appearances, posting a .262/.438/.585 slashline with 14 runs, four doubles, five home runs, 15 RBI, two steals and 20 walks in 25 games…Has a .437 OBP in his last 35 games (May 7-20 and September 1-present) with 29 walks in that span.
Let’s go Mets!