Megill keeps rolling, Mets win 5th series and Marte's new dimension
Megill keeps rolling, Mets win 5th series and Marte's new dimension
The Mets won their fifth straight series to open the year on the back of Tylor Megill. Plus, how the speed of Starling Marte brings a new dimension to the club.
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets took their fifth straight series to open the season on Sunday, defeating the Diamondbacks 6-2 in Phoenix (box)
RHP Tylor Megill (3-0, 2.35 ERA) was splendid again, allowing two runs with only a walk and seven strikeouts over 6.2 innings pitched
The Mets recorded two more two-out RBI – one when Starling Marte was hit by a pitch in the 7th inning, and then on a solo home run by JD Davis in the 8th
New York won the season series against the Diamondbacks 4-2
The Mets are expecting the results of Jacob deGrom’s (stress reaction in shoulder) most recent MRI today, at which point they will determine if he can begin a throwing program
RHP Taijuan Walker (right shoulder bursitis) will throw a simulated game later today and should be on track to make his next start against the Phillies this weekend
The Mets are ranked as the 3rd best team in baseball, per MLB.com’s latest power rankings
Roster Moves 📰
INF Matt Reynolds was claimed off waivers by the Reds
Who’s Hot🔥
With his start on Sunday, Tylor Megill has allowed two runs or less in three of his first four starts of the season with only three walks in 23 IP during that span
Francisco Lindor recorded his fifth multi-hit game of the season on Sunday – he is currently enjoying a four-game hitting streak during which he is hitting .412/.421/.588
LHP Joely Rodriguez has run his scoreless streak to four straight appearances
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (12-5) at Cardinals (9-5)
Where: Busch Stadium – St. Louis, MO
Starters: RHP Max Scherzer (3-0, 2.50 ERA) vs. RHP Miles Mikolas (1-0, 1.76 ERA)
When: 8:10 PM EST
Where to Watch: SNY, MLB Network
Starling Marte’s speed takes the Mets to a new dimension of play 📝
When the Mets signed Starling Marte this past offseason, they had a pretty good idea of what they were getting. Proven talent, defense, speed, athleticism. But I’m not sure even they could have realized how much of a difference-maker that has proven to be early on this season.
Already, we’ve seen Marte’s speed — more than any other aspect of his game — make a big positive impact and that was on display no more than this past weekend.
On Friday night, just after the bullpen let a late 5-1 lead slip away and force them into extra innings, the Mets were an out away from stranding their free base runner in the 10th inning — something that very well could have cost them their chances at winning the game. It was here when Marte grounded a ball to deep to the left side of the infield, forcing the third baseman to play back on a longer hop. What seemed like a routine play became anything but as Marte busted it down the line and turned what could have been an easy end to the inning a bang-bang play at first. And though he was initially called out, replay review showed that Marte’s burst down the line paid off resulting in the call being overturned which allowed Jeff McNeil to score the go-ahead run.
In another tight contest on Sunday, Marte used his wheels to wreak havoc on the bases once again. Standing at second base in a 1-1 game in the 6th, Marte surprised the defense and took off for third base, which ultimately forced an errant throw that went into left field and allowed Marte (after stumbling over the back of the fallen third baseman) to trot home and score the go-ahead run. Twice in one series, Marte’s speed had created runs that the team would not have otherwise driven in.
And with that shows a significant change in the way this baseball team can play in 2022.
For the first time in over a decade, dating back to José Reyes’ initial stint with the team, the Mets have someone that strikes fear into the other club just by standing on first base. Instead of the Mets being the team to worry about holding runners on (something they struggled with mightily for several years), they are now the ones putting speed and athleticism to good use and steal some runs.
Even at age 33, Marte finds himself in the 67th percentile in sprint rate and is the second-fastest player in all of baseball at his age per Statcast. While the Mets may not be getting the same Marte who just three years ago was in the top eight percent in the league in sprint speed, he has still brought an element to the game that this organization has been sorely lacking for nearly 15 years.
Some days, the ball is not going to fly out of the ballpark. You’re not always going to get that big two-out hit, either. But speed plays every day of the week, 24/7, for 162 games a year and for once, it’s the Mets that bring this dimension to the table. It is intangibles such as these that can make all the difference once the season gets later, the games get tighter and the lights reach their brightest.
Down on the Farm 🌾
Nick Plummer (OF, No. 8 prospect, AAA): 2-for-4, 3 RBI, one run scored
Ronny Mauricio (SS, No. 3 prospect, AA): 2-for-4, RBI, run scored
Dominic Hamel (RHP, No. 9 prospect Single-A): IP, H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Box Scores: Triple-A | Double-A | High-A | Single-A
What the Buck? 😡
The Mets were drilled by two more pitches on Sunday, making that 14 on the season and resulting in two more classic Buck Showalter stare-downs…
Around the League 🚩
Phillies OF Kyle Schwarber was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the 9th inning of Philadelphia’s 1-0 loss to the Brewers (video)
The Yankees run of dominance on the mound continued on Sunday with an 8-0 win over the Guardians, sweeping that series in the Bronx
Twins CF Byron Buxton hit a long walk-off home run against the White Sox, sending Chicago to their seventh loss in a row
Angels CF Mike Trout extended his hitting streak to seven games with two hits and a run scored in LA’s 7-6 win over the Orioles
Astros rookie SS Jeremy Peña slugged a walk-off, two-run home run in extra innings to edge out the Blue Jays
The Royals acquired RHP Matt Peacock from the Diamondbacks for cash considerations