Mets limp into off day after injuries, quiet offense and a starting pitching problem in San Diego
Mets limp into off day after injuries, quiet offense and a starting pitching problem in San Diego
The Mets suffer from a blowout loss for the second straight night in San Diego. Plus, how Chris Bassitt isn't living up to his end of the bargain.
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾
The Mets were blown out for the second straight night to the Padres and lost the rubber game of the series 13-2 (box)
Both Starling Marte and Pete Alonso sat after leaving the previous night’s game with injuries, but are expected to avoid the injured list
RHP Chris Bassitt struggled once again, allowing seven runs (six earned) in just 3.1 innings pitched
Bassitt has not earned a win since May 8th
The Mets pitching staff allowed 25 runs in 27 innings in their series vs the Padres
New York combined for just seven total hits over the final two games of the series
After losing two of three, the Mets lost just their third series of the season
RHP Tylor Megill is set to be activated off the injured list and start against the Angels on Friday night
Roster Moves 📰
The Mets signed OF Terrance Gore, C Brady Smith and RHP Estarlin Escalante to a minor league contracts
Today’s Game 🗓
The Mets are off on Thursday. They open a three-game series with the Angels on Friday night at Angel Stadium.
Chris Bassitt is letting the Mets down 📝
Well, this isn’t what the Mets paid for.
When the club acquired RHP Chris Bassitt following the lockout this past offseason, trading the only healthy top pitching prospect in JT Ginn in the process, they believed they were getting one of the most productive and underrated pitchers in the American League over the last several years. In fact, Bassitt’s 3.29 ERA since the start of the 2019 season made him one of the top starting pitchers in the entire sport over that span.
That’s who the Mets thought they were getting. To start the season, it sure looked like it, too. Not only did Bassitt step up to the spotlight with brash talk, not backing down after several of his new teammates were getting drilled on routine early in the season (an anomaly that has continued to this day, for what it’s worth), but he also looked exactly as advertised on the mound. Through his first seven starts in the orange and blue, Bassitt posted a 2.34 ERA and looked like a perfect number two behind Max Scherzer while the club waited on the eventual return of Jacob deGrom.
It’s his last five starts, however, that paint an entirely different picture. Over that time, Bassitt has put up a 7.62 ERA — raising his season ERA to 4.35 — and has allowed 22 earned runs in just 26 innings. In that same span Bassitt has served up eight home runs, averaging out to an obscene 2.8 home runs per nine innings.
“I’m beyond embarrassed and really upset,” Bassitt said after Wednesday night’s loss. “It’s something I’ve literally never went through … but to say its frustrating would be a big-time understatement.”
Coincidentally or not, Bassitt’s struggles can be traced back to May 19th — the same day it was announced that Scherzer was headed to the injured list for the next 6-8 weeks with an oblique issue. When the Mets have needed him most, Bassitt has not delivered.
He’s looked out of sync over these last few starts and whether it’s the pressure of going from the club’s number three pitcher to their de facto ace or just a midseason adjustment he needs to make, it has been a real detriment to this club. Even in the starts where he hasn’t been shelled like he was Wednesday night in San Diego, he has not given the Mets much length. In fact, Bassitt has only gotten four outs all season after the sixth inning.
Whatever the issue may be, it is on Bassitt and the team’s coaching staff to figure out an adjustment and get him right. While Tylor Megill is expected to return to the Mets rotation on Friday, Scherzer and deGrom are still both not close to returning. If the Mets are to survive this hellacious part of their schedule, they’re going to need their big offseason acquisition to be a part of that.
Down on the Farm 🌾
Dominic Smith (1B, Triple-A): 1-for-4, double, RBI
Francisco Álvarez (C, No. 1 prospect, Double-A): 1-for-2, HR (11), BB
Brett Baty (3B, No. 2 prospect, Double-A): 2-for-6, HR (4), 2 RBI
Box Scores: Triple-A | Double-A GM 1 GM 2| High-A | Single-A
Around the League 🚩
The Angels lost their 14th game in a row after yet another shutout loss to the Red Sox
The Braves won their 7th straight game following a 13-2 drubbing of the Oakland A’s
Phillies DH Bryce Harper hit his 14th home run of the season in the club’s 10-0 win over the Brewers, their sixth in a row
The Blue Jays called up C Gabriel Moreno, their top prospect and No. 4 ranked prospect in MLB