Mets rebound behind a pick-me-up start from Max Scherzer, hold off Phillies 4-2
The Mets are now 9-4 in games started by Max Scherzer, who delivered six strong innings on Saturday
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets rebounded for a 4-2 win over the Phillies on Saturday in Philadelphia (Box)
Max Scherzer started for the Mets and delivered a strong start, allowing two runs over six innings with eight strikeouts - the Mets are now 9-4 in games started by Scherzer this season
Starling Marte got the Mets offense going with a solo home run in the first, Luis Guillorme had two hits and scored a run, and Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Tommy Pham each delivered RBI in the win
The Mets got three innings of scoreless reliever from Brooks Raley, Adam Ottavino, and David Robertson - Robertson gave the Mets a five out save to lower his ERA to 1.64 for the year
Roster Moves 📰
INF Danny Mendick recalled from Triple-A Syracuse
Injury Updates 🏥
INF Jeff McNeil was held out of Saturday’s lineup with a bruised wrist - he was listed as day-to-day but was available for the Mets off the bench
LHP José Quintana (rib surgery) will make his third rehab start on Sunday for Single-A Brooklyn
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (35-41) at Phillies (39-37)
Where: Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia, PA
Starters: RHP Carlos Carrasco (2-3, 6.34 ERA) vs RHP Zack Wheeler (6-4, 3.48 ERA)
When: 1:35 PM EDT
Where to Watch: WPIX
Max Scherzer is now doing his part to help stem the tide ✍️
Two straight starts, two formidable lineups, two ace-like efforts delivered for Max Scherzer.
That’s his story for the week.
He opened his strong bounce back last Monday with a gem against the Astros when he threw eight innings while allowing just a run against the defending world champions.
Then on Saturday, he came through in a big way for the Mets, in a way that only money aces and perhaps future hall of famers can do.
After a miserable, albeit typical loss for the Mets on Friday which was mired by in an incompetent offense and an even worse defense behind Kodai Senga, Scherzer took the ball with a purpose yet again and shut the powerful Phillies lineup down and perhaps stemmed the tide of what has been looking like a tidal wave coming in to wipe out the Mets season.
He was both masterful and clutch. Gritty and precise. He gave the Mets six outstanding innings, throwing a season-high 107 pitches and getting the Mets a win they so badly needed in so many different ways on Saturday.
Was it Scherzer’s best? No, not by any means. But if this season is going to turn around for the Mets, it might prove to be the most important start he has made for the Mets since his arrival.
If this season has any hope left, it lies on the shoulders of both Scherzer and Justin Verlander. That’s been said time and time again, and perhaps given where they are in their careers, that might be too much to ask. But in the end, that’s the ask for the two highest paid players in the game. The Mets will ultimately go where Scherzer and Verlander take them.
For a day anyway, maybe two given his last two starts, Scherzer has given the Mets that glimmer of hope they need. He has certainly done his part to help stem that tide.
Scherzer has allowed just three earned runs in his last two starts, a span of 14 innings. He has struck out 16 batters while walking just two and allowing only 11 hits during that span.
He has been every bit of the Max Scherzer the Mets signed in November, 2021 this week.
For Scherzer, the question is if there can be a continuance of this rebound? Assuming the Mets don’t manipulate the rotation again, he will get a crack at the Brewers on Thursday at Citi Field. If they give him an extra day of rest, he will get the Giants on Friday.
Given the state of affairs with the rotation (they actually need a starter for Tuesday with Tylor Megill having been sent to the minors), it may be time to start to ask both Scherzer and Verlander to go on regular rest more often than they have so far this season. I know the Mets are charged with maintaining their stamina and health over the course of the long season, but now is the time to expose their best pitchers on a more frequent basis in an effort to save their season. Unless they’re able to swing a trade for an upgrade now (let me know how that one works out five weeks before the trade deadline) they simply do not have the quality behind them at this point to afford stretching the rotation out any longer.
At any rate, that’s for the Mets suits to determine. For I just have a mere opinion on the matter, and simply get to write about it on this site.
For the Mets, Saturday was just their sixth win in 20 games this month. But if they’re to right this ship and get their season back on course, perhaps June 24 is a day for the Mets to circle on their calendar as the one that reset the tone and tenor for the season, as it was a day where everything went generally right, as opposed to most other days so far in 2023.
Around the League 🚩
The Braves snapped the Reds 12-game winning streak with a tight 7-6 win at Great American Ballpark
The Angels rode the wave of a 13-run third inning and an eight-run fourth inning to pummel the Rockies 25-1 at Coors Field. LA hit five home runs in the offensive barrage
The Yankees edged the Rangers 1-0 at Yankee Stadium behind six shutout innings from Luis Severino and strong bullpen work
The Royals won for the first time in 16 tries with Jordan Lyles on the mound on Saturday - that 0-for-15 losing stretch by the Royals was the longest such streak in the modern era