The Mets bullpen did Mets bullpen things in 8-4 loss to the Twins up north
The Mets bullpen did Mets bullpen things in 8-4 loss to the Twins up north
The Mets did hit four home runs, including Pete Alonso's 43rd of the season. Also, an attempt to give David Peterson a pitching ID
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets lost their third straight game on Saturday with their 8-4 loss to the Twins at Target Field (Box)
David Peterson pitched effectively for six innings, navigating traffic but allowing three runs with eight strikeouts
Drew Smith let the game get away for the Mets in the seventh thanks to two walks and three hits translating into four runs while recording only two outs
Pete Alonso hit one of four Mets homers, his 43rd of the season
The Mets are now 14-22 since the trade deadline, 5-15-4 in road series, 41-18 when scoring first, 5-57 when trailing after six innings, 2-63 when trailing after seven innings, 5-9 against the AL Central, and 22-29 since the All-Star Game
Prospect Watch 🔎
INF Jett Williams (no. 3 prospect, Single-A Brooklyn): 2-for-4, HR, RBI, 2 R
C Ronald Hernandez (no. 20 prospect, Single-A St. Lucie): 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI
RHP Peyton Battenfield (Triple-A Syracuse): 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 K
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (64-77) vs. Twins (75-67)
Where: Target Field — Minneapolis, MN
Starting pitchers: RHP Tylor Megill (8-7, 5.28 ERA) vs. RHP Pablo López (10-7, 3.64 ERA)
When: 2:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Trying to figure out David Peterson… ✍️
David Peterson is one tough nut to crack.
And before I try and prove my point, I want to say that in general, Peterson has self-corrected and been more like the pitcher the Mets would expect him to be (not so much the one the Mets need him to evolve into, of course) after an absolute nightmare of a start to his season.
Saturday afternoon was an extension of his positive stretch overall when he allowed just three runs in six innings to the Twins. While he left on the short end, he was able to navigate once again through a lot of traffic thanks to an ability to induce big out pitches when he needed to, indicated by the eight strikeouts on his ledger. And he did only walk one batter, which helped, although he hit another, but that’s just Peterson, it would seem.
On the one hand, he would seem to be pitching very well since being recalled from the minor leagues in late June. In 16 appearances since June 27, Peterson has a 3.42 ERA spanning 55.1 IP during which he has allowed 55 hits but fanned 58.
On the other, the pitch quality still appears to be hit or miss, as he’s allowed 28 walks and hit five batters during the same stretch.
During those 16 appearances, the Mets have really been trying to ID Peterson and where his game fits at the big league level. He has made 10 starts, six relief appearances during that time and he generally pitched well out of the bullpen in this latest chapter, allowing just two earned runs in those six relief appearances over eight innings.
But again, in those eight innings appear three walks and a hit by pitch. So while that seems to be Peterson, it’s hard to really figure out where he might fit best on a more complete roster.
When he’s at his best, Peterson always seems to be picking four-leaf clover out of the grass and somehow find a way, but trying to be lucky isn’t a career strategy.
Eventually, this kind of luck runs out at this level and does so quickly.
For Peterson, it seems like an endless discussion about strike quality and lapses in command. The proof of that lies in the amount of traffic he routinely deals with in his outings. But I do think there’s a consistent and reliable pitcher in there for the Mets somewhere as when he’s got that back-foot slider going on to righties and that change-up fading down and away, Peterson is downright filthy out there.
By that I mean, he can be an answer for them in the back of their rotation. Or perhaps a short-arm reliever late in games. Nothing is really being solved in these outings because while they’ve been generally good, these warning signs remain and they suggest a longer-term struggle for him, and his early season struggles might’ve been evidence of what typically happens to a pitcher with a 1.4 career WHIP and a 4.28 FIP.
Until that strike quality improves, he may have to keep finding those four-leaf clovers in the field.
Around the League 🚩
The Brewers sent the Yankees to their third straight loss with a 9-2 rout in the Bronx - former Met Mark Canha went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the win
The Orioles hit five home runs and won their seventh game in a row with a wild 13-12 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park
The Rays held serve in the race for the AL East crown with a 7-5 win over the Mariners at Tropicana Field - Tampa Bay remained four games behind Baltimore for the lead in the AL East
The Phillies bounced back in Miami on Saturday with an 8-4 win over the Marlins thanks in part to a three-run home run from Kyle Schwarber
The Cubs and Diamondbacks played a 1-1 game until the tenth inning, but Arizona scored two and held off the Cubs in the tenth to edge Chicago 3-2 and push their lead over the Marlins to 1.5 games for the third spot in the NL Wild Card race