Atlanta's Engine Stalling Out in Queens
Mets' logical approach to winning ballgames coming up roses...
This Atlanta team—defending World Series champions, if I recall correctly—is a very good ballclub. But these Metropolitans, wow, they’re methodically dismantling that vaunted machine this weekend.
Unless you’re Max Scherzer, hitting the mound with visions of 27-up-27-down against this team will only get you into trouble. It’s a lineup littered with landmines and if you slip up, they will undoubtedly make you pay for it.
Treading cautiously among the likes of Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, Dansby Swanson, and Matt Olson, to name a few, is a must. Limit mistakes, pick your spots, and, most importantly, hit those spots.
Throughout this long weekend rendezvous, Mets starting pitchers have mostly navigated that labyrinth successfully. And their execution is where that alchemy has taken place.
Carlos Carrasco (1.50 ERA since July 3) set the tone on Thursday. Trevor Williams picked Taijuan Walker up on Friday. David Peterson weaving in and out of traffic in the opener on Saturday, Max Scherzer (1.37 ERA, 61 K, 6 BB, .316 SLG against since returning from the IL on July 5) looking immaculate in the nightcap. It’s all been invaluable to what this team is trying to accomplish.
You don’t necessarily need to shut down an entire lineup to win a baseball game. You need to not let individual guys beat you. And when you do find yourself in a jam against a difference-maker, turn that shit up to 11 and slam that door shut. Mostly, the Mets have accomplished that goal this weekend.
Heading into Sunday, Atlanta’s big bats (outside of Acuña, who’s 8-for-18 and looking quite healthy at the plate) have been largely quieted. Olson—likely the closest to resembling a two to Acuña’s one in Brian Snitker’s punch combination—is 5-for-16 since Thursday. Swanson is 2-for-18.
Riley, who came into the series hitting .422/.460/.845 over his previous 124 plate appearances going back to June 30, is 3-for-16 with four strikeouts. That’s what I’m talking about. Consider yourself negated, fellas.
Well, at least for now. There’s no way a team of this caliber isn’t bouncing back against the Mets at some point. It could be today, it could be next week (yup, four more in Georgia), or it could be in October (the penultimate regular-season series, also in ATL, or in the postseason; dealer’s choice).
Regardless of all that, New York heading into Sunday’s series finale with a .324/.392/.500 team slash line over the last seven days and *checks notes* Jacob deGrom on the bump are what most would consider momentum.
It’s also a heck of a start to fart-sounding some air out of Atlanta’s balloon heading into the home stretch. LFGM, friends.
Also, thanks for sticking around while I worked some stuff out. We’re back, in earnest. Let’s go get it.
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