For the second night in a row, the Mets treated the Braves like the ‘before’ picture in one of those Charles Atlas adds and kicked sand in their faces, this time abusing Kyle Wright to the tune of all six runs on eight hits and 4 walks in just 3 2/3 innings. Atlanta falls to 0-5 against the NL East major league teams (2-1 against the AAAA Marlins).
Things started off well in the bottom of the 1st, with Josh Donaldson singling, and Zack Wheeler suffering The Most Defensible Episode Ever – walking Freddie Freeman and Ronald Acuna, Jr. Nick Markakis drove in Donaldson with a sac fly, but Dansby Swanson struck out to end the threat.
Wright, however, gave it all back in the top of the 2nd. A one out single to Dominic Smith, was followed an out later by Brandon Nimmo depositing a poorly placed fastball over the deep right center wall for a 2-1 lead. Wright then allowed Wheeler to reach on an infield single, but wiggled out of further damage.
Wheeler settled down after the rough first, and managed to hold Atlanta at arm’s length until the 6th, when Acuna doubled home Freeman, who had drawn a walk. However by that time all that was left to do for Atlanta to do was to clean the sand out of their mouth because…
The Mets blew it open in the top of the 4th. Keon Broxton walked and stole second. Nimmo drove another Wright offering about 30 feet with an exit velocity of Just Faster Than Your Mom and a launch angle of International Falls, Mn in December to reach on a bunt single. Jeff McNeil doubled them both home, then was driven home himself by Robinson Cano. Michael Conforto doubled home Cano, and it was 6-1. After an intentional walk, Jonny Venters came on to walk the bases loaded, but got out of further trouble by disposing of Broxton to end the frame.
The bullpen, left with 5 1/3 innings to pitch, actually acquitted itself well. Josh Tomlin handled the 5th and 6th and Wes Parsons the 7th – both of them allowing no hits or walks. Jesse Biddle did allow Nimmo a one out double in the 8th, but that was the only baserunner he allowed, and A.J. Minter ‘handled’ the 9th getting into a spot of trouble with a two out walk to Wilson Ramos, but Dominic Smith‘s double couldn’t score Ramos from first.
Anyway the Braves look to climb off the canvas tonight, as Sean Newcomb goes against Jason Vargas.
Thank you for the sterling recap, SP. The game didn’t measure up to your prose.
Painter, thank you.
Wright and Wheeler posed very different problems to the batters they faced aside from the subtleties of their secondary pitches. Velocity.
Wright was giving up 4 or 5 mph on every fast ball. Alongside Wheeler’s superior control that was too big a hurdle for us to handle,
Peanut said Wright got no batter to swing and miss at any of his 43 fastballs. I’d guess at least ten to the other guy. Scary differential. Velocity.
Overmatched by pace
Ender, Swanson, Albies.
The others battled well.
When Folty gets back I’m liking the idea of a 6 man rotation less and less – unless Soroka or Touki prove over several starts that they’re ready to be called up.
Tonight against Vargas, the Braves need to make the lineup move. Acuna, Albies, Freeman, Donaldson, Flowers, Camargo-RF, Swanson, Culberson-LF, Newcomb. This will throw eight right handers plus Freeman against the Mets lefty. Inciarte is hitting one something so he needs to sit with Markakis and Joyce plus Jackson joining him on the pine. Send down Venters and Wright and recall Soroka and Burrows.
Where is Gohara????? Could Muller or Wentz help in the Bullpen? Where have all the leftys gone?
Gohara is still in extended spring training and is expected back in Gwinnett in a couple or three weeks
Touki up, Wright down.
@8 I was looking at the GW roster last night trying to figure who might get called up and Touki seemed the most obvious. But he hasn’t done anything about his walk problem yet this year. Supposed to be used out of the pen.
I thought that Folty was going to get the start tomorrow but Julio is listed. We surely need him. I do wonder if Touki is up only for a day or two until Folty is activated and may not even get any mound time.
Rotation is now looking like Folty, Gaus, Newk, Julio, Fried. If they do use any 6th SP, it will be between Soroka and Touki to see who can find some consistency first. That starting five would be pretty good if Julio could keep the walks down a little more. I kinda think we’re back to the original position that it’s time to see of we can get any value back for Teheran. Make the rotation into Folty, Gaus, Newk, Fried, Soroka/Touissant.
The bullpen is settling down with a solid core of Viz, Biddle, Tomlin, Parsons and even Luke has not been so bad. Minter is coming along. Sobotka inconsistent. Venters a disaster (walked every first batter he’s faced). Still could use a Kimbrel-like stopper.
The other problem we have is the one we had all offseason – not enough sources of HRs. With Ronald and Dansby our only sources of power, we need someone else to really mash. 3 HRs total between Freeman, Donaldson, Albies, Markakis, Flowers, and McCann is not going to get it done. The bench has that many HRs.
The bottom line on this season so far is prospect pitchers not stepping up and Braves allowing more HRs than hit (especially multi-run HRs).
Also, Dansby looked really bad at the plate last night. It may be time for his first day off.
3 HRs total between Freeman, Donaldson, Albies, Markakis, Flowers, and McCann is not going to get it done. The bench has that many HRs.
Yeah, homers aren’t the end-all be-all, of course, but you would have hoped for more bases-clearing power from Freeman, Donaldson, and Albies so far. I think we win another game than we have our collective lineup could run into a couple more.
But it’s early. And this is an objectively tough schedule. Played Colorado well. We’re struggling against our rivals, and we’ve also pitched Kyle Wright twice and Bryse Wilson once against Philly and NY. Let’s get our best talent against their best talent before we make any observations.
@9 Josh Donaldson has been hitting the ball hard, as they’ve mentioned on the broadcasts. Some balls are also starting to fall in for him. His last two games have been solid. So hopefully he’ll start launching a few HRs soon.
I’m not too worried about Freeman, either.
The club could definitely use some more HRs from the other guys you mentioned. When you’re facing some tough pitching, it’s nice to have some guys who can put runs on the board with a single swing, and not have to try to string things together.
The walks on the pitching side, the young guns especially, are a huge problem. I’m not sure what they do there. I think, as you were saying, it’s best they go with a 5 man rotation. I’d hang onto Tehran awhile, though. He’s not great, nor awful. He can be the guy you leave out there when they need innings, however.
Please. Throw. Strikes.
Kimbrel is reportedly seeking somewhere between a 3yr/52mil deal and a 3yr/39mil deal. If you split the difference, and go 3yr/45mil, it seems like a no-brainer to me. Heck, maybe he even takes 3yr/42mil to come back to the Braves?
Braves are what, 0-5 against the other three contenders in the NL East now?
I’m not sure that was JD’s best effort.
Get somebody up in the pen. Newk is the one who should lose his spot when Folty comes back
Piss the lead away just as fast as you got it by failure to throw strikes. A major league pitcher should be able to do that
Wow, this is some pathetic pitching from Newk. Get it together, kid.
Edit: looks like the Braves have seen enough. Can’t say I blame them.
Newcomb isn’t missing any bats right now in addition to missing the strike zone.
Vargas: I gave up four runs while only getting one out in an inning.
Newcomb: Hold my beer.
well, this series has been awful…
wright and newk cant miss bats
when the hell did the mets become an offensive juggernaut?
Newk is toast. He is what he is by now.
If only there was an available starting pitcher out there. With a career walk rate half that of Newcomb’s. Who a team could get for only like, money.
SSS, but Newcomb has walked 8 and struck out just 5 in his 3 starts.
@25 He’s also given up 15 hits.
TINSTAAPPed
“Give us our four runs back, Mets.”
Strikes, Touk. Throw strikes.
Nick, that ball had a family, man. 108 MPH exit velo. Maaaaaaaaan.
For those not able to watch, Nick hit the top of the Chop House on a liner. Not sure I’ve seen a Kakes blast hit that hard.
Well, he’s not one I expected to break the HR slump, but the Braves are hitting “mad” tonight. After the last two games, they sure need to.
How good is Touki looking!!! If he can keep throwing strikes and that curve – look out. I am not all that sure the Newk shouldn’t be the one to go down when Folty is activated. Maybe Newk can straighten out at Gwinnett. I say, if Touki throws five tonight then keep him up.
I am quite disappointed in AJax, though. He couldn’t do much twice against a pitcher throwing grapefruits up there. I had hopes but AJax is not getting it done.
Dansby is still not looking good, Not hitting the ball near as hard as he was.
Who wanted to sit Kakes against the lefty? Of course, the lefty lasted 1/3 of an inning. Lefty or righty seems to be about the same effectiveness.
Oh, and I really like this FS1 broadcast team with Smoltzie.
Chip doesn’t know what a millennial is.
Chip’s on a bizarre diatribe about foul balls.
Good game, Touki. We needed it.
Wow! Touki’s going back out? Inconceivable.
I wonder how many games we can win this year when both starters get bombed and we can deploy a much more effective long reliever.
We definitely have the long reliever position covered in spades!
He’s only at 73 pitches. He’s not done.
Touki has done an amazing job of putting out the dumpster fire Newcomb started. Great game young man.
JD!
Hey, Donaldson still doesn’t have more HRs than Markakis.
That’s six extra base hits over the past six games. JD is most definitely heating up.
Donaldson just caught that foul pop and looked around wondering where Dansby was…… LOL
GENTLEMEN, RECAPPED.