Post by Commissioner Erick on Nov 2, 2019 21:14:58 GMT -5
New York Mets (41-48) @ St. Louis Cardinals (40-50)
NYM: Matt Harvey (5-6, 4.12)
STL: Michael Wacha (2-7, 4.39)
It's been a disappointing year for the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals, two teams with playoff aspirations heading into the year. The Mets got off to a good start, but injuries sapped the team's resilience, and they faded in June and July, going 15-27 after a 19-10 May. St. Louis hasn't hit like they expected, with Joc Pederson serving as the team's lone power threat. With the Cubs' struggling, St. Louis is still in the race in the NL Central, only six games back. Between now and August 19, they only play six games against teams with winning records, and only two on the road, so they're by no means out of the race.
Players to Watch:
Mets:
RP—Drew Smyly:
With the Mets rotation in flux, and the team looking to make future-oriented moves, Smyly may be the long man for this game, or he may be shuttled back into the rotation. Smyly has pitched about as well in the pen as in the rotation, so he hasn't gotten the typical boost moving to a relief role. He's simply yielded too many home runs, with 17 allowed in 79.1 innings. With his strikeouts trending down, it hasn't been good enough for the Mets. Smyly surprisingly hasn't been able to get left-handers out, which is a problem against a Cardinals team that projects to be very left-handed. Joc Pederson has two home runs off Smyly lifetime, but is only 5-28 overall off him. Any particular Smyly-Pederson matchup would be fun to watch.
LF—Justin Williams:
Williams continues to improve offensively every season, as his .329 on-base percentage this year is his highest of his career. He hasn't had as much power this year as years prior, but the hope is that the home runs will come. He's struggled a bit the past 10 days or so, but he's also been in a tough offensive environment, batting in Los Angeles and San Francisco, before coming back home. He was hitting .300 before the trip, so with some time to rest, could pick back up where he was before travelling west. One concerning element. Williams struggled out west—but he's struggled in general away from Citi Field. He has a .229 average and only two home runs on the road this year.
RP—Daniel Coulombe:
The one thing to note for Coulombe is that he's faced nearly the same amount of right-handers and left-handers this year. Against lefties, he's allowing a .657 OPS. Against righties, an .801 OPS. If Cuolombe is used against lefties, he has a chance to be effective. Against righties? There could be some runs on the board. Ideally, he'll be used against the top of St. Louis' lineup. Let's see if that's how the Mets use him.
Cardinals:
SS—Edmundo Sosa:
Sosa has always hit in Triple-A, he's always hit internationally for Panama, and, you know what, he's hit pretty well for a backup shortstop with the Cardinals. In about 30 games, Sosa is batting .297 with eight doubles. His plate disciple is non-existent this year and he's overmatched defensively as a starting shortstop. However, Sosa's smart on the bases, good to play hit-and-run with, and has enough of a bat to not hurt you a couple of times a week. He probably shouldn't start over Idelmarlo Vargas, despite Vargas' troubles, but should hold a backup gig until he gets to arbitration.
CF—Miguel Aparicio:
Aparicio has split center field duties with the recently DFA's Harrison Bader, and it hasn't gone well for the youngster. Aparicio has made 56 starts and is hitting .185 with three home runs. He plays a strong center field, but he hasn't hit this year, or in the past. He stole 11 bases in 2020, and he hit nine doubles last year, but he hasn't brought much doubles pop or speed to St. Louis this year. Only 23-and still developing, there may be a starting-caliber player in Aparicio, but right now he's over his head as more than a fifth-outfielder.
3B—Josh Donaldson:
Donaldson has been on the injured list since his straining his rib-cage June 17th. He played the next day and played well, with a pair of hits, but struggled two days later, and went on the injured list after that game. The Cardinals reeled off a couple of wins in three games without Donaldson, then went into a disappointing stretch, where they went 2-5 to finish the month and went 8-8 in July. Donaldson is coming back at an opportune time. He may need a rehab stint, but can slide in as early as today to the middle of the Cardinals order. St. Louis needs the 2021 Donaldson, not the 2022 Donaldson. The "Bringing of Rain" has only provided a drizzle for the Cards this year, with seven home runs in 206 plate appearances. Last year, Donaldson brought a monsoon with 38 long balls. With the Cubs unable to pull away, St. Louis has the division right there for them, but they'll need their star to come through to seize it.
TRIVIA: St. Louis' Dallas Keuchel is second all time in double plays induced. What pitcher is first?
NYM: Matt Harvey (5-6, 4.12)
STL: Michael Wacha (2-7, 4.39)
It's been a disappointing year for the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals, two teams with playoff aspirations heading into the year. The Mets got off to a good start, but injuries sapped the team's resilience, and they faded in June and July, going 15-27 after a 19-10 May. St. Louis hasn't hit like they expected, with Joc Pederson serving as the team's lone power threat. With the Cubs' struggling, St. Louis is still in the race in the NL Central, only six games back. Between now and August 19, they only play six games against teams with winning records, and only two on the road, so they're by no means out of the race.
Players to Watch:
Mets:
RP—Drew Smyly:
With the Mets rotation in flux, and the team looking to make future-oriented moves, Smyly may be the long man for this game, or he may be shuttled back into the rotation. Smyly has pitched about as well in the pen as in the rotation, so he hasn't gotten the typical boost moving to a relief role. He's simply yielded too many home runs, with 17 allowed in 79.1 innings. With his strikeouts trending down, it hasn't been good enough for the Mets. Smyly surprisingly hasn't been able to get left-handers out, which is a problem against a Cardinals team that projects to be very left-handed. Joc Pederson has two home runs off Smyly lifetime, but is only 5-28 overall off him. Any particular Smyly-Pederson matchup would be fun to watch.
LF—Justin Williams:
Williams continues to improve offensively every season, as his .329 on-base percentage this year is his highest of his career. He hasn't had as much power this year as years prior, but the hope is that the home runs will come. He's struggled a bit the past 10 days or so, but he's also been in a tough offensive environment, batting in Los Angeles and San Francisco, before coming back home. He was hitting .300 before the trip, so with some time to rest, could pick back up where he was before travelling west. One concerning element. Williams struggled out west—but he's struggled in general away from Citi Field. He has a .229 average and only two home runs on the road this year.
RP—Daniel Coulombe:
The one thing to note for Coulombe is that he's faced nearly the same amount of right-handers and left-handers this year. Against lefties, he's allowing a .657 OPS. Against righties, an .801 OPS. If Cuolombe is used against lefties, he has a chance to be effective. Against righties? There could be some runs on the board. Ideally, he'll be used against the top of St. Louis' lineup. Let's see if that's how the Mets use him.
Cardinals:
SS—Edmundo Sosa:
Sosa has always hit in Triple-A, he's always hit internationally for Panama, and, you know what, he's hit pretty well for a backup shortstop with the Cardinals. In about 30 games, Sosa is batting .297 with eight doubles. His plate disciple is non-existent this year and he's overmatched defensively as a starting shortstop. However, Sosa's smart on the bases, good to play hit-and-run with, and has enough of a bat to not hurt you a couple of times a week. He probably shouldn't start over Idelmarlo Vargas, despite Vargas' troubles, but should hold a backup gig until he gets to arbitration.
CF—Miguel Aparicio:
Aparicio has split center field duties with the recently DFA's Harrison Bader, and it hasn't gone well for the youngster. Aparicio has made 56 starts and is hitting .185 with three home runs. He plays a strong center field, but he hasn't hit this year, or in the past. He stole 11 bases in 2020, and he hit nine doubles last year, but he hasn't brought much doubles pop or speed to St. Louis this year. Only 23-and still developing, there may be a starting-caliber player in Aparicio, but right now he's over his head as more than a fifth-outfielder.
3B—Josh Donaldson:
Donaldson has been on the injured list since his straining his rib-cage June 17th. He played the next day and played well, with a pair of hits, but struggled two days later, and went on the injured list after that game. The Cardinals reeled off a couple of wins in three games without Donaldson, then went into a disappointing stretch, where they went 2-5 to finish the month and went 8-8 in July. Donaldson is coming back at an opportune time. He may need a rehab stint, but can slide in as early as today to the middle of the Cardinals order. St. Louis needs the 2021 Donaldson, not the 2022 Donaldson. The "Bringing of Rain" has only provided a drizzle for the Cards this year, with seven home runs in 206 plate appearances. Last year, Donaldson brought a monsoon with 38 long balls. With the Cubs unable to pull away, St. Louis has the division right there for them, but they'll need their star to come through to seize it.
TRIVIA: St. Louis' Dallas Keuchel is second all time in double plays induced. What pitcher is first?
