Last night, the New York Mets lost the final game of a four-game series against the Miami Marlins by a score of 6-4. Worse news: Neil Walker is out for the season thanks to a herniated disc that he said he’s been dealing with for four years now.
“I had to be honest with what was going on here,” Walker said in an interview. “Like I said, this was a very difficult decision. I want nothing more than to be on the field and it’s very disappointing in my eyes.”
Walker was doing well before the decision was made, as he was hitting .347 with eight home runs, three doubles, a triple and 18 RBI in 31 games. The loss of Walker only magnifies the health ailments that the New York Mets have suffered through this year. Not that you need it, but just as a reminder:
- Lucas Duda is out with a stress fracture in his lower back.
- Matt Harvey is recuperating from rib surgery.
- Juan Lagares is on the disabled list due to a torn left thumb ligament.
- Steven Matz is on the 15-day disabled list thanks to left shoulder tightness.
- Jonathon Niese is on the 15-day DL thanks to left knee surgery and is likely out for the remainder of the season.
- Justin Ruggiano is on the 60-day DL due to a left shoulder issue.
- Zack Wheeler is out for about two weeks due to an elbow strain.
- David Wright is likely out until 2017 because of neck surgery.
Okay, we can sit here and dwell on this, but the reality is that the Mets have to look forward. They have moved up to third place in the wild card standings, two games back to making it into the race. They are 69-65 and trail the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants. Tonight, they start a vital three-game series against the Washington Nationals. Noah “Thor” Syndergaard is on the mound for the Mets. After going a pedestrian 3-5 with a 4.09 ERA from June 22 through Aug. 16, Syndergaard has rebounded to allow only one total run in his last two starts, while striking out 13 and walking four.
However, he is 0-2 with a 9.39 ERA his last two starts against the Nationals, so we’ll see if he can overcome his struggles and pull it together against the Nationals.
He will go against A.J. Cole who, in his first two starts this season since being inserted into the rotation while Stephen Strasburg is on the DL, Cole has allowed seven runs in 12 2/3 innings with 12 strikeouts and five walks. This will be his first career outing against the New York Mets.
Hopefully, the newest addition to the team of right-handed pitcher Fernando Salas, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels last night, will help the Mets hold on to their leads. The 31-year-old joins the team with four saves and a 2.93 ERA (5 ER/15.1 IP) in 17 games since the All-Star Game, but an overall record of 3-6 with six saves and a 4.47 ERA (28 ER/56.1 IP) in 58 games this season. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Mets placed outfielder Justin Ruggiano on the 60-Day Disabled List.
In last night’s 6-4 loss to the Marlins, Jason deGrom struggled in his five innings pitched, with six hits, four walks, and three earned runs. His record falls to 7-8 on the season.
The New York Mets runs came from the bats of Jay Bruce, who hit his 28th homerun in the sixth inning, and Asdrubal Cabrera, who smacked it out in the 9th inning.
Overall, however, the Mets left 8 players on base, a problem that’s been discussed way too many times.
Side note: GOLD MEDAL FIRST PITCH: Laurie Hernandez, who won a Gold Medal as part of the Team USA’s “Final Five” Olympic Gymnastics team in Rio and an individual Silver Medal on the balance beam will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to this Saturday’s 7:10 p.m. game vs. Washington.
