Series Thread: NY Mets @ St.L. Cardinals (8/23-25)

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

• Morning Briefing: Mets open critical series vs. Cardinals


ST. LOUIS -- Get ready for a potentially make-or-break series for the New York Mets.

The Mets (62-62) trail the St. Louis Cardinals by 4 1/2 games for the National League's second wild-card spot as the teams open a three-game series on Tuesday at 8:15 p.m. ET at Busch Stadium.

Jonathon Niese (8-7, 5.30 ERA) opposes left-hander Jaime Garcia (10-8, 4.11) in the opener.

The Mets could have used the team's day off on Monday to skip Niese, but decided to keep the rotation in order because of Steven Matz's shoulder woes and Jacob deGrom's struggles in his last start in San Francisco.

So Jacob deGrom, on an extra day of rest, opposes Carlos Martinez on Wednesday, followed by Seth Lugo against Adam Wainwright on Thursday.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Matz to the DL....Walker on paternity leave.....

Mets' Matz put on DL with shoulder strain

The Mets will promote T.J. Rivera and Robert Gsellman from Triple-A Las Vegas for Tuesday's series opener in St. Louis. They will replace Steven Matz (DL) and Neil Walker (paternity leave).

 

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•Series preview: Mets at Cardinals


NEW YORK METS (62-62, third place/NL East) at ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (66-57, second place/NL Central)

Tuesday: LHP Jonathon Niese (8-7, 5.30) vs. LHP Jaime Garcia (10-8, 4.11), 8:15 p.m. ET

Wednesday: RHP Jacob deGrom (7-6, 2.73) vs. RHP Carlos Martinez (11-7, 3.24), 8:15 p.m. ET

Thursday: RHP Seth Lugo (0-2, 3.04) vs. RHP Adam Wainwright (9-7, 4.71), 7:15 p.m. ET

 

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Terry Collins says Jon Niese's left knee remains an issue. Robert Gsellman would step in if Niese has to depart Tuesday's game early

Steven Matz (shoulder) is expected to return to the rotation next Tuesday, Terry Collins said. Seth Lugo starts for Matz on Thursday against the Cardinals. The Mets backdated Matz's DL stint, so he is eligible the next time his turn comes up.

Neil Walker's wife Niki gave birth to the couple's first child, daughter Nora Vail, at 3:06 a.m. Tuesday in Pittsburgh. She weighed seven pounds, three ounces. Walker indicated he expects to rejoin the team on Friday. T.J. Rivera has joined the Mets while Walker is on paternity leave.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Here is the Mets lineup for Tuesday's 8:15 p.m. ET series opener against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Reyes, 3B
Cabrera, SS
Cespedes, LF
Flores, 1B
Bruce, RF
TJ Rivera, 2B
Ruggiano, CF
D'Arnaud, C
Niese, LHP

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Metsies showing signs of life....take game 1 in St. Loo.

•Flores, Ruggiano power Mets to 7-4 win over Cardinals

•Mets stay in wild-card hunt with character win after Jon Niese exits early


Robert Gsellman pitched 3 2/3 innings of shutout relief and got the win for the Mets on Tuesday.

Terry Collins says Robert Gsellman would be the logical choice to start Sunday against the Phillies, especially if Jon Niese lands on the disabled list because of his left knee discomfort.

 

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•Morning Briefing: Mets back in NL wild-card hunt

ST. LOUIS -- The New York Mets legitimately are in a wild-card race.

With an eventful win in the series opener at Busch Stadium, the Mets moved to within 3½ games of the St. Louis Cardinals for the National League’s second wild-card slot.

And the Mets now can feel good about sending Jacob deGrom (7-6, 2.73 ERA) to the mound opposite right-hander Carlos Martinez (11-7, 3.24) on Wednesday at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Terry Collins confirmed that Neil Walker will remain on paternity leave for the entire Cardinals series. Walker plans to rejoin the Mets on Friday at Citi Field. He welcomed a newborn daughter on Tuesday morning in Pittsburgh.

Jon Niese is expected to have surgery for his left knee injury, according to Terry Collins. Niese landed on the disabled list. Robert Gsellman will start on Sunday against the Phillies.

Yoenis Cespedes said he may have appeared gimpy during Tuesday's game because of a heel issue that comes and goes ever since his days in Cuba. His quadriceps and his heel are fine, he said.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Mets lineup for tonight...8/24.

Reyes - 3B
Granderson - CF
Cespedes - LF
Bruce - RF
Loney - 1B
Cabrera - SS
Johnson -2B
d'Arnaud - C
deGrom - P

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

So much for that warm/fuzzy vibe and glimmer of hope for the wild card...
I knew that 3 game win streak was just a tease...
Metsies revert back to suckage mode..
deGrom is now in a rut.
Ugghhh!!!

Jacob deGrom stumbles again as Mets fall 4½ back in wild-card chase

Cardinals hit 3 HRs off deGrom, break loose to beat Mets

Terry Collins said Jay Bruce's calf "knotted up" when he took right field in the first inning. The leg tightened after his double and was swollen. Meanwhile, Yoenis Cespedes twisted his right ankle during the game. As for Jacob deGrom's recent struggles, Collins said: "At this stage of the season the first thing you look at is fatigue."

How big of a rut has Jacob deGrom fallen into? His outing Wednesday marked the first time in franchise history that a Mets pitcher allowed a dozen hits in consecutive appearances, and the first time in deGrom's career he has allowed double-digit hits in consecutive starts. DeGrom was charged with five runs on 12 hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Cardinals.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

I'm not gonna call this a do or die game with still a month and change to go....but the fact is, it's pretty damn close.


• Morning Briefing: Season on the brink ... again


ST. LOUIS -- Are the New York Mets making their last stand on Thursday with Seth Lugo on the mound?

The Mets play the rubber game against the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:15 p.m. ET at Busch Stadium to complete their three-city trip.

They then will head home either 3½ or 5½ games behind the Cardinals for National League’s second wild-card spot, which underscores the game’s importance.

In his second career start, Lugo (0-2, 3.04 ERA) opposes right-handerAdam Wainwright (9-7, 4.71).

• Seth Lugo, once bedridden for three months after spinal surgery, pitching in for injury-riddled Mets

 

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Terry Collins believes there's merit giving Jacob deGrom extra rest before his next start. "To me it looks like he's getting run down," Collins said about deGrom, who has allowed a combined 13 runs and 25 hits in 9 2/3 innings over his last two starts. Collins said he will have to convene in New York with Sandy Alderson before making any decision.

Jay Bruce has some tightness with his right calf while pushing off, but suggested he has made progress since departing Wednesday's game. He aims to return to the lineup Friday.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Mets lineup for Thursday's 7:15 p.m. ET rubber game against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Jay Bruce (calf) is out of the lineup, but should be good to go on Friday in NY vs. Philly.


Reyes, 3B
Cabrera,SS
Cespedes,LF
Loney,1B
Granderson,RF
Flores,2B
De Aza, CF
R.Rivera, C
Lugo, P

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Amazin's stepped up, winning 10-6 to take the series 2-1....now 3.5 back in the WC.


•They're alive! Mets remain relevant with rubber-game win in St. Louis

•Wainwright loses and game, too, as Mets beat Cardinals