Game Preview: Mets @ Braves →
The Mets took the opener last night thanks to a strong start by Steven Matz, a critical shot of power by Amed Rosario, a crushed baseball by Pete Alonso and then a Mets bullpen that didn't completely implode. Matz struggled early, like the first two innings, but then settled in dominated the rest of the night. Although Rosario's homer was more important for the direction of the game, Alonso's homer is going to be the one we all remember. His 454 ft, 118.3 mph shot was the farthest of his career so far and the hardest hit by any Met in the statcast era. Further, he joins only Aaron Judge and Stanton as players who have hit a ball both 450+ feet and at 118+ mph. Astounding!
Zack Wheeler could use a new start to the season, and hopefully he gets that tonight in Atlanta. Overall in the two games and 9.2 innings he's tossed he has allowed 11 runs from 10 hits and 8 walks. Seven of those walks and seven of those runs came from his last start on Sunday in a game where the Mets just fell apart before their offense found the Nationals bullpen. He made two starts against the Braves last year allowing 6 runs over 12.2 innings from 11 hits and 5 walks while striking out 11. The Braves have the following numbers against Wheeler:
Freddie Freeman 10-19, 3 2B, 2 HR, 10 BB, 5 K
Brian McCann 3-7, HR, 2 BB, 2 K
TYler FLowers 3-6, Hr
Ozzie Albies 0-6, K
Johan Camargo 1-6, BB, K
Ender Inciarte 2-6
Nick Markakis 2-5, BB
Josh Dondaldson 2-5, BB
Dansby Swanson 1-5, 2B
Ronald Acuna 0-3, 2 K
The Mets bats will get a look at the young righty Kyle Wright who has very little service time in big leagues. He's making his third start of the season and so far has allowed 5 runs over 10.1 innings from 7 hits and 6 walks. Three of the 7 hits he has allowed this year have been homers. Last year he was in the bullpen and pitched in only 4 games totaling 6.0 innings allowing 3 runs from 4 hits and 6 walks. Two of those four hits were homers. So in total, he has allowed 5 homers in 11 hits. One of his outings last year was against the Mets where he allowed 2 hits, both homers over 1.0 innings. It's important to note this almost definitely a statistical blip rather than a trend. The Mets have the following numbers against Wright:
Michael Conforto 1-1, HR
Todd Frazier 0-1, K (IL)
Dominic Smith 1-1, HR