The New York Mets will hope to turn their bad run of play around in game two of a three-game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers. New York has been one of the worst teams in the MLB since the All-Star break, they’ve lost six of their last ten games and dropped to below .500 for the first time of the season with a loss to the Giants. The Dodgers have won nine of their last ten to tighten the lead in the NL West to just 2.5 games at 76-46 on the season.
The Dodgers came into the season favorites to repeat as World Series champions, they’ve had a solid season and come in hitting .247 as a team, 12th in the MLB, and scoring 5.23 runs per game ranking third in the MLB in scoring offense. First baseman Max Muncy is in the midst of a career season, leading the Dodgers with 28 home runs and 75 RBIs. Veteran third baseman Justin Turner just continues to turn out productive seasons leading the team hitting .291 with 21 homers.
The freshly acquired Max Scherezer will get the ball for the Dodgers, he’s having another dominant year going 10-4 with a 2.69 ERA and sub-1 WHIP in 127.1 innings this season. Scherzer has had three starts for the Dodgers, pitching 16 combined innings allowing just four runs and striking out 23 in his limited action in LA. Scherezer dominated the better part of a decade with the Nationals and was acquired along with Trae Turner at the deadline.
The Mets added Javy Baez at the deadline, but his arrival has unfortunately not helped the offense that has been one of the worst in the majors this year. The Mets are hitting .234 as a team, ranking 24th in the MLB, and are scoring just 3.78 runs per game which ranks 28th in the league. They’ve especially struggled with runners in scoring position and outside of Pete Alonso, the teams’ leader in homeruns, RBIs, and batting average in eligible players, have underperformed.
New York has been bit by the injury bug, especially in the rotation, this season with MVP candidate Jacob DeGrom and Noah Sydergaard on the 60-Day IL. The 41-year-old Rich Hill, who the Mets acquired from the Rays shortly before the deadline, will get the start and he’s hopeful to get back on track as he’s posted a 4.98 ERA and 1.38 WHIP, broth of which would be near career-highs in his five appearances since being traded.
