The Mets came into Wednesday night’s game needing the impossible to happen to keep their season alive. In a blowout victory, headlined by a masterful Jacob deGrom and an offensive onslaught that was overshadowed by the Mets being eliminated from playoff contention.
Jacob deGrom is the first @Mets pitcher to go 7+ IP in 8 straight starts since Al Leiter in 1998.
Is he your NL Cy Young? pic.twitter.com/nQ0OIFH4N5
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) September 26, 2019
Jacob deGrom sealed his lock for the NL Cy Young award with his seven shutout innings. He struck out seven and only allowed three baserunners. deGrom finished his season with 23 consecutive scoreless innings and a 2.43 ERA. His last two months of the season have pushed him up the ranks as Hyun-Jin Ryu has not pitched nearly as well as he did early in the season.
Alonso Moves Closer
Pete Alonso blasted a 437-foot home deep in to the left-center field bleachers for his 51st home run. The home run moved him just one behind Aaron Judge for the most by a rookie. Alonso will now have four games to tie and potentially break the rookie home run record. The pitchers he will face though are no pushovers. Alonso will face Jordan Yamamoto, Dallas Keuchel, Mike Foltynewicz and Mike Soroka.
https://twitter.com/Starting9/status/1177011368542834688
The Mets piled on 10 runs against the Marlins staff, but they lost Jeff McNeil for the rest of the season. He was hit in his wrist with a pitch and it resulted in the wrist being fractured. Despite the season coming to an end, the Mets certainly would have wanted to keep McNeil healthy through the end. In the two prior seasons they have suffered big injuries at the end of the year. Michael Conforto in 2017 and Brandon Nimmo in 2018.
Unfortunately, the Mets were eliminated from postseason contention after the Brewers won. The Mets magnificent second half should not go over looked. Coming out of the All-Star break we all knew the Mets needed a miracle to get back in the race. They went 36-20 in the second half and showed they are able to contend with the top teams in baseball. In 2020, they have to show they can play well from game 1 through game 162.
What Does The Future Look Like?
The Mets finally have a young core that will be in place next season. With the exception of Zack Wheeler, their entire starting rotation is under contract next season. If the Mets can solidify their bullpen, they will put themselves in a prime opportunity to contend for a division crown. Resigning Wheeler also would not hurt either.
The biggest questions lies in management. Mickey Callaway helped lead this team out of the gutter, but he was part of the reason why they played poorly. Callaway wants to stay, but in the end Brodie Van Wagenen will decide if he gets the boot.