The last time we saw Spencer Strider, he wasn’t too happy about his performance against the first-place Mets. It was the shortest start of his career — lasting just 2.2 innings — in which he allowed four earned runs on four hits and a couple of walks. However, Strider didn’t beat around the bush after the game when asked about the Mets’ approach at the plate.
Spencer Strider on his outing versus the Mets: "A lot of weird hits. They seem to be having a lot of luck right now offensively. That’s great. It’s August. (We’ll) see what things are like in October.”
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) August 8, 2022
Strider on why the Mets are so good at grinding out ABs: "I don’t know. It helps when they’re getting calls and 1-1 counts turn to 2-1 counts instead of 1-2 counts, and stuff like that. When your BABIP is .330, .340 as a team, it’s tough to get quick innings and get quick outs.”
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) August 8, 2022
If I had to go out on a limb, I would bet Strider would like to have those comments back. Not because he was completely incorrect in what he said, but sometimes emotions can get the best of you after a frustrating outing.
The umpire certainly made some horrid calls behind the plate, and the Mets strung together several soft hits to rally against Strider. But credit must be given for the way they worked counts and continuously put the ball in play, especially against Strider, who is a strikeout maestro.
The Mets didn’t dominate as the scoreline might indicate, but it never hurts to give your opponent a tip of the cap, even when they might not deserve it. Strider’s comments will surely add heat to an already fiery division rivalry, and it can be assumed emotions will be running high for both sides when they take the field at Truist Park tonight.
For the Mets, they will send Carlos Carrasco to the mound, who has been excellent of late. He’s allowed just eight earned runs over his last seven starts — good for a 1.69 ERA. However, the Braves were able to scratch across three runs over six innings the last time they saw him at Citi Field.
It should be a fantastic matchup to begin a critical series for the Braves, who enter Monday’s play 5.5 games back of the Mets. If they can’t figure out a way to win at least three of these next four games against New York, it’ll be almost impossible to imagine them digging themselves out of this hole and winning their fifth consecutive NL East title.
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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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