The Mets could not have asked for a road trip to Phoenix at a better time. Not only are the Mets (10-4) escaping the late April breeze of New York City in favor of Arizona’s warmth, but they head to Phoenix holding the best record in baseball. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks (5-8) sit in last place […]
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Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
The Mets could not have asked for a road trip to Phoenix at a better time.
Not only are the Mets (10-4) escaping the late April breeze of New York City in favor of Arizona’s warmth, but they head to Phoenix holding the best record in baseball. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks (5-8) sit in last place in the NL West.
This matchup – at least on paper – is one of the more one-sided series the Mets have been on the plus end of in recent memory. Although the Mets “only” took two of three from the Diamondbacks last weekend at Citi Field, both Mets wins were blowouts. In the Mets home opener, Francisco Lindor‘s two home runs were part of a four-homer afternoon for the Mets in their 10-3 win. Although Arizona pulled out a 3-2 win on Saturday in what was mostly a pitcher’s duel until the last few innings, the Mets bounced back with a 5-0 shutout victory in Sunday’s series finale.
For most of their stay in Queens, Arizona’ offense looked lost – which frankly, was not all that surprising considering the number of unfamiliar names in the lineup, not to mention their horrid batting averages. In fact, by the end of Friday’s game, Arizona’s 1 through 5 hitters all had season batting averages of sub-.200. The lone bright spots for this club? Sergio Alcantara, who hit the go-ahead two-run home run on Saturday, and Seth Beer, who went 3-for-3 at the plate in that same contest.
Meanwhile, the Mets have remained hot ever since facing the D’Backs. They followed up that series by facing another NL West team, although one much more formidable – the San Francisco Giants. In a matchup of two of the NL’s best teams thus far, the Mets took control, winning three of four, including a doubleheader sweep on Tuesday.
In the series, Max Scherzer flirted with a no-hitter, Francisco Lindor continued his phenomenal season at the plate, and Carlos Carrasco threw one of the best games of his Mets career. Following the Mets 5-2 victory on Thursday, they took a four game lead over the second-place Braves in the NL East. For this early in the season, four games is a rather substantial difference. The Mets are rolling, and after losing a couple of players to the IL due to COVID, the lineup is fully back together and playing fantastic baseball. Not to mention, the Mets pitching staff also ranks second in all of MLB with a 2.52 ERA.
Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Friday, April 22, 2022: LHP David Peterson (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Zac Gallen (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
David Peterson‘s has pitched just two games in 2022 thus far, and his lone start came in his last appearance, also versus Arizona. In the spot start, Peterson was magnificent, tossing 4 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and two walks. The lefty also struck out four Arizona batters in the Mets win. Peterson’s only other pitching appearance this season was also quite impressive, as he threw four shutout innings in relief against the Phillies on April 11.
Zac Gallen made his season debut last week against the Mets and should come into Friday’s start with a sense of confidence as he pitched very well against the Mets his first time around. On April 16, Gallen threw four shutout innings, allowing just two hits and a walk. Although his strikeout total was low (2), his ability to keep runs off the board was enough as Arizona came out on top with the eventual 3-2 victory. Still only in his age-26 season, Gallen’s best season thus far was the 2020 pandemic-shortened season, when he posted a 2.75 ERA en route to a ninth-place finish in NL Cy Young voting.
Saturday, April 23, 2022: TBD vs. TBD
Could be Trevor Williams that takes the ball for the Mets.
Sunday, April 24, 2022: RHP Tylor Megill (2-0, 2.20 ERA) vs. LHP Madison Bumgarner (0-1, 1.38 ERA)
Even after a shaky first few innings in his most recent start, Tylor Megill remains one of the best surprises of the Mets roster thus far. Over his first two starts of 2022, Megill threw 10 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing six hits and walking no batters. The fact that he did this all while filling in the rotation for Jacob deGrom makes it all the more impressive. Last week against the Giants, Megill allowed his first runs of the season, but he settled down from innings four through six to end his start on a high note.
Madison Bumgarner may not be the ultra-elite pitcher he once was as a San Francisco Giant, but the former World Series MVP has still dominated for an otherwise lackluster Arizona rotation. Bumgarner has thrown two quality starts in his first three outings of the season, although he remains with a goose egg in the win column in part due to the D’Backs lowly lineup. But despite taking the loss on April 19 against the Nationals, Bumgarner still pitched five effective innings, only allowing two runs (none earned) and striking out five batters. However, he did allow four men to reach base via walk.
Don’t be surprised to see many Mets fans make the trip to Phoenix this weekend to see a possible Mets sweep. With the team on a tear to open 2o22 and the D’Backs going nowhere this season, New Yorkers may come close to outnumbering D’Back fans in the stands. Here’s how to put this matchup in perspective. Of the two pitching matchups already set, the Diamondbacks arguably have the better pitcher in both games. Even so, Arizona would be lucky to win one game this series, as the Mets lineup is far, far superior to the one Arizona will trot out at Chase Field.
This Mets team is something special. By weekend’s end, they’ll add another three wins to their already stellar record and head into their three-game set with the Cardinals as winners of their first five series of the season.
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