While it once looked like the Mets and Marlins would dance for the worst record in the division, it would now take a truly LOLMets final three weeks for New York to finish last in the East. After continuing to throw cold water on the Phillies’ playoff hopes this weekend, the Mets have still been the best team in the division over the last few months. With the Marlins in town, they have a chance to continue to distance themselves from their dreadful June and build momentum towards 2019 (that’s how the narrative goes, right?). The Marlins are trying to do the same thing, because that is what every non-contender says it’s doing right now. This stat preview focuses on players who probably really could use a rebounding month to improve their mindset heading into the offseason.
Barraclough’s bump in the road: The last time Kyle Barraclough was mentioned in a stat preview, he had been moved to the closer role and was on pace for a dominating season. In the roughly two months since then, his season has taken a downward turn. Before the All-Star break, Barraclough had a 1.28 ERA, a 0.471 opponent OPS and a 2.04 K/BB ratio. In the second half, he has an 18.36 ERA, a 1.265 OPS and a 0.89 K/BB ratio. Granted, he has only thrown 8.1 innings since the break, but that is because he has spent time on the DL with a back injury. Barraclough’s July and August have been disappointing all the way around, so he will be looking to put that behind him with a strong final month.
Anderson’s fall off: The third incarnation of a Brian Anderson in the majors has put together an admiral rookie campaign, but like Barraclough, his second half has not been as good as his first. He has not been awful after the break, as despite his .226 AVG, he is walking at an 11.6% clip. His power numbers give some reason for concern, as he has only hit an extra base hit once every 20.3 plate appearances in the second half after hitting one every 12.5 plate appearances in the first half. His ISO in the first half was .140, but has only been barely half that at .084 in the second.
Quick Hits
The Good: JT Realmuto is still the runaway leader in catcher WARP (5.81).
The Bad: The Marlins have the fewest number of home runs with 116. The Mets have hit 147 (eighth fewest).
The Ugly: The Marlins have scored 15 fewer runs than any other team with 525. The Mets have scored the eighth fewest with 590.
Mets Check In
The Mets are on pace for 21 wild pitches. The next closest team is Washington with 35. The 17-pitch gap would be the highest between the first and second least wild pitches in the 21st century. No team has thrown fewer wild pitches over a full season in that time. The previous low? The 2002 Mets with 22.
Photo credit: Jasen Vinlove – USA Today Sports