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On Friday night, the Mets conspired to a 13-4 routing of the Pirates, including a fateful sixth inning that saw some rather impressive numbers put up by the Mets: they sent 13 batters to the plate, and scored 10 runs. (You heard that right, a 10 run bottom-of-the-sixth.) Pirates pitching issued four walks and hit one batter in that sixth inning; three singles were hit by the Mets, along with two home runs, also in that telltale inning.
The Mets offered plenty of fireworks via the longball. Pete Alonso hit a three-run blast in that sixth inning, for his 16th of the year. And then finally, Francisco Lindor, adding the cherry to the sundae, hit his 10th homer of the year, a grand slam to put the Mets up 13-4. Jonathan Villar also homered in the third and seventh innings, for his seventh and eighth of the year.
Lindor’s grand slam was an interesting sight to see, as his demeanor seemed emotionless as he rounded the bases. Lindor did not start the year off quite as expected; through 195 plate appearances over April and May, he posted a .595 OPS.
“I was just listening to see if I was going to get booed...I work as hard as I can every single day....I’m nowhere near my best. So when I do have a little bit of success, I just want to sit back and listen and feed off the crowd again when they cheer,” Lindor said in a post-game conference. “It gives me that extra motivation to push forward.”
And perhaps he is rediscovering his confidence, as he has picked up the pop in his bat lately; in 150 plate appearances in June, and nine games so far in July, he’s up to a .777 OPS in that time frame. In his last seven games, he’s 7-for-21 (.333) with a .500 on-base percentage. Friday’s grand slam was Lindor’s tenth home run; this was also the first grand slam hit by the Mets this season, so far.
Pitchers with an EDGE
Brad Keller vs. Indians
7 2/3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 9 K, 25% CSW
In Keller’s longest outing of the year, the sinker was his best pitch, good for nine called strikes and three swinging strikes. In this extended 114 pitch outing, he threw 67 total strikes. His nine strikeouts are also a season high.
Triston McKenzie vs. Royals
7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K, 28% CSW
In this one-hit shutout, 54 of McKenzie’s 85 pitches were fastballs; he was able to get nine called strikes, and seven whiffs on that pitch. He induced 12 swings and misses overall, and fanned nine batters, the highest since his 10 punchouts on May 31. Like his opponent, Keller, this was also McKenzie’s longest outing of the year. Both pitchers walked away with a no-decision, however, as Cleveland walked off on a Bobby Bradley home run.
Wade Miley vs. Brewers
8 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 29% CSW
Miley did not miss a whole lot of bats in this start. However, no runs crossed the plate as he successfully shut out a hot-hitting Brewers team that made plenty of hard contact against the southpaw. For the bats he did miss, the cutter accounted for 14 called strikes, contributing to a 31% CSW on that pitch specifically.
Hitters with an EDGE
Tim Anderson vs. Orioles
3-for-5, double, 2 RBI
The shortstop has been on fire at the plate lately, not only making effective contact, but also exercising some keen plate discipline. His past 12 plate appearances have looked like this: single, walk, walk, single, single, double, single, walk, strikeout, single, single, double, strikeout. In his last seven games, he’s slashing .484/.529/.613 over 34 plate appearances -- and is currently on a 10-game hitting streak.
Patrick Wisdom vs. Cardinals
2-for-3, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI
Batting second, and playing third base in this game, the 29-year-old smashed his 12th home run of the year in the seventh inning, off Junior Fernandez. Wisdom has a .973 OPS over 120 plate appearances, including 21 runs scored, 23 RBI, and two stolen bases.
Shohei Ohtani vs. Mariners
1-for-4, HR, 1 R, 1 RBI
Yet another evergreen appearance by Mr. Ohtani in a baseball column. He absolutely demolished an 88.9 MPH Marco Gonzales sinker in the third inning for Ohtani’s 33rd -- and major league leading -- home run of the year. The homer traveled 463 feet at 116.5 MPH; Ohtani now has four 116+ MPH home runs in 2021, the most in Major League Baseball this year. This was also the hardest-hit home run in T-Mobile Park history, in the Statcast era.
Mitch Haniger vs. Angels
2-for-4, Grand Slam, 1 R, 4 RBI, 1 BB
Haniger broke a tie ballgame with two outs, in the bottom of the eighth inning, by taking Jose Quintana deep with the bases loaded. This was Haniger’s 20th home run of the year. The 30-year-old is slashing .256/.309/.491 over 362 plate appearances.
Priority Pickup
Omar Narvaez (Available in 41% of Yahoo Leagues)
The Brewers catcher is arguably an All-Star snub, as he’s been having a monster of a first half. As of Friday night, Narváez ranks second in the majors as a catcher in batting average (.316), on-base percentage (.414) and OPS (.912), and is fourth amongst catchers in slugging (.497). The 29-year-old is having a wonderful bounce-back 2021 season: he’s hitting .302 with a .398 on-base percentage and eight home runs and 26 RBI in 241 plate appearances.
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Closing Time
Heath Hembree vs. Brewers
1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (5th Save)
Hembree struck out the side for a perfect ninth inning, nabbing his fifth save of the year, and confirming a 2-0 shutout victory for the Reds. The 32-year-old has now converted five out of six save opportunities.
Hansel Robles vs. Tigers
1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2K (8th Save)
Robles was given the task of a five-out save, as he was brought in to pitch in the eighth inning after Robbie Grossman belted a two-run homer that threatened the Twins’ lead. Smooth sailing for the 30-year-old, who only yielded a single to Niko Goodrum. That’s nine out of 11 save opportunities converted so far.
Ian Kennedy vs. Athletics
1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (15th Save)
A simple three-out save for the 36-year-old, who made short work of the bottom part of the A’s order to seal the deal on a victory for the Rangers. He’s been given 16 save opportunities this year, and successfully converted 15 of them.
Jake McGee vs. Nationals
1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K (18th Save)
The 34-year-old’s 18th save out of 20 opportunities came as he was brought into pitch in the ninth inning; he gave up a hit to Trea Turner and a walk to Juan Soto, but was able to seal the victory for the Giants.
Mark Melancon vs. Rockies
1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (27th save)
The major league saves leader notched number 27 on Friday, by pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning against the Rockies. Liam Hendriks of the White Sox is next in saves leaders, with 22 saves on the year.
Joakim Soria vs. Dodgers
1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (3rd save)
The 37-year-old veteran retired Chris Taylor, Gavin Lux, and AJ Pollock to lock down a win for the Diamondbacks on Friday night. He’s now converted three out of four save opportunities available.
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Saturday’s Matchup of the Day
Max Fried (5-5, 4.66 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 67K) vs. Trevor Rogers (7-5, 2.22 ERA, 118 K)
Max Fried hit a pinch-hit walk-off single in the 10th inning on July 4, and then took the mound the next day where he pitched five innings and gave up six runs off seven hits. He’s struggled with injuries (a hamstring and an issue with a blister) and is still trying to find a consistent groove. He last faced Miami on June 12, and gave up three runs off five hits over six innings. Trevor Rogers has had a solid year so far for the Marlins: the 23-year-old southpaw posted a 2.73 ERA in 29 2/3 innings pitched in June, enough to earn him a selection for the All-Star game next week. He last faced the Braves on April 15, and yielded two runs off three hits over five innings.
American League Quick Hits
Rays placed INF Mike Brosseau on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to July 8, with a right oblique strain...Red Sox placed INF/OF Danny Santana on the 10-day injured list with a left quad strain...Rangers placed LHP John King on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to July 7, with left shoulder inflammation...Marvin Gonzalez (hamstring) is out of the Red Sox’ starting lineup on Friday...Robbie Grossman (finger) was back in the Tigers’ starting lineup on Friday...Carlos Correa is out of the Astros’ starting lineup for Friday’s series opener against the Yankees due to illness...Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Friday that Mitch Garver (groin) could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week...Jake Cave (back) could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week...Miguel Andújar (wrist) remains out of the Yankees’ lineup on Friday...John Means (shoulder) yielded four runs over three innings on Friday in a minor-league rehab start with Double-A Bowie...Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said late Friday that Kenta Maeda was fatigued after completing five scoreless innings against the Tigers.
National League Quick Hits
Kris Bryant (hamstring) remained out of the Cubs’ lineup Friday...Cubs placed LHP Brad Wieck on the 10-day injured list with an irregular heartbeat...Tyler O’Neill (illness) was back in the Cardinals’ lineup Friday...Cardinals transferred RHP Carlos Martinez to the 60-day injured list...Carlos Carrasco (hamstring) could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week...Ozzie Albies (neck) is back in the Braves’ starting lineup for Friday’s game against the Marlins...Zach Thompson has been scratched from his scheduled start on Friday against the Braves due to illness...Brandon Nimmo (shoulder) is back in the Mets’ starting lineup for Friday’s game against the Pirates...Pirates placed RHP Duane Underwood Jr. on the 10-day injured list with right side discomfort...Steven Brault will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Low-A Bradenton on Sunday...Adam Duvall (illness) is back in the Marlins’ starting lineup on Friday against the Braves...Mike Soroka (Achilles) underwent successful surgery to repair his torn Achilles...C.J. Cron (head) was back in the Rockies’ starting lineup for Friday’s game against the Padres...Padres placed LHP Drew Pomeranz on the 10-day injured list with left forearm inflammation...Padres placed LHP Blake Snell on the 10-day injured list with gastroenteritis...Austin Nola (knee) will start a minor-league rehab assignment on Friday with Triple-A El Paso...Padres manager Jayce Tinger told reporters Friday that it’s “unlikely” Yu Darvish will pitch in next week’s All-Star Game...Victor Caratini (thumb) was out of the Padres’ lineup for Friday’s game against the Rockies...Giants placed C Buster Posey on the 10-day injured list with a left thumb contusion...Giants activated RHP Logan Webb from the 10-day injured list...LaMonte Wade Jr. was been scratched from the Giants’ starting lineup on Friday due to a hand strain...Buster Posey said Friday that he will not attend next week’s All-Star Game at Coors Field in Colorado...Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday that an MRI on Clayton Kershaw‘s injured left forearm revealed “just inflammation.”...Dodgers placed RHP Jimmy Nelson on the 10-day injured list with a left lumbar strain...Tommy La Stella (thumb) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Friday with Triple-A Sacramento...Nationals activated OF Andrew Stevenson from the 10-day injured list; optioned him to Triple-A Rochester...Yan Gomes exited Friday’s game against the Giants in the second inning due to an apparent injury....Kyle Freeland made an early exit from Friday’s start against the Padres due to a blister.
