Teheran outduels deGrom as Mets fall to Braves

After a heady start to this four game series in Atlanta, taking the first two games, the Mets got Vargas-ed Saturday evening but had to enter the finale feeling good, with the defending Cy Young Award winner taking the hill for them. Unfortunately, Jacob deGrom suffered his second consecutive non-quality start, while Julio Teheran continued his general mastery of the Mets, out dueling deGrom early in a game the bullpen once again let get out of hand late.

J.D. Davis got the evening off to a solid start for the Mets, launching a solo home run in the second inning. However, Nick Markakis answered immediately, leading off the bottom of the second with a solo shot of his own. The Braves pushed a cross their second run in the third inning, as Ozzie Albies singled and stole second before coming around on an RBI single by Ronald Acuna, Jr.

deGrom showed flashes—striking out nine batters—but it was a slog all night, as he also walked an uncharacteristic four. Josh Donaldson led off the fifth with a home run to push the lead to 3-1. deGrom worked his way in and out of trouble thereafter, but after 114 pitches through five innings, was clearly done.

The Mets bullpen could not keep it close, as all three Mets relievers—Justin Wilson, Paul Sewald and Jeurys Familia—surrendered runs. Justin Wilson allowed a Charlie Culberson two-run home run to make the score 5-1, and the Braves tacked on another against Paul Sewald in the seventh.

Teheran cruised through six innings, making the Mets look listless and the game hopeless. However, the Braves’ tack-on runs really seemed to hurt as the team tried to rally in the eighth against Jonny Venters. Four hits from Wilson Ramos, Jeff McNeil, Amed Rosario and Keon Broxton cut the lead to 6-3, and brought up Brandon Nimmo as the tying run. Nimmo struck out, to end the Mets’ final threat. Jeurys Familia gave one of those back three pitches into the bottom of the eighth to squelch any momentum the Mets had, as they went quietly in the ninth, allowing the Braves to secure the series split.

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Win Probability Added

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What’s WPA?

Big winners: J.D. Davis, +10.5%
Big losers: Wilson Ramos, -11.1%, Jacob deGrom, -11.0%, Justin Wilson, -10.3%
Total pitcher WPA: -22.9%
Total batter WPA: -27.1%
Teh aw3s0mest play: J.D. Davis solo home run in the top of the second, +11.0%
Teh sux0rest play: Nick Markakis solo home run in the bottom of the second, -11.1%