First pitch for this game is set for 8PM, with the game being televised on TBS. Noah Syndergaard (14-9, 2.60 ERA, 218 SO) gets the start for the Mets, he will be opposed by Madison Baumgarner (15-9, 2.74 ERA, 251 SO). Mets got home field advantage for this game by finishing with a 87-75 record. As for the Giants, they finished with the exact same 87-75 record. Home field went to the Mets, because they had won the regular season series, taking four of the seven games between the two teams. This marks the 2nd ever meeting between the two teams in the playoffs, the last time they played the Mets beat the Giants in four games in the 2000 NLDS. Winner of this wild card game moves on to face the Chicago Cubs in the National League Divisional Series.
For the Giants, even though it is an even number year, it has to be a little dishearting to be playing in the wild card game, considering that before the all-star break they had the best record in Baseball. Since the game, they've had the 3rd worst record in the sport, going just 30-42 down the stretch. The biggest thing that the Giants have going for them right now is the man they have going to the mound tonight. Everybody knows that Madison Baumgarner is one of the best in the game. Come playoff time, the guy is almost unhitable. Lifetime in the playoffs, Baumgarner is 7-3 with a 2.14 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 88.1 innings in 14 games. He was damn near perfect in the Giants last title run in 2014. During that year, he went 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA and won MVP of both the NLCS and World Series. The Wild Card Game will be nothing new for him, either, considering he pitched nine shutout innings in that environment against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2014, striking out 10 along the way. Lets not forget that the Giants can hit too. Buster Posey, Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford all drove in over 80 runs for the Giants this year. Belt lead the team in home runs with 17 during the season. So they can provide some offensive support for Mad Bum.
The guy starting for the Mets is no slouch. Noah Syndergaard is the last ace left standing. COnsidering what the Mets started with its a little surprising Thor is the only one left. Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz to season-ending injuries, and Zach Wheeler never threw a single pitch in the Majors this year. Yet here the Mets are and Thor is a big reason for that. He finished the year going 14-9 with a 2.60 ERA and 218 Strikeouts. Thor is also 5-3 lifetime against the Giants. So Syndergaard knows how to handle his own against San Francisco. The pitching has been solid this year, just look at the back end of the pen. Jeurys Familia had 51 saves this year, to set the club record for saves in a season. If Syndergaard can get through seven innings, it'll lead to Addison Reed in the 8th and Familia in the 9th. Oh yeah and the Mets have a little bit of pop in offense. Curtis Granderson and Yoenis Cespedes both hit 30 home runs for the year. Cespedes was the only Mets hitter to drive in more than 80 runs, he finished with 86. Asdrubel Cabrera came in second with 69 RBI. The Mets will have to try and scratch out something because they are slightly behind the Giants as far as having a balanced attack is concerned.
Yes Baumgarner has been dominant, more so in the playoffs. This time however, it won't end well for the Giants. Mad Baum got knocked around when the Mets played them in San Francisco last time. The Mets are at home, winning 44 games in front of the Citi Field Crowd. Oh yeah the Mets are playing red hot baseball and they keep that going. They get the job done and give us a rematch of last years NLCS!
Winner: New York Mets!
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