Game two is set to start tonight at 8:07PM. The Mets will have a tough task at the plate against Cy Young Award favorite, Jake Arrieta. Although Murphy has been carrying this offense in the post season, he will need some assistance from the middle of the lineup. Granderson has been great at the top of the lineup and D’Arnaud has provided power in key spots. But as game two approaches, I took a closer look at the production of the Mets middle of the lineup. Three players have not been good at the plate so far in October, but the strike outs are astonishing.
The combination of Yoenis Cespedes, David Wright and Lucas Duda have struck out 29 times in 61 at bats this post season. Strike outs are a part of the game especially facing the likes of Kershaw, Greinke, and Lester. But this team needs quality at bats to push runs across without the solo homerun. Murphy has hit 4 homeruns in the playoffs and they all are with no one on base. If the Mets are going to continue there playoff success, they will need these numbers to change drastically. Tough to ask against Arrieta, but Murphy could use some support. Here are the splits of the three players:
Cespedes – 10 K’s in 24 at bats
Wright – 8 K’s in 19 at bats
Duda – 11 K’s in 18 at bats
