JULY 18, 2021 • NYTIMES.COM
With deGrom and Lindor Ailing, the First-Place Mets Are in a Bind Jacob deGrom was sent to the injured list on Sunday with forearm tightness while shortstop Francisco Lindor could miss considerable time wit...
Gregory Polanco - Notches steal in loss Polanco went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Mets.
Impact Polanco drew a walk and stole second in the first inning before scoring on a Taijuan Walker error. The 29-year-old outfielder has gone 2-for-7 with a pair of walks in two games since he returned from hip inflammation. He'll look to build upon a .202/.284/.364 slash line while serving as Pittsburgh's primary right field. Polanco has added nine home runs, 23 RBI, 24 runs scored and nine stolen bases this season.
JULY 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Richard Rodríguez - Blows save, takes loss Rodriguez (4-2) took the loss Sunday versus the Mets. He allowed two runs on two hits and struck out one in one innings while blowing a save chance.
Impact Rodriguez had posted three saves and a win in his last five outings, but he wasn't able to protect a one-run lead Sunday. Michael Conforto hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the ninth inning, and Pittsburgh failed to get Rodriguez off the hook for the loss. The right-hander is now 13-for-16 in save chances this season while pitching to a 2.65 ERA and 0.80 WHIP across 37.1 innings.
JULY 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
JT Brubaker - Takes no-decision Sunday Brubaker allowed four runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 3.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Mets on Sunday.
Impact Brubaker was spotted a six-run lead after the first inning, but he gave a large chunk of it back and wouldn't have qualified for the win due to the short start. The right-hander has allowed at least four runs in each of his three July starts. For the year, he's posted a 4.68 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 93:22 K:BB through 92.1 innings. He's projected for a tough start in San Francisco next weekend.
JULY 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Dominic Smith - Three hits in win Smith went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 7-6 win over Pittsburgh.
Impact Smith got the Mets on the board with an RBI single in the third inning. His double in the sixth also led to a run as Jeff McNeil scored on Gregory Polanco's throwing error. The three-hit effort was Smith's first since July 3. The 26-year-old is slashing a modest .254/.321/.392 with nine home runs, 38 RBI, 34 runs scored and two stolen bases through 324 plate appearances this year.
JULY 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Travis Blankenhorn - Homers as pinch hitter Blankenhorn hit a three-run home run in his only at-bat in Sunday's 7-6 win over Pittsburgh.
Impact The 24-year-old pinch hit for pitcher Drew Smith in the fourth inning and delivered a three-run shot to get the Mets back in the contest. Blankenhorn has only seen 14 plate appearances this season, although he's provided a homer, four RBI, two doubles and three runs scored. He'll likely continue to serve in a bench role while Francisco Lindor (oblique) is on the injured list.
JULY 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Michael Conforto - Completes comeback Sunday Conforto went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Sunday's 7-6 win over Pittsburgh.
Impact The Mets trailed for much of the game, but Conforto's ninth-inning blast completed their comeback. The outfielder has homered twice in his last four games, and he has four long balls on the year. He's added a paltry .207/.347/.328 slash line with 21 RBI, 17 runs scored and nine doubles through 213 plate appearances.
JULY 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
