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Dedniel Nunez Struggles Continue as Mets Fall to Braves
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- Dedniel Nunez Struggles Continue as Mets Fall to Braves
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Bullpen Breaks Down Again
Dedniel Nunez walked off the field after a seventh inning that collapsed in a hurry. He entered the game with the Mets trailing by just one run, but he left with the deficit blown wide open. According to reports, he allowed three runs while retiring only one batter. Two of those runs came on home runs. This wasn't the return fans hoped for after his Tommy John surgery (which cost him most of the previous season).
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The loss to the Braves at Truist Park was ugly and final. The Mets fell 6-3, ending a series where they couldn't secure a win. This outing was just another bump in a rough road for the relief corps. The team has traded away key arms like Luke Weaver and A.J. Minter , leaving holes that are hard to fill. Now Devin Williams sits on the injured list with a shoulder strain. The bullpen is thin, and the pressure is high.
It's not just Nunez who struggled. The offense failed to provide support. The Mets were shut out on Monday and lost in Pittsburgh before this game. A runner didn't reach scoring position for them until the ninth inning. Three solo homers accounted for all their runs. This lack of production is a major problem for a team trying to climb the standings.
How do you win games when your middle relief gives up three runs and your offense can't put a runner in scoring position until the final frame?
Thornton's Night Gets Harder
Rookie starter Zac Thornton tried to keep the game close, but the Braves had other plans. Over six innings, he surrendered seven hits, one walk, and three earned runs. The New York Post reported that Lane Thomas smashed a high cutter over the left field fence to score the game's first run. That was the third homer Thornton has given up over his last four starts. The hard contact is a trend that worries the front office.
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Thornton has looked good on paper with a 2.78 ERA, but the advanced numbers tell a different story. The New York Post notes that his expected ERA sits at 4.63, which is much higher than his actual mark. He has faced a 39.8 percent hard-hit rate with an average exit velocity of 89.3 MPH. These stats suggest regression is coming. Asking him to keep up this pace might be unrealistic for a rookie facing a tough lineup.
The Braves scored early and often to take control. Ronald Acuña Jr. led off the third inning with a walk, setting up a run that made it 2-0. Later, Acuña drove in a run with a single to give Atlanta a 3-0 lead. The Mets could not answer back until very late in the game. Carson Benge finally doubled in the ninth, but it was too little, too late.
The Mets have shown flashes of life, but consistency is missing. They averaged 8.3 runs in their six victories on this trip, yet they couldn't score enough on this night. The team has found a closer in Kodai Senga , which is a positive sign for the future. However, the middle relief and starting depth remain shaky.
According to reports, the team has looked competent on offense since August 1, leading baseball in home runs during that span. They went 6-1 in their last seven games before this loss. This recent surge gives them hope, but the bullpen can't keep giving up runs in the seventh and eighth innings. If Nunez and others can't find their form, the season could slip away fast.
