Standings
1st. New York Mets- 70-39
2nd. Atlanta Braves- 64-46 (6.5 GB, +3.5 games in WC)
3rd. Philadelphia Phillies- 60-48 (9.5 GB, +0.5 games in WC)
4th. Miami Marlins- 49-59 (20.5 GB)
5th. Washington Nationals- 36-74 (34.5 GB)
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Recap
New York Mets
The Mets took two of three from the Nats on the road to start their week. Newly acquired Daniel Vogelbach blasted a grand slam in the fifth inning of a 9-5 win in the series finale. The former Pirate is hitting .375 with a 1.021 OPS including two home runs in 13 games with his new team.Â
New York then came home for a statement series against the rival Braves in which the Mets won four of five games, including both halves of a doubleheader. Jacob deGrom returned to Citi Field in the final game of the series and was dominant. In his first start at home in over a year, deGrom threw 5.1 innings while allowing two runs on one hit with a walk and 12 strikeouts.Â
Upcoming games- Six game homestand starting with three against the Reds followed by three with Philadelphia
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Atlanta Braves
The Braves split a quick two game series at home with the Phillies to begin their August schedule. They won the first contest by a final score of 13-1. Orlando Arcia and Marcell Ozuna both homered as Atlanta belted out 14 hits to sink the Phillies’ bullpen game. Meanwhile, Spencer Strider was excellent on the mound, going 6.2 and allowing one run on three hits and a walk with 13 strikeouts. It was the young right hander’s fourth start this season with double digit strikeouts.Â
Atlanta then suffered a major setback in New York, as they squandered a chance to finally unseat the Mets by dropping four of five. They did manage to win the second game 9-6 thanks to three total home runs from Eddie Rosario, Michael Harris II, and William Contreras. Rosario finished the day 2-4 with the home run and a double and collected 4 RBIs.Â
Upcoming games- Two in Boston followed by four in Miami
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Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies notched the only loss in their recent surge by splitting two games in Atlanta to start August. Nick Castellanos had his biggest hit of the season with a two-run bomb to dead center that gave Philadelphia a 3-1 lead in the top of the eighth before Seranthony Dominguez, Jose Alvarado, and newly re-acquired David Robertson shut the door out of the bullpen. Their efforts preserved seven innings of one run ball from Zack Wheeler.
Philadelphia then took full advantage of a four-game series at home with the lowly Nats and swept out Washington, launching a franchise record 14 home runs in the series. They put an exclamation point on the series with a 13-1 win on Sunday that featured a two-home run game from rookie Darick Hall. Rhys Hoskins homered in all four games of the series, the first three of which in the first inning of each of the first three games.
Upcoming games- Three at home with Miami followed by three in New York with the Mets
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Miami Marlins
The Marlins dropped two of three to the Reds at home to start the week. They avoided the sweep with a 3-0 victory on Wednesday thanks to a complete game shutout from Sandy Alcantara. It was Alcantara’s fourth complete game of the season and second complete game shutout. No other pitcher in the majors this season has more than one complete game.Â
Miami then dropped two of three on the road to the Cubs and avoided the sweep with yet another 3-0 shutout, this time thanks to seven innings from Jesus Luzardo. The 24-year-old allowed just one hit and one walk in the game and struck out 6. Jacob Stallings and Peyton Burdick took care of the offense with a two-run homer and a solo shot respectively.Â
Upcoming games- Three in Philadelphia followed by four at home with Atlanta
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Washington Nationals
The Nats dropped two of three to the Mets at home in their first series in August, with the only win coming on the day they traded Juan Soto. Luis Garcia totaled three RBIs on a double and a homer to power the offense to a 5-1 win. Cory Abbott started the game and went five shutout innings while allowing two hits and two walks.
Washington was then victimized by the Phillies in a four-game sweep on the road. The only game the Nats were in was a 5-4 loss on Thursday that was shortened to five innings thanks to rain. Patrick Corbin surrendered six runs and failed to make it out of the first inning on Saturday, the second time in his last three starts he was yanked before the end of the opening frame.Â
