MMO Game Thread: Mets vs Rays, 1:10 PM

The New York Mets and the Tampa Bay Rays will hook up to play a rubber match this afternoon at Tropicana Field after splitting the first two games of the series.

Bartolo Colon (10-10, 4.72) will try to clinch a series win for the Mets and he opposes right-hander Chris Archer (10-8, 2.54) for the Rays in the 1:10 PM showdown.

The Mets have hit a home run in 10 of their last 11 games and their 19 home runs in that span dating back to July 28, are the most in the National League and tied for the second-most in the majors.

Curtis Granderson is hitting .315 (28-89) with 18 runs scored, six doubles, six home runs and 14 RBI over his last 21 games dating to July 17.

Mets Starting Lineup

Curtis Granderson – DH
Daniel Murphy – 2B
Yoenis Cespedes – CF
Lucas Duda – 1B
Juan Uribe – 3B
Michael Conforto – LF
Wilmer Flores – SS
Kelly Johnson – RF
Kevin Plawecki – C

The Mets win streak was snapped last night but they can still take the series tonight as they face probably the toughest pitcher on the Rays staff, Chris Archer. Syndergaard had a rough night yesterday laboring through 4 innings, allowing 5 runs and the Mets just couldn’t recover. The offense kept it close early, but after scoring 4 runs in the first 2 innings, the Rays just shut down the bats.

Colon gets the nod for the Amazin’s today. He is 10-10 over 21 starts with a 4.72 ERA while tossing 127.1 innings. For the second time in three outings, he tossed 8.0 innings, allowing 1 ER continuing his season of being fantastic or terrible. The last time he faced the Rays was back in 2012 where he allowed 3 ER over 5.0 innings. The Rays have the following numbers against Colon:

Sizemore 3-16
Cabrera 1-14, 2B
Longoria 4-11, 2 2B
Jaso 0-8
Nava 2-8
Rivera 1-3, HR

The Mets bats will get a look at Chris Archer who is having a career year going 10-8 with a 2.54 ERA over 148.2 innings over 23 starts. Since his blow up start right before the All-Star game where he allowed 9 ER over 6.0 innings, he has allowed 7 runs, 5 earned in 27.0 innings over 4 games, 1.67 ERA. This will be his first time facing the Mets, but a few Mets have seen him: