Sunday, June 11, 2017 • 1:35 p.m.
SunTrust Park • Atlanta, GA
RHP Seth Lugo (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Jaime García (2-4, 3.21)
SNY • WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050 AM

After dropping the first game of the series on Friday night, the Mets swept the doubleheader against the Braves in convincing fashion. In the first game, Robert Gsellman looked more like the pitcher we saw in 2016 as he notched his third straight quality start and Yoenis Cespedes returned with an exclamation point knocking in four insurance runs in the top of the ninth with a grand slam. In the evening, Steven Matz returned and he was dominant over seveninnings as the Mets won 8-1.

The Mets are 3-2 on their road trip and are 4-6 in their last 10 games. New York swept a doubleheader yesterday for the first time since June 18, 2013 also at Atlanta. New York is 6-10 in its last 16 road games and 13-14 overall. The Mets are 4-11 in day games.

METS LINEUP

  1. Michael Conforto – LF
  2. Juan Lagares – CF
  3. Wilmer Flores – 1B
  4. Jay Bruce – RF
  5. Neil Walker – 2B
  6. Asdrúbal Cabrera – SS
  7. René Rivera – C
  8. José Reyes – 3B
  9. Seth Lugo – RHP

BRAVES LINEUP

  1. Ender Inciarte – CF
  2. Brandon Phillips – 2B
  3. Nick Markakis – RF
  4. Matt Kemp – LF
  5. Matt Adams – 1B
  6. Tyler Flowers – C
  7. Johan Camargo – 3B
  8. Dansby Swanson – SS
  9. Jaime Garcia – P

Seth Lugo makes his return to the rotation today. He was a key part in the Mets rise to the postseason at the end of last year and was one of the best pitchers on Puerto Rico’s staff in the World Baseball Classic. Last year with the Mets, Lugo pitched to a 5-2 record over 17 games (eight started) with a 2.67 ERA and a 1.094 WHIP. He picked up a win in his only start against Atlanta last year where he allowed just two runs on six hits and one walk over seven innings. The Braves have the following numbers against Lugo:

  • Inciarte 1-for-3
  • Kemp 1-for-3
  • Markakis 1-for-3
  • Swanson 0-for-2

The Mets will get another look at Jaime Garcia who is 2-4 over 11 starts and 70 innings with a 3.21 ERA, 4.33 FIP and 1.229 WHIP. Each of those stats are down from last season with his WHIP being down from 1.375 and his ERA down from 4.67. The Mets last saw Garcia the opening week of the season where he allowed six hits and two walks over six innings leading to four runs in a game the Mets won. The Mets have the following numbers against Garcia:

  • Bruce 11-for-54, 2B, HR, 2 BB (.216 BA, .241 OBP)
  • Reyes 6-for-22, 2B, BB
  • Flores 4-for-10, 2B, 2 HR (1.500 OPS)
  • Cabrera 3-for-8, 2 2B
  • Cespedes 1-for-7, 2B, BB
  • Walker 3-for-8, 2 2B
  • d’Arnaud 2-for-6, 2B
  • Duda 1-for-2, HR, BB

Notes:

The Mets have hit at least one home run in 14 straight road games, dating to May 12, tied for the longest such streak in franchise history. The club also went 14 road games in a row with at least one road homer from August 12-September 8, 1998.

New York has 32 home runs in its last 19 games. Overall, the Mets are tied for third in the NL and tied for seventh in the majors with 87 home runs.

Yoenis Cespedes connected on his fifth career grand slam in the first game of yesterday’s doubleheader. It was his fourth slam with the Mets and first since September 11, 2016 also in Atlanta. Céspedes has seven home runs in 68 at-bats this year (one every 9.7 at-bat). Since August 1, 2015, the Mets are 120-89 (.574) when Cespedes plays in a game and 32-41 (.438) without him.

Wilmer Flores had six combined hits in yesterday’s doubleheader including four in game two. Three of those went for extra-base hits (two doubles, triple), tying his career-high. Flores had six hits in one game on July 3, 2016 vs. the Cubs. Since 2009, the only Mets player besides Flores to record six hits on one day was Daniel Murphy in a day/night doubleheader at Washington on July 26, 2013. Info courtesy of Elias.

Flores is hitting .390 (39-for-100) since May 1, the second highest average in the majors (min. 80 plate appearances). Houston’s Marwin Gonzalez is first (.391). Flores is hitting .438 (14-for-32) with two homers vs. left-handers after hitting .340 (34-for-100) vs. lefties last year.

Mets starters had tossed 23 2/3 scoreless innings before Steven Matz allowed a run in the seventh inning in the second game of yesterday’s doubleheader dating to June 7. Overall, Mets starters have posted a 0.70 ERA (two earned runs/25.2 innings) over their last four games.

Jay Bruce has four home runs and eight RBI in his last six games. Bruce is tied for fifth in the NL with 16 home runs and is tied for 10th with 43 RBI. He’s tied for third in the NL with nine home runs and has belted three homers in five games at SunTrust Park. He’s hit in seven straight games, going 11-for-32 (.344) with four homers and eight RBI.

Let’s Go Mets!