Tuesday, August 8, 2017 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, N.Y.
RHP Andrew Cashner (7-8, 3.36) vs. RHP A.J. Griffin (5-2, 5.20)
SNY • WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050 AM
New York has dropped four straight, lost seven of its last eight games and is a season-high 11 games under .500. The last time the Mets were 11 games under .500 was when they were 38-49 after the game on July 5, 2014. The Mets are 25-31 at home. New York has been shut out in two of its last three games.
METS LINEUP
- Michael Conforto – CF
- Asdrubal Cabrera – 3B
- Jay Bruce – RF
- Yoenis Cespedes – LF
- Neil Walker – 1B
- Jose Reyes – 2B
- Travis d’Arnaud – C
- Amed Rosario – SS
- Chris Flexen – RHP
RANGERS LINEUP
- Shin-Soo Choo – RF
- Elvis Andrus – SS
- Nomar Mazara – LF
- Adrian Beltre – 3B
- Rougned Odor – 2B
- Carlos Gomez – CF
- Joey Gallo – 1B
- Robinson Chirinos – C
- A.J. Griffin – RHP
Chris Flexen gets the nod for today’s game as he makes third career start. He is 0-1 over six innings allowing 13 hits and five walks, leading to nine runs, eight earned. Not to make excuses, but there was a lot working against Chris in his last start. For starters, he was in Colorado vs. a better than average Rockies team that was able to get eight hits and a walk in three innings, leading to five runs. He also had a blister issue on his hand that caused him to leave the game early (the bullpen shut down the rest of the game and the Mets won).
The Mets bats will get a look at Andrew Cashner. Cashner started his career off in 2010 with the Cubs and was part of the Anthony Rizzo trade to the Padres. He was then part of the Jarred Cosart trade in 2016 and ended up with the Marlins before signing with the Rangers this off season. He is 7-8 over 18 starts and 107.0 innings with a 3.36 ERA, 4.40 FIP and a 1.346 WHIP. He is coming off back-to-back good starts where he allowed two ER over 13.0 innings. Last year he allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk over five innings against the Mets which led to three runs. The Mets have the following numbers against Cashner:
- Granderson 3-for-11, 2B, HR, BB
- Walker 2-for-10, 2 2B
- Bruce 2-for-7, 2B
- Conforto 1-for-5, BB
- Flores 1-for-6
- Reyes 2-for-3
- Cabrera 1-for-3
- Cespedes 1-for-3, HR
NOTES:
Chris Flexen will make his third major league start tonight and his first at home. He made his major league debut on July 27 at San Diego. Flexen became the first player since Michael Conforto in 2015 to be promoted to the majors from Double-A. Prior to Flexen, the last Mets starting pitcher to be promoted from Double-A to the majors was Mike Pelfrey on July 8, 2006 vs. the Marlins.
Travis d’Arnaud is batting .293 (17-for-58) with three doubles, six RBI and four runs scored since the All-Star break. He has at least one hit in 11 of his 14 starts in the second-half.
Amed Rosario became the first player in team history with two triples in his first three career games. He is the sixth youngest active player in the majors. Rosario has a hit in four of his first six games. Rosario also became the ninth player who was the starting shortstop for the Mets in his major league debut when he did so on Aug. 1 at Colorado.
Let’s Go Mets!
