Wednesday, August 9, 2017 • 12:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, N.Y.
LHP Martin Perez (5-10, 5.46) vs. RHP Rafael Montero (1-7, 5.78)
SNY • WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050 AM
The Mets snapped their losing streak yesterday as they beat the Rangers 5-4. This afternoon they will go for the brief two game sweep! Yesterday the Mets took the lead early thanks to solo first inning homers from Michael Conforto and Yoenis Cespedes (Travis d’Arnaud would later chip in a homer of his own). Chris Flexen was able to hold the Rangers back enough for 5.2 innings and the Mets won!
The Mets have a chance to sweep this short series. New York has never swept a series from the Rangers. The Mets have two sweeps this season.
The Mets homered twice in the first inning last night and have 78 first-inning runs this season, ranking sixth in the majors. New York has 24 homers in the first inning, tied for the third-most in the majors.
Mets Lineup
- Michael Conforto – CF
- José Reyes – 2B
- Yoenis Céspedes – LF
- Jay Bruce – RF
- Wilmer Flores – 1B
- Neil Walker – 3B
- René Rivera – C
- Amed Rosario – SS
- Rafael Montero – RHP
Rangers Lineup
- Shin-Soo Choo – RF
- Elvis Andrus – SS
- Nomar Mazara – LF
- Adrian Beltre – 3B
- Joey Gallo – 1B
- Carlos Gomez – CF
- Drew Robinson – 2B
- Brett Nicholas – C
- Martin Perez – P
Rafael Montero is 1-7 over 22 games and eight starts in 62.1 innings with a 5.78 ERA, 4.42 FIP and 1.765 WHIP. Montero was trending positively for about a month but he’s slipped back in his four starts. In his last four, he has pitched 23.1 innings with a 5.79 ERA. That might seem like he’s pitching at his average rate this season, but remember he started the season off terribly, and then pitched well for a month to sink his numbers in a positive direction. The only Ranger who has seen Montero in a game is Mike Napoli who has a hit in one AB.
The Mets bats draw Martin Perez who has been with the Rangers since he debuted as a 21-year-old in the 2012 season. This year he is having his worst of his career sitting at 5-10 over 117.0 innings with a 5.46 ERA, 4.80 FIP and 1.667 WHIP. For comparison, his career line is 4.51 ERA, 4.80 FIP and 1.456 WHIP. His numbers are more inflated as of late since he has allowed 15 runs in his last nine innings of work. Only three members of the Mets have seen Perez:
- Cespedes 5-for-13, 2B, 3B, 2 BB
- Cabrera 3-for-5, 2 2B
- Bruce 1-for-3
NOTES:
Michael Conforto extended his career best with his 23rd home run. He has a hit in 10 of his last 11 games, going 15-for-46 (.326) with one double, four home runs, six RBI and 10 runs scored. Overall, he is 11th in the majors with a .397 on-base percentage, ninth in the NL with a .573 slugging percentage and seventh in the NL with a .971 OPS. Conforto is hitting .313 (30-for-96) with nine home runs, 17 RBI and 18 runs since the break. His nine home runs are tied for the fourth-most in the majors since the All-Star break.
AJ Ramos collected his first save with the Mets in last night’s 5-4 win. Ramos is tied for sixth in the NL with 21 saves. Since 2015, he ranks fifth in the majors with 93 saves.
Jerry Blevins retired all five batters he faced last night. Blevins has tossed 7.2 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts since the All-Star break. Overall, he has 50 strikeouts in 35.2 innings.
Travis d’Arnaud slugged a two-run home run last night, his 10th of the year. It’s his third season with 10 or more home runs and first since 2015. Since the All-Star break, d’Arnaud is batting .295 (18-for-61) with three doubles, one homer, eight RBI and five runs scored. He has at least one hit in 12 of his 15 starts in the second-half.
Wilmer Flores is batting .291 (25-86) with five home runs vs. lefthanded pitching this season. Since the beginning of 2016, Flores is hitting .317 (59-186) with 16 home runs vs. lefthanded pitching.
Let’s Go Mets!
