Tuesday, May 22, 2018 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, N.Y.
LHP Caleb Smith (2-5, 4.22) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (2-3, 5.92)
SNY • WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050
The Mets have won four straight games and are 5-1 on this homestand. The four-game winning streak at home is the longest since September 6-9, 2017. The last time the club had a longer winning streak at home was September 3-18, 2016, when they won five straight at Citi Field. New York is 6-2 in its last eight games and 6-4 in its last 10 games. After starting the year 11-1, the club has gone 13-18. New York is 12-11 at home.
Mets Lineup
1. Brandon Nimmo (L) LF
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) 2B
3. Wilmer Flores (R) 1B
4. Michael Conforto (L) CF
5. Jay Bruce (L) RF
6. Jose Reyes (S) 3B
7. Tomas Nido (R) C
8. Zack Wheeler (L) P
9. Amed Rosario (R) SS
Marlins Lineup
1. Martin Prado (R) 3B
2. J.T. Realmuto (R) C
3. Justin Bour (L) 1B
4. Starlin Castro (R) 2B
5. Brian Anderson (R) RF
6. Derek Dietrich (L) LF
7. Miguel Rojas (R) SS
8. Lewis Brinson (R) CF
9. Caleb Smith (R) P
Zack Wheeler gets the nod for the Mets. On the season he is 2-3 over 7 games and 38.0 innings with a 5.92 ERA, 4.61 FIP, 1.553 WHIP and 65 ERA+. He is coming off of one of his worst starts of the season against the Blue Jays were he allowed six runs over four innings from seven hits and three walks. In the month of May so far he has been terrible, followed by amazing, followed by terrible again, so here’s hoping the pendulum swings back to amazing tonight. His 2018 debut was against the Marlins where he held the fish to one run (a solo homer) in seven innings of work while striking out seven, so more of that please! The Marlins have the following numbers against Wheeler:
- Dietrich 2-for-9, 3B, 6 K
- Castro 2-for-9
- Prado 3-for-8
- Maybin 1-for-7
- Bour 0-for-4, 2 BB
- Rojas 1-for-3, HR
The Mets bats draw former Yankee, now Marlin, Caleb Smith who is 2-5 over nine starts and 42.2 innings this year with a 4.22 ERA, 3.30 FIP, 1.289 WHIP and 87 ERA+. He is coming off of a short outing where he allowed four runs in four innings off two hits and four walks. Before that he had a stretch of four games where he pitched 24.0 innings with a 1.50 ERA. Earlier this season he faced the Mets allowing three runs from five hits and one walk in five innings while striking out seven. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
- Conforto 2-for-3
- Flores 1-for-3, 2B
- Cabrera 1-for-2, HR
- Mesoraco 0-for-2
- Rosario 1-for-2, 2B
Notes
Amed Rosario, Luis Guillorme and Ricky Bones visited The Mary Brennan Inn Soup Kitchen in Hempstead earlier today. The group along with 10 Latino students from the Long Beach Latino Civic Association helped prepare and served meals to guests. As part of this program, the Mets look to motivate, cultivate and empower Latino students to become exemplary leaders in their schools and their communities.
Seth Lugo has not allowed a run in a career-high 14.0 innings dating to May 1. He ranks eighth in the majors among all pitchers in ERA (1.91). Minimum 28.0 innings. Lugo has held lefties to a .067 (3-for-45) batting average, the lowest mark in the majors (min. 40 at-bats).
Zack Wheeler is 3-1 with a 2.15 ERA (12 earned runs/50.1 innings) and 55 strikeouts in eight career starts vs. the Marlins. Wheeler’s 2.15 ERA vs. Miami is his second lowest vs. any team (min. four starts). Wheeler has a 2.13 ERA vs. Arizona in four starts. He tossed 7.0 innings and allowed one run at Miami on April 11 earlier this year.
Lets Go Mets!
