Friday, July 27, 2018 • 7:05 p.m.
PNC Park • Pittsburgh, PA
LHP Jason Vargas (2-6, 8.60) vs. RHP Ivan Nova (6-6, 4.28)
SNY • WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050
The Mets are streaking! Fresh off their first series win since May, the Mets extended their winning streak to three games last night against the Pirates as the beat Pittsburgh 12-6. The real test of their streak comes tonight as Jason Vargas makes his return to the orange and blue. The real story for the Mets last night was how good the players on the trading block performed. Cabrera went 3-5 with 2 runs, 4 RBI’s and a walk. All of his hits were for extra bases (two doubles and a homer). Flores went 2-4, with 2 runs and 3 RBI’s, Bautista went 2-6 with a run, Mesoraco went 1-3 with 2 runs and a walk and Blevins pitched a scoreless inning allowing a walk and nothing else. Trades could happen quite soon for several players on the team so there is a feeling of uncertainty.
Mets Lineup
- Amed Rosario – SS
- Asdrubal Cabrera – 2B
- Michael Conforto – LF
- Wilmer Flores – 1B
- Brandon Nimmo – CF
- Jose Bautista – RF
- Jeff McNeil – 3B
- Kevin Plawecki – C
- Jason Vargas – LHP
Pirates Lineup
- Jordan Luplow – LF
- Josh Harrison – 2B
- Gregory Polanco – RF
- Elias Diaz – C
- David Freese – 3B
- Josh Bell – 1B
- Sean Rodriguez – CF
- Jordy Mercer – SS
- Ivan Nova – RHP
Jason Vargas was 2-6 over 9 games and 37.2 innings before straining his calf posting a 8.60 ERA, 6.61 FIP, 1.832 WHIP and 45 ERA+. The last time I could find a start Vargas made against Pittsburgh was in 2015, it was on July 21st and it was his last start of the season where he allowed 1 hit and no runs over 1.1 innings. On pitch #26 that night he tore his UCL. The Pirates have the following numbers against him:
- Rodriguez 3-21, 2B, 2 BB
- Freese 7-13, 2B,2 HR
- Cervelli 1-5
- Ho Kang 0-1
- Marte 1-1, 2B
The Mets bats will get a look at Ivan Nova tonight who is 6-6 over 19 games and 109.1 innings with a 4.28 ERA, 4.57 FIP, 1.262 WHIP and 93 ERA+. In his last three starts he’s been doing a full run better than his season numbers posting a 3.18 ERA over 17.0 innings. He allowed 3 runs over 6.0 innings off 5 hits against the Mets at the end of June. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
- Bautista 10-32, 4 2B, HR, 8 BB
- Cabrera 4-11, 2B
- Reyes 3-10, BB
- Mesoraco 1-4, 2B
- Conforto 1-3, HR
- Nimmo 0-3
- Rosario 1-1, 2B
Game Notes
The Mets have won three in a row. The last time the club won three straight was June 16-18. The last time the Mets won four consecutive games was May 18-21. New York is 11-9 in July. The 11 wins this month is the second-most among NL East teams behind the Phillies, who have 14 victories in July.
Wilmer Flores is batting .288 (21-73) with four doubles, three homers, eight RBI and a .333 on-base percentage in 20 games this month. Flores is hitting .287 (35-122) with six homers and 21 RBI in 35 games since June.
The Mets walked nine times last night. It was the fourth time this season New York drew nine or more base on balls in a game, tied for the second-most such games in the majors this year. Philadelphia has five such games.
Let’s Go Mets!
