Monday, April 1, 2019 • 7:10 p.m.
Marlins Park • Miami, FL
LHP Steven Matz (5-11, 3.97 in 2018) vs. LHP Caleb Smith (5-6, 4.19 in 2018)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050 AM
The Mets continue their first road trip in 2019 with a series in Miami. Yesterday, the Mets dropped the last game of their series with the Nationals via a walk-off homer from Trea Turner. The Mets were trailing the entire game but scored 3 runs in the 8th inning off several hits to tie the game at five. It stinks to lose a chance at early season sweep, but the Mets did get a series win on the road which is nice.
Mets Lineup
- Amed Rosario SS
- Pete Alonso 1B
- Robinson Cano 2B
- J.D. Davis 3B
- Michael Conforto RF
- Wilson Ramos C
- Jeff McNeil LF
- Juan Lagares CF
- Steven Matz LHP
Marlins Lineup
- Miguel Rojas SS
- Rosell Herrera LF
- Brian Anderson 3B
- Starlin Castro 2B
- Lewis Brinson CF
- Martin Prado 1B
- Jorge Alfaro C
- Peter O’Brien RF
- Caleb Smith LHP
The Marlins opened up 2019 with a four-game set against the Rockies, splitting the series after dropping the first two games. The attendance at the ballpark has been an early season story in Miami. After having 25,000+ fans for Opening Day, the Marlins have had between 6,500 and 7,700 fans every game since, and those games happened on a weekend. Mets fans will also get to see two familiar faces as Neil Walker and Curtis Granderson are now fish.
Steven Matz will make his first start of 2019 tonight in the first night game the Mets have played this year. Last year he went 5-11 over 30 starts and 154.0 innings with a 3.97 ERA, 4.62 FIP, 1.247 WHIP and a 93 ERA+. He was 1-0 in three starts against the Marlins in 2018 pitching 17.2 innings with a 1.53 ERA (four runs, three earned from nine hits and five walks while striking out 18). The Marlins have the following numbers against him:
- Miguel Rojas 2-16, 2B, 2 K
- Starlin Castro 1-14, 2B, 6 K
- Martin Prado 5-11, 2 BB
- Brian Anderson 1-9, 2B, 3 K
- Lewis Brinson 0-6, BB, 3 K
- Jorge Alfaro 2-5, BB
The Mets bats will get a look at Caleb Smith as he makes his 2019 debut. Last year he pitched in 16 games going 5-6 over 77.1 innings with a 4.19 ERA, 3.96 FIP, 1.241 WHIP and 87 ERA+. He faced the Mets twice last year allowing four runs from eight hits and three walks over 11.2 innings (3.09 ERA) while striking out 15. The Mets have the following numbers against Caleb Smith:
- Michael Conforto 2-6, 3 K
- Amed Rosario 1-4, 2B, K
- Brandon Nimmo 0-3, 2 K
- Robinson Cano 1-2
- Juan Lagares 0-2, K
Notes
Steven Matz has never lost at Marlins Park, going 3-0 with a 0.76 ERA (two earned runs/23.2 innings) with seven walks and 22 strikeouts in four career starts.
Mets pitchers have struck out double-digits in each of the their first three games of the season for the first time in team history.
As a team, the Mets are batting .400 (12-30) with four doubles, a triple, a walk and 14 RBI with runners in scoring position this year.
Wilson Ramos has hit seven home runs in his career against the Miami Marlins, which is the highest total for any current active Met.
Let’s Go Mets!
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