Friday, July 26, 2019 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Dario Agrazal (2-0, 2.25) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (6-6, 4.69)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050 AM

It doesn’t matter if the Mets are winning or losing, Mets world is always busy. The Mets took the series against the Padres yesterday behind a strong performance by Jacob deGrom (7 innings, no runs) and a strong first inning by the Mets bats. But that’s only a fraction of what’s going on. Wheeler makes what could be his last start in a Mets uniform tonight (more on that in a bit), Edwin Diaz was brought into a non-save situation yesterday and took a come-backer off his foot (X-rays negative), and Todd Frazier went after a reporter on Twitter yesterday. And, of course, the Mets welcome the fading Pirates to town.

Mets Lineup

  1. Jeff McNeil – RF
  2. Michael Conforto – CF
  3. Pete Alonso – 1B
  4. Robinson Cano – 2B
  5. Wilson Ramos – C
  6. Dominic Smith – LF
  7. Todd Frazier – 3B
  8. Amed Rosario – SS
  9. Zack Wheeler – RHP

Pirates Lineup

  1. Corey Dickerson – LF
  2. Adam Frazier – 2B
  3. Starling Marte – CF
  4. Josh Bell – 1B
  5. Bryan Reynolds – RF
  6. Colin Moran – 3B
  7. Jung Ho Kang – SS
  8. Elias Diaz – C
  9. Dario Agrazal – RHP

Zack Wheeler is making his return from the IL. He was placed there due to dead arm / arm fatigue, that may or may not have been due to the Mets rushing him out twice before the All-Star break to raise his trade value. Now with a tanked trade value, who knows what the Mets will do. Do they extend him and trade Syndegaard? Do they trade him, get a minimal return and resign him? Do they do nothing? Anyway he is 6-6 over 19 games and 119.0 innings with a 4.69 ERA, 3.67 FIP, 1.277 WHIP and 87 ERA+. His last start before the All-Star break was tough, allowing 6 runs over 5.0 innings from 8 hits and 2 walks. Before that he had a strong stretch of 3 starts allowing 4 runs in 19.1 innings. Wheeler was tremendous against the Pirates last year tossing 13.0 innings of scoreless baseball with 10 hits and 2 walks while striking out 14. The Pirates have the following stats against him:

The Mets bats draw rookie Dario Agrazal, who is 2-0 over 5 starts and 28.0 innings with a 2.25 ERA, 5.15 FIP, 1.214 WHIP and 196 ERA+. Dario is coming off back to back starts allowing 1 run over 6.0 innings. Before getting called up, the right handed pitcher was 5-4 over 14 games across AA and AAA with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.100 WHIP. This will be Dario’s first start against the Mets. The Mets play the Pirates again next week so maybe we’ll see him again soon.

Game Notes

Pete Alonso won the 2019 Home Run Derby in Cleveland earlier this month. Today, Major League Baseball will present him with his $1 million check for winning the title in the Press Conference Room at 4:10 p.m. today. Alonso volunteered to donate 5% of the winning to the Wounded Warrior Project and another 5% to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Alonso will make check presentations to each organization today.

Earlier today, the Mets held a Mets On The Move Fitness Clinic at The Flushing YMCA in Queens. Robert Gsellman, J.D. Davis and Tyler Bashlor helped inspired kids to stay active and healthy in their schools and community.

Edwin Diaz said he is available tonight after taking a liner off his foot on Thursday afternoon and leaving the game immediately.

Before tonight’s game, the Mets activated Zack Wheeler off the injured list and optioned RHP Walker Lockett to Triple-A Syracuse.

Let’s Go Mets!