After not playing for five days because of positive COVID-19 tests (one player and one coach), the Mets (12-14) resume action at Citi Field on Tuesday, “hosting” the Marlins (12-11) for a four-game series.

In one of the anomaly types of the 2020 season, the Mets will be the visiting team in one game of Tuesday’s twi-night doubleheader, making up the game originally scheduled for August 20th in Miami. That game was not played because just 90 minutes before the first pitch, news of the Mets’ positive tests was revealed.

The doubleheader (seven inning games-yet another 2020 permutation) begins at 5:10 Tuesday afternoon. There will be single games on Wednesday and Thursday nights, both at 7:10 pm.

The Mets will be entering a stretch of nine games in six days, as after the series with the Marlins, they travel to the Bronx to take on the Yankees for five games, with doubleheaders Friday and Sunday, sandwiched around a single game Saturday. The doubleheaders will make up two of three games lost last weekend at Citi Field against the Yankees.

The Mets began their most recent road trip in Philadelphia, where they were swept by the struggling Phillies. The Mets went on to Miami, where they won three in a row before the impact of COVID-19 put their season into pause mode.

Pitching matchups have not yet been announced for the series against Miami. It’s likely Jacob deGrom will pitch one game of the doubleheader, since he last pitched on Wednesday, August 19th, in Miami. In that game, deGrom threw six innings of four-hit, no-run baseball, striking out seven and walking none. DeGrom is 2-0 on the season, with a 1.93 ERA and a WHIP of 0.89. He has struck out 35 in 28 IP.

If the Mets make no personnel changes to their rotation, three of Rick Porcello, Robert Gsellman, Corey Oswalt, and Seth Lugo, who would be making his first start since 2018, will take the mound for New York in the remaining three games of the series. The Marlins’ starters have not yet been announced.

Offensively, the Mets began to get hot in Miami. They scored 24 runs in three games, highlighted by an 11 run outburst in game one of the series. In that game, both Pete Alonso and Robinson Cano homered twice. Alonso had five hits in the series, and has seen his BA creep up to .247, to go with an OPS of .816 and five home runs. Cano has stayed hot despite missing nearly two weeks with an abductor strain. Cano is slashing .373/.415/.644 for an OPS of 1.059, and has four home runs on the season.

Things To Watch

Who will close for the Mets? With Lugo now part of the rotation, Edwin Diaz seems to have been elevated to the role. Diaz had been pitching well, but he coughed up the lead in the eighth on August 19th, costing deGrom a win. He proceeded to strike out the side in the ninth to get the win.

Dellin Betances had thrown five  consecutive scoreless innings before August 19th, when he went two-thirds of an inning, and was charged with two earned runs on two hits. He also walked a batter. Betances will need to be better, as he is at least the right-handed setup man now (with Justin Wilson having the role against lefties).

Dominic Smith continues to lead the Mets in home runs with six, and RBIs with 21. He is slashing .323/.403/.754 for an OPS of 1.156 and an OPS+ of 215.

Michael Conforto homered in the ninth on August 19th, providing the margin of the 5-3 victory. His clutch two-run shot came with two outs in a tie game.

Though Andres Gimenez has cooled to .254/.290/.339, he has been better than Amed Rosario .213/.213/.338. Luis Guillorme, in just 33 AB, is slashing ..464/.515/.571. Guillorme and Gimenez offer highlight reel defense when they’re on the field.

The Marlins do not have a lot of power. Jesus Aguilar and Brian Anderson are tied for the team lead in home runs with four.

Jonathan Villar is slashing .278/.327/.389 and leads Miami in BA.

Francisco Cervelli is on the seven day injured list in the concussion protocol. Cervelli leads the Marlins in OPS at .808.

The Marlins are coming from a series in Washington where they split four games.

The Mets are 5-1 against Miami in 2020, including 2-1 at Citi Field.

It’s nice to have the Mets back in action. Our thoughts go out to the player and coach affected by COVID-19. We wish them a full and speedy recovery.