St. Louis Cardinals vs. New York Mets
Michael Wacha (0-0, 5.40) vs. Jeremy Hefner (1-5, 4.36 ERA)
Starting Lineup
- Jordany Valdespin 2B
- Omar Quintanilla SS
- David Wright 3B
- Daniel Murphy 1B
- Lucas Duda LF
- Marlon Byrd RF
- John Buck C
- Kirk Nieuwenhuis CF
- Jeremy Hefner SP
Game Notes
Prior to tonight’s game, the Mets will select the contract of infielder Josh Satin from Las Vegas (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League, and recall outfielder Collin Cowgill and lefthanded pitcher Josh Edgin from Las Vegas.
Satin, 28, was hitting .305 (67-220), with 14 doubles, nine home runs and 32 RBI in 59 games for the 51s and will wear #13. Cowgill hit .268 (33-122) with five home runs and 12 RBI in 32 games with Las Vegas. He made New York’s Opening Day roster and hit .157 (8-51) with two home runs and eight RBI in 19 games for the Mets.
Edgin made the Mets’ Opening Day roster, compiling an 0-1 record and a 9.64 ERA (10 earned runs/9.1 innings) in 11 games. He has been with Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League and Las Vegas, and compiled a 2-0 record and a 6.75 ERA (14 earned runs/18.2 innings) in 16 minor league games.
Over his last eight starts, Jeremy Hefner has recorded a 3.60 ERA (20 earned runs/50.0 innings). Hefner has walked 13 and struck out 41 during that span. Hefner has tossed six quality starts in those eight starts…He also has five starts of 6.0 or more innings allowing two or fewer runs, second on the team behind Matt Harvey, who has nine such starts.
The Mets last six home victories have come in the club’s last at-bat, the longest such streak in franchise history. The streak dates back to April 24 with Jordany Valdespin’s walk-off grand slam vs. Los Angeles, Mike Baxter had walk-off hits on May 7 vs. Chicago-AL and May 9 vs. Pittsburgh. Ike Davis delivered an eighth-inning two-run single on May 26 to beat the Braves. Daniel Murphy’s eighth-inning RBI single beat the Yankees on May 27 and Lucas Duda had a walk-off single on May 28…Overall, New York is 12-19 at home this season.
Omar Quintanilla extended his hitting streak to seven games on Sunday and is hitting .353 (12-34) with two doubles, one triple, one home run and three RBI over that span.
Daniel Murphy hit his fifth home run of the season on Sunday. He had six home runs last year and six in 2011. Murphy had a career-best 12 home runs in 2009. Three of Murphy’s five home run have either tied the game or given the Mets a lead.
Over the Mets’ last 20 games at home, dating back to April 25, the club is hitting .199 (135-680). They are 5-15 in this span and are averaging 2.3 runs (46 total) per game.
Zack Wheeler will make his major league debut at Atlanta on June 18, likely in the matinee of a day-night doubleheader, with Matt Harvey handling the evening duty. Wheeler’s final Triple-A start has been moved back a day to Thursday at Las Vegas to place him on the proper rest for his major league debut against the Braves.
Game Preview
The Cardinals come into town as they face the new look Mets. After Sunday’s game, the Mets demoted Baxter, Carson and most prominently, (part of the core according to Alderson) Davis. In their place the Mets have called up Satin, Cowgil and Edgin. Anyway, Jeremy Hefner looks to continue the Mets streak of starting pitching while the Mets bats look to continue their collective soul searching against Wacha.
Jeremy Hefner is 1-5 over 64.0 innings this year with a 4.36 ERA so far this season. In his last three starts he has allowed 6 ER over 19 innings which is a 2.84 ERA. In that same stretch he has struck out 19 batters. Earlier this season he faced the Cards allowing 3 ER over 6 innings of work. The Cardinals have the following numbers against Hefner:
Wigginton 2-4
Beltran 0-2
Craig 1-3, 2B
Freese 1-3
Holliday 1-3
The Mets bats will get a crack at Michael Wacha who is 0-0 in his first two starts in his major league career. Over his first two games he has a 5.40 ERA from allowing 7 ER and 12 hits over 11.2 innings of work. In the same stretch he’s walked 1 vs. 10 strikeouts. Not surprisingly, he hasn’t faced the Mets in his career and anyone on the Mets roster.
Lets Go Mets!
