Chicago Cubs vs New York Mets
Citi Field, Flushing • 1:10 PM
RHP Matt Garza (1-1, 6.26) vs RHP Jeremy Hefner (1-6, 4.11)
Starting Lineup
- Jordany Valdespin – 2B
- Daniel Murphy – 1B
- David Wright – 3B
- Marlon Byrd – RF
- Lucas Duda – LF
- John Buck – C
- Omar Quintanilla – SS
- Kirk Nieuwenhuis – CF
- Jeremy Hefner – RHP
Game Notes
The Mets haven’t scored more than five runs at home in their last 25 games (since April 25). It’s the third-longest streak in team history, behind a pair of 26-game stretches (1968, 1979).
Jeremy Hefner’s 4.11 ERA ranks second among Mets starters, and he’s allowed only one earned run in each of his last two starts. He also hasn’t had a non-quality start since May 18 — which came against the Cubs.
Third baseman David Wright flied out to the warning track in left in his third plate appearance on Saturday, snapping a career-high-tying streak of reaching in nine straight plate appearances. Wright, five hits shy of 1,500 for his career, is batting .455 with two homers in his last eight games, five of which have been multi-hit efforts.
Carlos Torres exercised a clause in his contract which essentially forced the Mets to promote him to the majors. The Mets had 48 hours to either promote or release Torres after he exercised the clause on Friday. Greg Burke was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas, while Collin McHugh was designated for assignment to make room for Torres on the 40-man roster.
Ike Davis was 1-for-4 with a walk, RBI and two strikeouts Saturday night for Las Vegas. He is bating .211 since his demotion.
Mets players will be wearing blue wristbands and blue ribbon uniform decals today to raise awareness for the Prostate Cancer Foundation…New york is 26-32 all-time on Father’s Day, including 1-2 vs. the Cubs.
Game Preview
The Mets try to redeem themselves today as they play the Cubs after dropping the first two games in the series. Yesterday Jon Niese fumbled through his start but left the team in a position where (under normal circumstances with a lineup that can string together hits into runs) a team could still win. That didn’t happen as the bullpen took a misstep, widened the lead and the Mets offense faded into the distance. Today Jeremy Hefner, making another audition to stay in the rotation when Wheeler arrives, faces off against Matt Garza.
Hefner has been a nice surprise on the team this season. Don’t let the 1-6 record fool you, he has been putting in work this season (sorry, I’m with my students too much and it’s changing my vernacular). Over 13 games he has pitched 70.0 innings with a 4.11 ERA walking 22 batters and striking out 51. In his last four games he has pitched to the tune of a 2.52 ERA over 25.0 innings with 21 strikeouts.His last poor start was against the Cubs where he allowed 4 ER over 4.0 innings of work. The Cubs have the following numbers against him:
Schierholtz 2-6
Castro 0-4
Rizzo 1-3
Soriano 1-1, 2B, 2 HBP
Barney 0-2
The Mets bats go up against Garza who is 1-1 over 5 starts and 27.1 innings of work while posting a 6.26 ERA. This is mostly due to his last outing where he allowed 9 ER in 5.0 innings. He wasn’t pitching yet this season when the Mets went to Chicago. The last time the Mets met up with Garza was back in 2011 where he allowed 3 ER in 7.0 innings of work. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
Buck 3-12, 2 2B
Byrd 4-11, 2 HR
Duda 0-3
Wright 0-3
Turner 0-1
Lets Go Mets!
