Tuesday, August 20, 2019 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Shane Bieber (12-5, 3.27) vs. LHP Steven Matz (7-7, 4.33)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050 AM

The Mets start a tough homestand tonight as they welcome the Indians, Braves and Cubs to Citi Field. On Sunday the offense exploded late in the game for a come from behind win to end the road trip 3-3 and stay 2 games out of the wild card race. The big news from the weekend: Pete Alonso hit his 40th homer of the season, giving him the rookie record and putting him within 1 of tying the Mets regular-season record.

Mets Lineup

  1. Amed Rosario (R) SS
  2. Joe Panik (L) 2B
  3. Pete Alonso (R) 1B
  4. Michael Conforto (L) RF
  5. Wilson Ramos (R) C
  6. J.D. Davis (R) LF
  7. Todd Frazier (R) 3B
  8. Juan Lagares (R) CF
  9. Steven Matz (R) P

Indians Lineup

  1. Francisco Lindor (S) SS
  2. Oscar Mercado (R) LF
  3. Carlos Santana (S) 1B
  4. Yasiel Puig (R) RF
  5. Jose Ramirez (S) 3B
  6. Jason Kipnis (L) 2B
  7. Roberto Perez (R) C
  8. Greg Allen (S) CF
  9. Shane Bieber (R) P

Steven Matz looks to start this home standoff on the right foot (and with a left hand). He is 7-7 over 24 games and 22 starts pitching 116.1 innings with a 4.33 ERA, 4.59 FIP, 1.350 WHIP and 96 ERA+. After a bad start against Pittsburgh at the top of the month, he has allowed 3 runs in 12.2 innings since from 9 hits and 3 walks. In his last five starts, he has allowed 10 runs over 31.1 innings, a 2.87 ERA (which is even better when you remember that 5 of those runs came from one 3.2 inning start). The Indians have the following numbers against him:

The Mets bats will get a look at Shane Bieber today. Bieber is in midst of an all-star season, going 12-5 over 26 games and 25 starts totaling 162.1 innings with a 3.27 ERA, 3.32 FIP, 1.010 WHIP and 144 ERA+. He has already thrown three complete games this year including two complete-game shutouts. He has been on a roll in his last 5 starts pitching 38.0 innings with a 1.89 ERA (two of his complete games have occurred during this stretch). There are no available Mets tonight who have seen Bieber in a major league game.

Game Notes

Today, the Mets have selected the contract of Rajai Davis from Triple-A Syracuse…This will mark his second stint with the team as he appeared in four games with the club earlier this year…This included a pinch-hit home run in his first plate appearance with the Mets on May 22 vs. Washington…Davis has appeared in 84 games with the Syracuse Mets and is hitting .287/.334/.410 with 47 runs, eight doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 28 RBI and 20 steals…He will wear #18…In corresponding moves, RHP Brooks Pounders has been designated for assignment and RHP Walker Lockett has been optioned to Triple-A.

The Mets have won nine of their last 11 series since the All-Star break, including seven of their last eight series.

Mets starters are 16-5 with a 2.83 ERA (65 earned runs/207.0 innings) in the second half…The team’s 2.83 mark is second in the majors…Only the Dodgers (2.66) have a lower mark in the second-half…The staff’s 16 wins are tied for the third in the majors and are tied for the lead in the National League…The staff has struck out 202 in that span, which ranks fifth in the majors and third in the NL. 

Let’s Go Mets!