Sunday, June 2, 2019 • 4:10 p.m. (ET)
Chase Field • Phoenix, AZ
LHP Steven Matz (4-3, 3.55 ERA) vs. RHP Merrill Kelly (4-6, 4.83)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050 AM

The last time the Mets had an off-day was May 13. Tomorrow, June 3 is an off-day and this team needs it as they travel across the country back to New York to face the Giants. The only thing standing in their way between that day off for their arms is the Diamondbacks offense one more time.

Mets Lineup

  1. Amed Rosario – SS
  2. J.D. Davis – 3B
  3. Pete Alonso – 1B
  4. Michael Conforto – RF
  5. Wilson Ramos – C
  6. Carlos Gomez – CF
  7. Adeiny Hechavarria – 2B
  8. Aaron Altherr – LF
  9. Steven Matz – P

Diamondbacks Lineup

  1. Ketel Marte – CF
  2. Tim Locastro – LF
  3. Eduardo Escobar – 3B
  4. Adam Jones – RF
  5. Christian Walker – 1B
  6. Ildemaro Vargas – 2B
  7. Nick Ahmed – SS
  8. Carson Kelly – C
  9. Merrill Kelly – P

Steven Matz will try to give the bullpen a day off a bit early. He is 4-3 over 10 games and 50.2 innings this year with a 3.55 ERA, 4.71 FIP, 1.342 WHIP and 114 ERA+. In his last two starts, he has allowed three runs over 12.0 innings despite allowing 14 hits and five walks (explaining the difference between his WHIP and his ERA) while striking out 13 batters. He faced the Diamondbacks twice last year, allowing five runs over 10.2 innings from 12 hits and two walks while striking out five. The Diamondbacks have the following career lines against Matz:

  • Nick Ahmed 3-for-5, 2B, 3B
  • Ketel Marte 1-for-5
  • David Peralta 0-for-5
  • Jake Lamb 0-for-3, K
  • Jarrod Dyson 0-for-1, BB

The Mets bats close out the series with 30-year-old rookie Merrill Kelly. Kelly was originally in the Tampa Bay system when SK Wyverns called about his availability and buying him out of his contract. Things didn’t work out for the KBO team then, but later when Kelly was pitching in the Dominican Winter League, SK tried again and this time they convinced him to come over. In the KBO he posted a 3.86 ERA over 119 games and nearly 730 innings, quite a feat in a league known for homers and bat flipping. He signed a contract with the Diamondbacks this year and so far has been serviceable, going 4-6 over 11 games and 59.2 innings with a 4.83 ERA, 4.81 FIP, 1.508 WHIP and 94 ERA+. He is coming off two of roughest starts, allowing a total of eight runs from 12 hits and five walks in 8.1 innings.

Notes

Pete Alonso finished with 19 homers prior to June 1, tying the all-time rookie mark with Mark McGwire in 1987. Credit: Elias.

The Mets’ bullpen ERA of 4.96 ranks 24th in the majors.

Let’s Go Mets!