Sunday, May 26, 2019 • 1:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Spencer Turnbull (2-3, 2.68 ERA) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (3-3, 4.74 ERA)
PIX11 • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050 AM
The Mets and Tigers play the rubber game of their three game set before the Mets go off to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers tomorrow.
Yesterday, shockingly, was a low scoring affair for both starting pitchers and didn’t get interesting until the bullpens got involved. For the Mets, Jason Vargas has now pitched well in four of his last five starts, and is starting to change his narrative. New York and Detroit changed leads several times until Edwin Diaz allowed an inherited runner to score in the eighth which propelled both teams all the way to the 13th inning where Tomas Nido hit a walk-off homer! (Also, we can’t pivot a turn to talking about today’s game without mentioning Wilson Ramos who was the Mets offense with two homers and an RBI single).
Mets Lineup
- Amed Rosario (R) SS
- Dominic Smith (L) 1B
- Michael Conforto (L) RF
- Wilson Ramos (R) C
- Todd Frazier (R) 3B
- Carlos Gomez (R) LF
- Adeiny Hechavarria (R) 2B
- Juan Lagares (R) CF
- Zack Wheeler (L) P
Tigers Lineup
- Niko Goodrum (S) 2B
- Dawel Lugo (R) 3B
- Nicholas Castellanos (R) RF
- Christin Stewart (L) LF
- Ronny Rodriguez (R) SS
- Brandon Dixon (R) 1B
- John Hicks (R) C
- JaCoby Jones (R) CF
- Spencer Turnbull (R) P
Zack Wheeler makes his 11th start of the season today. He is 3-3 over 10 games and 62.2 innings with a 4.74 ERA, 3.21 FIP, 1.372 WHIP and an 83 ERA+. He rebounded a bit in his last start allowing only three runs over seven innings meaning that he has had three good starts in May, allowing a total of seven runs over 21.0 innings. He also has one start where he allowed six runs over six innings. We are only a few hours away from finding out which Wheeler we got today. The Tigers have the following numbers against him:
- Josh Harrison 1-for-6, 2B, 2 K
- Jordy Mercer 0-for-5
- Gordon Beckham 1-for-2
- Tyson Ross 1-for-2
Unlike the last two days, the Mets face a starter this afternoon who has actually been in the rotation all season and has been successful. Spencer Turnbull pitched in four games, three starts in 2018 and logged 16.1 innings posting a 6.06 ERA, 2.85 FIP, 1.286 WHIP and 75 ERA+.
Over 10 starts and 53.2 innings this year, he has a 2.68 ERA, 3.86 FIP, 1.304 WHIP and 173 ERA+. In his last seven games ,he has pitched 38.2 innings with a 1.86 ERA and opponents are batting .208 against him. That being said, his last two lines are interesting. On May 16 he lasted only four innings and gave up six runs but only one was earned and in his last start he lasted only five innings and gave up three runs. No one on the Mets has seen him in a major league game.
Notes
Prior to Sunday’s contest, the Mets activated outfielder Michael Conforto off the 7-day concussion IL and designated outfielder Rajai Davis for assignment. The Mets now have three players in DFA limbo, with relievers Paul Sewald and Tim Peterson also without resolution yet.
The Mets have hit 25 home runs in their last 16 games. They have at least one home run in a season-high six straight games. They have homered in nine-straight home games, their longest streak since doing so in 10-straight games at Citi Field from June 8-July 6 last season.
Edwin Diaz recorded his first blown save of the season. It snapped a streak of converting 22-straight save opportunities. The streak dated back to August 20, 2018. It was the second-longest streak of his career and the third longest active streak in the majors. He converted 28-straight from June 2-August 15 last season.
Let’s go Mets!
