Wednesday, July 17, 2019 • 1:10 p.m. E.T.
Target Field • Minneapolis, MN
LHP Jason Vargas (3-5, 4.23) vs. LHP Martin Perez (8-3, 4.26)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050 AM
The Mets are on a three-game win streak! They look to sweep the two-game set from the Twins this afternoon. Yesterday, the bullpen was called on for five innings of work to protect a one-run lead and it worked! The bullpen did their job! Can they do it again today?
Mets Lineup
- Jeff McNeil RF
- J.D. Davis 3B
- Pete Alonso 1B
- Wilson Ramos C
- Robinson Cano DH
- Todd Frazier 3B
- Michael Conforto CF
- Amed Rosario SS
- Adeiny Hechavarria 2B
Twins Lineup
- Mitch Garver C
- Jorge Polanco SS
- Nelson Cruz DH
- Eddie Rosario LF
- C.J. Cron 1B
- Max Kepler CF
- Marwin Gonzalez RF
- Miguel Sano 3B
- Luis Arraez 2B
Jason Vargas is the most likely pitcher not named Zack Wheeler to be traded before the deadline, and Wheeler’s recent trip to the IL makes this afternoon’s start by Vargas even more important. Can the Mets drive up his trade value? On the season he is 3-5 over 16 games and 15 starts logging 76.2 innings posting a 4.23 ERA, 4.66 FIP, 1.304 WHIP, and 96 ERA+.
His first start from the All-Star break was a rough one – he allowed six runs over five innings against the Marlins. Before that, he allowed 17 runs, 14 earned over 47.1 innings in eight games, a 2.66 ERA where opponents got on base against him at a .289 clip. His one relief outing this year was against the Twins and it was terrible – four runs in one inning, in a game the Mets lost 14-8. The Twins have the following stats against him:
- Nelson Cruz 12-34, 2 2B, 5 HR, 8 BB, 8 K
- C.J. Cron 2-10, 2 HR, 3 BB, 2 K
- Byron Buxton 2-7, 3B, BB, 3 K
- Eddie Rosario 3-7, 2B
- Jonathan Schoop 2-7, HR, BB, 3 K
The Mets bats will look to provide the Mets pitching staff with a little more breathing room against Martin Perez today. Perez is 8-3 over 18 games and 15 starts logging 95 innings with a 4.26 ERA, 3.71 FIP, 1.368 WHIP, and 107 ERA+.
Perez has struggled in his last seven starts allowing 32 runs, 26 earned, from 39 hits and 14 walks in 37 innings (but only two homers!). He’s posted a 6.32 ERA in this stretch and opponents have an on-base percentage of .331 (but only a .683 OPS). He pitched against the Mets in relief earlier this season, allowing three runs in two innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
- Robinson Cano 7-37, 3 BB, 4 K
- Todd Frazier 2-7, BB
- J.D. Davis 1-5
- Amed Rosario 1-5, 3 K
- Michael Conforto 1-4, 2 K
- Wilson Ramos 2-4, K
- Adeiny Hechavarria 1-3
- Pete Alonso 0-0, BB
- Jeff McNeil 1-1
Game Notes
The Mets have won three or more games for the fifth time this year and for the first time since a season-high four
consecutive victories from May 20-23. With a victory today, the Mets would earn four straight road victories for the first time since they won five straight from April 1-12.
Michael Conforto went 4-4 with a run and an RBI last night. He has safely reached base in all four games after the All-Star break and is batting .375 (6-16) with two runs, a home run, four RBI, two walks and a 1.007 OPS in that span.
The Mets are 6-4 vs. the American League this year. New York went 8-12 during Interleague play last year. The Mets are tied for the best winning percentage (.508, 199-193) among NL teams since Interleague play began in 1997.
Amed Rosario is batting .288/.317/.434 with 22 runs, 12 doubles, four triples, three home runs, 24 RBI and nine walks in 51 games on the road this season. This compares to a .234/.285/.400 slash line in 40 games at Citi Field this year.
Jason Vargas will make his 19th career start (21st appearance) against the Twins and second appearance of the season. In his last four starts against the Twins, holds a 0.78 ERA (two earned runs/23 innings). Vargas defeated the Twins in his last start against the club on September 10, 2017. He threw five innings and allowed one run, earned, on four hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
Let’s Go Mets!
