Mets (35-47) at Brewers (34-50)
RHP Zack Wheeler (1-1, 5.06) vs. RHP Johnny Hellweg (0-1, 20.25)
Starting Lineup
- Eric Young Jr. LF
- Daniel Murphy 2B
- David Wright 3B
- Ike Davis 1B
- Kirk Nieuwenhuis RF
- Juan Lagares CF
- John Buck C
- Omar Quintanilla SS
- Zack Wheeler RHP
Game Notes
Zack Wheeler makes the fourth start of his young career and hopes to look more like the pitcher we saw during his major league debut. That was when he threw six shutout innings against the Braves. Since then he has allowed nine earned runs in his last two outings, spanning 10 innings. Opponents are batting .111 (3-for-27) with runners on base against Wheeler in his three starts. Go get’em kid.
Terry Collins has expressed concern the Mets staff tinkered too much with Zack Wheeler between his second and third major league starts and wants him to bring the heat!
For the first time since June 9, Ike Davis who was just recalled is starting for the Mets. Josh Satin goes to the bench despite a 15-game on-base streak. Davis goes right into the fire and bats cleanup. The Mets demoted right-handed reliever Gonzalez Germen to make room for Davis.
Collins also told reporters that he will figure out a way to find Josh Satin some playing time, now that Ike Davis has returned to the big leagues, and that he could see time in the outfield. Satin has played just one game in his pro career in the outfield and it occurred this season while with Triple-A Las Vegas
Neither Justin Turner or Lucas Duda have progressed from their recent injuries. Both players are on the disabled list and in Port St. Lucie rehabbing from intercostal strains they sustained in June.
David Wright is fourth in the National League with a .394 on-base percentage, seventh with a .528 slugging percentage, tied for sixth with five triples, tied for fifth with 41 walks, ninth with 14 stolen bases and tied for eighth with 37 extra-base hits.
Terry Collins said that John Buck will still get the bulk of the playing time behind the plate, even though his average has plummeted to .205. Anthony Recker will still be used to spell Buck when he needs a day off.
The follow-up MRI for Jonathon Niese has been rescheduled for Monday. Niese is out with partial rotator cuff tear in his left shoulder. He originally was due to see a team doctor Thursday, but Independence Day vacation plans in the Hamptons — for the doctor, not Niese — resulted in the delay.
In Mets Minors news, second baseman Danny Muno had two homers and seven RBIs as Binghamton beat New Hampshire 7-6 last night, while first-round pick Dominic Smith produced his first professional homer.
Game Preview
The Mets start a road trip leading to the All-Star game tonight as the Amazins travel out west to play the Brewers. After a terrific first two games against the Diamondbacks, the Mets dropped the second two splitting the four game series.
How rude, I forgot to wish you a Happy Wheeler Day!
Wheeler is 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA over his first three starts to his MLB career. He had an awesome debut where he shutout his opponents over 6 innings but his last two starts have been rockier allowing 4 ER over 5.1 and then 5 ER over 4 IP. As Terry says, (and I’m paraphrasing here) lets get back to basics and let that fast ball rip (I’m also a blogger and not a professional baseball player so what do I know?). Anyway, this being Wheeler’s fourth start, he has yet to face the Brewers for previous stats.
The Mets bats will deal with Johnny Hellweg today, who besides having a fun name to write (Personal Side Note: I always struggle with all of the different variations of John, Jon, Johnn, Johny, Johnny, this is my life as a teacher) he is 0-1 over two games and one start to his major league career. In his first start he allowed 7 runs, 5 earned over 1.2 innings and then he came in out of the pen allowing 2 ER over 1.0. He was 7-4 with a 2.82 ERA in the minors and has never faced anyone on the Mets roster in a MLB Game.
Lets Go Mets!
