Mets at D’Backs • Chase Field • 4:10 PM ET
Jon Niese (3-6, 4.32) vs Zeke Spruill (0-1, 6.48)
Starting Lineup
- Eric Young, Jr. – LF
- Juan Lagares – CF
- Daniel Murphy – 2B
- Ike Davis – 1B
- Wilmer Flores – 3B
- Mike Baxter – RF
- Anthony Recker – C
- Omar Quintanilla – SS
- Jonathon Niese – LHP
Game Notes
New York third baseman Wilmer Flores has provided the Mets with an offensive spark since making his MLB debut on Tuesday. He has recorded at least one RBI in each of his past four games.
He matched career-high marks with two hits and three RBIs on Saturday, upping his season RBI total to eight in 19 at-bats.
Juan Lagares hit his third home run of the year last night. Lagares is hitting .329 (27-82) with 11 extra-base hits and 13 RBI since the All-Star break. Overall, among NL rookies, Lagares is third with a .269 batting average, tied for second with four triples, sixth with 16 doubles, fourth with a .417 slugging percentage and ninth with a .302 on-base percentage.
After spending more than a month on the disabled list with a tear in his left rotator cuff, Mets pitcher Jon Niese is ready to get back on the mound. The southpaw will get that chance against the D-backs on Sunday. Niese is now free of the soreness he tried to pitch through earlier this season.
Pedro Feliciano earned his first hold since 2010 last night. Feliciano has retired seven of the eight hitter he faced this year, allowing only one walk. Lefthanders are 0-7 vs. him and Feliciano has stranded all six inherited runners, including the bases loaded last night.
Game Preview
The Mets and Diamondbacks play the rubber game today as the Mets look for a series win to start this road trip off on the right foot. It is also a big day for the Mets as Jon Niese finally rejoins the rotation after injury. In case you missed last night’s game, Wheeler was great through 6.1 innings and the bullpen was able to hold it together as the Mets (and specifically Wilmer Flores) were able to put some runs on the board. Niese in his return today will be facing Zeke Spruill.
As stated earlier, this is the first start for Niese in a minute. Niese is 3-6 over 14 innings with a 4.32 ERA over 77.0 innings and 49 strikeouts this year. In his rehab starts, he pitched 11.0 innings allowing only 3 ER (2.45 ERA) while walking 4 and striking out 11. Last year Niese faced the Diamondbacks once and it didn’t go well as he allowed 9 hits, 8 runs, 6 earned over 6 innings of work. The Diamondbacks have the following numbers against Niese:
Prado 6-29, 4 2B, 3B
Ross 2-6
Hill 0-2
Goldschmidt 1-3
Kubel 1-3, 2B
Zeke Spruill is 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA over 5 games, 1 start and 8.1 innings of work. The 23 year old rookie made his first start in his last outing where he allowed 5 ER (he’s allowed 6 in his career) over 4.1 innings. He’s made 17 starts in the minors this year with a 2.68 ERA pitching 104.0 innings with 54 strikeouts. He’s never faced the Mets or anyone on the Mets roster in a major league game.
Lets Go Mets!
