METS (46-56) at MARLINS (40-63)
RHP Jeremy Hefner (4-8, 4.17) vs. RHP Jacob Turner (3-3, 2.49)
Starting Lineup
- Eric Young, Jr. – LF
- Daniel Murphy – 2B
- David Wright – 3B
- Marlon Byrd – RF
- Ike Davis – 1B
- Juan Lagares – CF
- Anthony Recker – C
- Omar Quintanilla – SS
- Jeremy Hefner –RHP
Game Notes
Terry Collins says he is sticking with six-man rotation even though it means playing with a four man all-righthanded bench as team is currently configured.
Collins also said he doesn’t foresee Jordany Valdespin or Ruben Tejada being called up to the team until rosters expand in September, if that. Although injuries could impact that decision.
RHP Carlos Torres, in his third start, was hammered for nine hits and eight runs on Sunday in the 14-1 drubbing. He picked up the loss after he entered the game with an ERA of 0.94, the best mark in the majors for those who had pitched at least 25 innings. His ERA rose to 3.13.
RHP Jeremy Hefner will make the start for the Mets on Monday at Miami. He is 1-2 (2.22 ERA) in five games, with starts, in his career against the Mets. In his last start, he took the loss to the Braves 8-2 at home. He is 1-1 in three career starts at Marlins Park.
RHP Jon Niese made his first MLB rehab start Saturday in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He went two innings and allowed four runs, two earned, against the Nationals. He has been on the DL since June 21 with a partial tear of his left rotator cuff.
SS Justin Turner, who did not play Saturday, entered the game Sunday as a defensive replacement at second. He was shaken up when he collided with LF Andrew Brown on a fly ball to short left off the bat of Denard Span to start the bottom of the first in the second game Friday. Turner made the catch but stayed on the ground for about two minutes. Both players stayed in the game but Turner came out later with a sore right shoulder and was replaced by Omar Quanantilla. Turner was hitless in one at-bat Sunday and is now hitting .262.
CF Juan Lagares continues to impress manager Terry Collins. He had two hits and lifted his average to .269. His 15 doubles are tied for fifth most among rookies.
OF Marlon Byrd continues to do well against his former team. He had two hits, including a double, and drove in the only run Sunday in a 14-1 loss.
C Travis d’Arnaud was 3-for-5 with a double on Saturday against the Nationals in the Gulf Coast League. He is 6-for-15 since returning from a non-displaced fracture of the first metatarsal of the left foot.
OF Lucas Duda was hitless in four at-bats Saturday in the Gulf Coast League. He is hitless in 13 at-bats in four games after being placed on the DL on June 22 with a left intercostal strain.
LHP Josh Edgin pitched a scoreless eighth on Sunday against the Nationals. He allowed just two runs in his first 21 appearances (1.04 ERA) since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on June 10. Edgin was drafted in the 30th round by the Mets in 2010 and made his big league debut with New York last year, when he was 1-2 with an ERA of 4.56 in 34 games. He picked up his first save in early July. He lowered his ERA to 3.90 after Sunday’s outing.
Game Preview
It has been a struggle in the second half for Hefner. On the season he is 4-8 with a 4.17 ERA over 114.1 innings of work. Since the All-Star break though he has pitched 6.1 innings allowing 14 runs, 13 earned. He hasn’t faced the Marlins since his season debut where he went 6.0 strong innings allowing only 1 ER. The Marlins have the following numbers against Hefner:
Pierre 3-9
Solano 3-9
Polanco 3-10
Ruggiano 0-8
Stanton 1-10
Dobbs 2-9, HR
The Mets bats will try to do some damage against one of the bright spots for the Marlins this year, Jacob Turner. Turner is 3-3 over 10 games this season with a 2.49 ERA with 65 innings under his belt. He has pitched 24.0 innings in July with a 3.75 ERA, so not as good as June. His season debut was against the Mets where he pitched 7.0 scoreless innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
Murphy 2-8
Wright 0-8
Davis 2-8, 2B
Buck 1-3
Byrd 0-2
Lets Go Mets!
