Mets at Padres • 8:40 PM • Petco Park
RHP Jenrry Mejia (1-2, 2.22) vs. RHP Edinson Volquez (8-10, 5.80)
Starting Lineup
- Eric Young, Jr. – LF
- Daniel Murphy – 2B
- Marlon Byrd – RF
- Ike Davis – 1B
- Wilmer Flores – 3B
- Travis d’Arnaud – C
- Juan Lagares – CF
- Omar Quintanilla – SS
- Jenrry Mejia – RHP
Game Notes
- Marlon Byrd, Ike Davis and Daniel Murphy homered as the Mets beat San Diego, 5-2, Friday night. Byrd produced his 19th long ball, one shy of matching his career high, which he achieved in 2009 with the Texas Rangers. Anthony Recker, whose playing time is above to nosedive with d’Arnaud’s arrival, went 3-for-3 with a walk in the victory.
- Jonathon Niese struck out nine—six of those coming in the first two innings—and allowed a run and six hits in six innings, leading the Mets to a 5-2 decision over the Padres on Friday night. Niese has a 3-2 record with a 2.04 ERA in five starts against the Padres.
- Jenrry Mejia, who will start Saturday against the Padres, has worked at least 5 1/3 innings in each of his four starts this season. Mejia, who has 22 strikeouts and three walks in 24 1/3 innings, suffered a loss in his last outing, a 4-2 setback to the Dodgers on Aug. 12 at Dodger Stadium. Mejia will make his first start against the Padres. In two relief appearances against them, he allowed a hit in two scoreless innings.
- Prized catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud is due to make his major league debut today as the Mets look to make it three straight wins against the San Diego Padres. D’Arnaud hit .400 (8-for-20) with one homer, four RBIs and nine walks in seven games since rejoining Triple-A Las Vegas. He had broken the first metatarsal in his left foot on a foul ball while catching for the 51s on April 17. Sandy Alderson suggested d’Arnaud could remain in the big leagues after Buck’s three-day paternity leave expires if the prospect performs well during the cameo.
- Sandy Alderson said Tommy John surgery could be a possibility for injured right-hander Jeremy Hefner. He has received two exams on his right elbow last week — one of which revealed a partially torn MCL — and is scheduled for a third on Monday. Tommy John is usually associated with UCL tears, but Hefner may have his MCL replaced with a similar surgery.
- Juan Lagares didn’t start but appeared late as a defensive replacement. Lagares has been struggling at the plate, going hitless in his last 14 at-bats. “He’s been scuffling. He did some things on the field (Friday). Dave is just trying to get him more calm,” Collins said, referring to hitting coach Dave Hudgens. “I just thought one day would certainly help him.” Lagares is hitless in his last 13 at-bats and is batting .210 in 14 games this month. In his last 10 games, Lagares is 9-for-44 (.205).
- Wilmer Flores should return to the starting lineup Saturday for the first time since twisting his right ankle in Monday’s game at Dodger Stadium. Flores tested the balky ankle running before Friday’s game at Petco Park. His only appearance since Monday came two days later, when he had a pinch-hit single in the ninth at L.A. and then departed for a pinch runner.
Game Preview
The Mets look for the series victory today in San Diego as they play game 3 of 4. So far the Mets have done well against the Padres and last night’s game featured three Mets homers (Byrd, Davis, Murphy) and a nice outing from Niese. Recker had a nice day at the plate too, going 3-3 with a run. That being said, a new catcher is coming to town tonight for the Mets as Travis d’Arnaud looks to be on the major league roster for tonight’s game. Anyway, Jenrry Mejia gets the nod for the for the Amazin’s tonight as he faces off with Edison Volquez.
Jenrry Mejia is 1-2 over 4 starts this season with a 2.22 ERA while pitching 24.1 innings and striking out 22 batters. In his short career, Mejia has faced the Padres twice, both in relief and both for one inning a piece. He’s allowed 2 hits and no runs. Because of the limited time in front of Mejia, the Padres have really limited stats against him:
Cedeno 0-1
Hundley 0-1
Denorfia 0-1
The Mets bats get to see Edison Volquez who is 8-10 over 25 starts this year with a 5.80 ERA. In that stretch he has pitched 136.2 innings, struck out 111 batters and has allowed a league leading 88 earned runs (he also leads the league in starts). He started August off on the right foot allowing only 2 ER over 6.0 innings but in his last start he allowed 8 ER over 4.1 innings. His first start of the season was against the Mets where he allowed 6 ER over 3.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Edison:
Byrd 4-11
Young 2-9, 2B
Murphy 2-7
Baxter 2-6, 2B, HR
Turner 2-6, 2B
Lets Go Mets!
