Mets (30-42) vs White Sox (31-42)
Tuesday 8:10 PM • U.S. Cellular Field
RHP Zack Wheeler (1-0, 0.00) vs RHP Chris Sale (5-6, 2.69)
Starting Lineup
- Eric Young Jr. – LF
- Jordany Valdespin – 2B
- David Wright – 3B
- Marlon Byrd – RF
- Josh Satin – 1B
- John Buck – C
- Andrew Brown – DH
- Juan Lagares – CF
- Omar Quintanilla – SS
Game Notes
Reliever Greg Burke has been optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas to make room for right-hander Zack Wheeler who was added to the active roster. Wheeler makes his second major league start as the Mets open a two-game series against the Chicago White Sox. Wheeler tossed six scoreless innings in his major league debut a week ago against the Atlanta Braves and aims to cut down his walk total after issuing five bases on balls in his victorious first big league start.
David Wright collected four extra-base hits (two doubles, one triple, one home run) on Sunday at Philadelphia to tie the franchise record. Since June 5, Wright is hitting .405 (30-74) with 10 runs scored, eight doubles, five
home runs and 11 RBI over a span of 16 games. His on-base percentage is .443 during that span. Wright leads Pablo Sandoval by 128,831 votes to start the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field.
Marlon Byrd is hitting .308 (20-64) with 10 runs scored, four doubles, five home runs and 11 RBI in 20 games this month. His five home runs are tied for the most he’s hit in a calendar month (Also, May, 2013).
Eric Young Jr: has at least two hits and one RBI in each of his last three games with the Mets. Has five RBI in his last three contests. Overall, Young is hitting .364 (8-22) with three runs scored, three doubles and five RBI in five games with the Mets.
Mets announced their rotation for this upcoming weekend against the Nationals. Matt Harvey will start on Friday, Dillon Gee will start Saturday and Zack Wheeler will start Sunday.
The Mets have signed 35-year-old right-hander Giancarlo Alvarado to a minor league contract, the Post’s Mike Puma reported. The Puerto Rico-born Alvarado, pitching for Saltillo, is 0-2 with a 4.03 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) in the Mexican League. He is coming off an outing in which he allowed 10 runs (six earned) in 4 1/3 innings.
Game Preview
The Mets travel to the South Side of Chicago for Wheeler Day! The Mets are coming off of a needed off day after pounding the Phillies in an 8-0 win. Harvey was great pitching 6 shutout innings (he was stopped by the rain, but really he was stopped by the umpires who were stopped by the rain) and David Wright had himself a day going 4-5, 2 2B, 3B, HR. Today Wheeler looks to build off of his excellent debut as he squares off against one of the best pitchers in the American League, Chris Sale.
Wheeler was great in his debut picking up the win after pitching 6.0 innings allowing only 4 hits while striking out 7 batters. His K to BB ratio was a little high (7:5) which was inflated by nerves in the first inning. Wheeler showed the pose we knew he had by getting out of self inflicted jams and relying on his stuff. He has never faced the White Sox nor has he faced any one on the White Sox level in a major league game.
Chris Sale is quickly becoming a rising star (although due to his market and his location, it’s easy for him to slip the mind the East Coast National League fan). He is 5-6 over 13 starts and 90.1 innings with a 2.69 ERA. He has walked 21 batters to 91 strikeouts. He has been more human in June going 0-4 with a 3.08 ERA. He has never faced the Mets and the only Met to face him is new to the team Eric Young, who is 0-1.
Lets Go Mets!
