MMO Game Thread: Cubs vs Mets, 7:10 PM

After getting swept by the Washington Nationals, the Mets will try to regroup against the Chicago Cubs in a four-game wraparound series at Citi Field. Zack Wheeler (7-8, 3.53 ERA) opposes left-hander Travis Wood (7-9, 4.86) in Friday night’s 7:10 PM opener.

Wheeler is 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA (11 earned runs/51.1 innings) in his last eight starts dating back to June 30. He has the fifth-lowest ERA (1.93) in the National League since June 30 (minimum 45 innings). Wheeler’s four-game winning streak is the longest of his career. The Mets are 5-3 in those games.

Travis d’Arnaud has three home runs and two doubles over his last eight games. D’Arnaud is hitting .273 (39-143) with 21 runs scored, 10 doubles, seven home runs and 21 RBI in 39 games since returning from Triple-A on June 24.

Daniel Murphy leads the National League and is third in the majors with 150 hits. He is also fourth in the NL with 33 doubles, is tied for first with Washington’s Denard Span with 44 multi-hit games and eighth with a .303 batting average. Murphy is batting .345 (19-55) with eight RBI this month.

Starting Lineup

Curtis Granderson, rf
Daniel Murphy, 2b
David Wright, 3b
Lucas Duda, 1b
Travis d’Arnaud, c
Eric Campbell, lf
Juan Lagares, cf
Wilmer Flores, ss
Zack Wheeler, rhp

Well the Mets got swept by the Nationals in Citi Field and now they look to pick up the pieces against the Cubs as they come into Queens, probably to see Boyz II Men tomorrow night but also play a few games.

Zack Wheeler is on the bump tonight for the Amazin’s as he squares off against Travis Wood. Wheeler is 7-8 on the season over 24 games and 140.1 innings with a 3.53 ERA. His last start was his first in his last 8 that he allowed 3 ER (or more). Including his last start, in his last 8 he has pitched 51.1 innings with a 4-0 record and a 1.93 ERA while striking out 44. Earlier this year he shut out Cubs in Chicago over 6.2 innings while striking out 7 in a game the Mets eventually lost 2-1. The Cubs have the following numbers against Wheeler:

Castro 0-3
Lake 0-3
Rizzo 0-3
Valbuena 0-2
Baker 0-2
Coghlan 0-2

Travis Wood is 7-9 on the season over 24 starts and 139.0 innings with an ERA of 4.86.For last month or so he’s been a y0-yo of average, excellent or terrible, there’s no reason to really go too far back in the numbers because they just average out to his season numbers. Anyway he is coming off of an excellent start against the Rays allowing 1 run, unearned over 6.0. Earlier this year he faced the Mets allowing 2 ER, 4 hits and 5 walks over 5.0. The Mets have the following numbers against him: