Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday, April 17, 2022 • 1:40 P.M.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Humberto Castellanos (0-0, 6.00 ERA) vs. LHP David Peterson (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
WPIX • WCBS 880 AM • WEPN

The Mets lost a close one 3-2 yesterday and now have a rubber game today to get a series win against the Diamondbacks.

Yesterday, the Mets got amazing pitching from Carlos Carrasco but couldn’t support him at the plate. The Diamondbacks were able to put up a three-spot against the Mets late and Starling Marte did his best, responding with a two-run homer, but the rest of the offense just couldn’t push the Mets over the line.

Mets Lineup

The Mets bats will get a look at Humberto Castellanos this afternoon.

Castellanos was originally signed by the Astros in 2015 and made his major-league debut in 2020. The Diamondbacks picked him up on waivers the following year. This will be his first start this year, but he’s already pitched in relief twice allowing three runs, two earned from five hits and a walk in three innings. Castellanos is starting because the Diamondbacks are switching things up one week into the season. Originally, Caleb Smith, who pitched in Friday’s game, had a spot in the rotation, he faltered in the first start and the Diamondbacks sent him into the bullpen.

Castellanos last year split time between being a starter and a reliever. Overall, he pitched in 14 games and made seven starts totaling 45 2/3 innings with a 4.93 ERA, 5.01 FIP, 1.380 WHIP and a 86 ERA+. As a starter only, he pitched 34 innings with a 5.56 ERA and a 1.441 WHIP. He has never faced the Mets, and the only Met who has faced him, Mark Canha (0-2, 2 K), is currently on the Covid IL list.

Diamondbacks Lineup

David Peterson will look to get the Mets back into the win column tonight.

He pitched in long relief after Taijuan Walker’s shoulder injury forced him out after two innings. Peterson was able to pitch four innings allowing three hits, two walks and nothing else.

Last season, he made 15 starts pitching 66 2/3 innings with a 5.54 ERA, 4.78 FIP, 1.395 WHIP and a 73 ERA+. In 2020, Peterson pitched in 10 games–nine starts–totaling 49 2/3 innings with a 3.44 ERA, 4.52 FIP, 1.208 WHIP and a 125 ERA+. The drop in performance last year was reflected in a jump in H/9 (6.5 to 8.6) and HR/9 (0.9 to 1.5).

Peterson pitched against Arizona twice last year, and let’s just say he’ll be looking for revenge today. In his first start, he allowed three runs on three hits and three walks over 1 2/3 innings of work. In his second start, this one in Arizona, he allowed five runs one three hits and three walks while recording only one out.

The Diamondbacks have the following numbers against him:

Game Notes

The Mets are naming the Citi Field press box after longtime media relations man Jay Horwitz today. He ran the team’s media relations department for 38 years before taking on an alumni relations role within the organization.

After starting in center field the first two games of the series, Daulton Varsho will start at catcher on Sunday.

Some other miscellaneous game notes include:

  • Starling Marte hit home runs on two straight days on Friday and Saturday. The last time he did that was… exactly one year ago on April 15 and 16 in 2021.
  • The Mets have been hit by the most pitches in the majors (319) since 2018.
  • The team’s 16 strikeouts on Saturday were tied for the most by a pitching staff in a game in 2022 so far.
  • The Mets are 15-22 on Easter in team history.

Let’s go Mets!