Friday, August 18, 2017 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, N.Y.
LHP Justin Nicolino (1-1, 4.56) vs. RHP Chris Flexen (2-1, 7.02)
SNY • WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050 AM
This has been a horrible week for the Mets, so before jumping into today’s game, let’s note some of the positive and memorable moments. Dominic Smith hit his first homer. Rosario reminded us multiple times about the importance of defense. Travis d’Arnaud played 3rd and 2nd, in the same game, many many many times. Curtis Granderson hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 9th to make the Mets competitive. I still love Michael Conforto. The Mets bullpen for the most part was great this week.
Marlins Lineup
- Dee Gordon – 2B
- Giancarlo Stanton – RF
- Christian Yelich – CF
- Marcell Ozuna – LF
- J.T. Realmuto – C
- Derek Dietrich – 3B
- Tomas Telis – 1B
- Miguel Rojas – SS
- Justin Nicolino – LHP
Mets Lineup
- Juan Lagares – CF
- Asdrubal Cabrera – 2B
- Yoenis Cespedes – LF
- Wilmer Flores – 1B
- Travis d’Arnaud – C
- Amed Rosario – SS
- Matt Reynolds – 3B
- Brandon Nimmo – RF
- Chris Flexen – rHP
Ok. I feel better. Let’s go!
Chris Flexen is 2-1 over 4 starts and 16.2 innings this year with a 7.02 ERA, 7.22 FIP and 2.100 WHIP. His last start was probably his best of the season where he pitched 5.0 innings against the Phillies allowing 6 hits and 4 walks leading to 2 runs. He didn’t allow any homers in CBP, which is even better considering he allowed 4 homers in his 3 previous starts. This will be his first career start against the Marlins.
The Mets bats draw Justin Nicolino who is 1-1 over 7 games and 6 starts pitching 25.2 innings with a 4.56 ERA, 5.94 FIP and 1.831 WHIP. He is making his second start since returning in mid-August. In his first one he allowed 2 runs, 1 earned over 5.1 innings with 6 hits and 4 walks. He had a relief outing in June against the Mets this year where he allowed a homer and a hit over 0.1 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
- Lagares 1-8
- Flores 4-5, 2 HR, 2 BB, .857 OBP
- Cespedes 2-6, HR
- Granderson 3-5, HR
- Cabrera 1-3, BB
- Conforto 0-2
- d’Arnaud 2-3, HR
Notes –
New York is a season high 13 games under .500. The last time the Mets were 13 games under .500 was the final day of the 2013 season, September 29, when they were 74-88.
Since 2014, the Mets are 18-11 vs. the Marlins at Citi Field.
Granderson is one home run shy of 20 home runs. It would be his 10th season reaching the 20-homer plateau, including four straight with the Mets and in 10 of his last 11 years, only missing out in 2013 when he appeared in 61 games. Granderson would become the sixth player in team history to hit
20 home runs or more in four straight years.
Let’s Go Mets!
