Wednesday, August 14, 2018 • 7:05 p.m.
Oriole Park at Camden Yards • Baltimore, MD
RHP Zack Wheeler (7-6, 3.82) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy (7-10, 4.70)
SNY • WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050 AM
The Mets lost to the Orioles last night and surprisingly it wasn’t Vargas’s fault. Jason Vargas, who has struggled all season, pitched into the sixth inning allowing two runs before the bullpen came in behind him and then allowed a few runs. The Mets bats couldn’t score on Cashner and now face the Orioles best pitcher today in Dylan Bundy.
Mets Lineup
- Brandon Nimmo RF
- Jeff McNeil 2B
- Wilmer Flores 1B
- Michael Conforto LF
- Todd Frazier 3B
- Austin Jackson CF
- Jose Bautista 3B
- Kevin Plawecki C
- Jose Reyes SS
Orioles Lineup
- Jonathan Villar 2B
- Renato Nunez 3B
- Adam Jones RF
- Mark Trumbo DH
- Trey Mancini LF
- Chris Davis 1B
- Tim Beckham SS
- Cedric Mullins CF
- Austin Wynns C
The Mets turn to Wheeler today who is 7-6 over 22 starts and 134.1 innings with a 3.82 ERA, 3.41 FIP, 1.221 WHIP and 99 ERA+. In Wheeler’s last four starts over 27 innings he has a 1.33 ERA and in his last 8 starts and 52.2 innings, he has a 2.22 ERA. Earlier this season he shut out the Orioles over seven innings in one of his first strong starts of the season. The Orioles have the following numbers against Wheeler:
- Trumbo 1-for-6
- Villar 1-for-6
- Davis 1-for-3
- Jones 1-for-3
- Mancini 0-for-2
- Sisco 0-for-2
- Bundy 0-for-2
Dylan Bundy is 7-10 over 22 starts and 126.1 innings with a 4.70 ERA, 5.14 FIP, 1.314 WHIP and 90 ERA+. Bundy has allowed a league-leading 29 home runs. He’s coming off a terrible start where he allowed eight runs over five innings. In his last six starts and 30.1 innings, his ERA has ballooned to 7.71. The last six games have raised his season ERA from 3.75 to 4.70. One of his best starts this season was against the Mets where he shut out the Mets over seven innings in a game the Orioles won 1-0. The Mets have the following numbers against Bundy:
- Frazier 0-for-11, 2 BB
- Bautista 0-for-8, 3 BB, 6 K
- Conforto 0-for-2, BB
- Jackson 1-for-3, 2B
- Nimmo 0-for-3
- Plawecki 1-for-3, 2B
- Rosario 0-for-2
- Wheeler 1-for-2
Game Notes
New York is 18-19 since July 1. The Mets have hit 37 homers over those 37 games and the pitching staff has posted a 4.30 ERA.
Zack Wheeler has won five straight starts for the first time in his career and the Mets are 6-0 in his last six
starts. The five-game winning streak is the second-longest of his career. Wheeler won six consecutive decisions from July 6-August 20, 2014. Wheeler is 5-0 with a 2.08 ERA (eight earned runs/34.2 innings) since July 14. His 2.08 ERA is the seventh-lowest in the majors during that time (min. 30 innings).
Wheeler had his 23-inning scoreless streak snapped in his last start. He has allowed two runs over his last 24 innings (.075 ERA). Wheeler’s fastball is averaging 96.3 mph according to Fangraphs, the fifth-fastest in the majors this year and throws the second-fastest slider (91 mph).
Michael Conforto is hitting .301 (25-83) with five doubles, five homers, 12 RBI, 18 runs scored, a .392 OBP and a .542 slugging percentage since the All-Star break. He has scored 12 runs in his last 10 games and has two homers in his last three games.
Robert Gsellman has tossed 6.2 scoreless innings dating to August 2 and has allowed two runs over his last 11.1
innings (1.59 ERA) with three saves since the All-Star break. Jerry Blevins has hurled 6.2 scoreless innings and has stranded 26 inherited runners this season, tied for the seventh-most in the majors.
New York is 11th in the majors with 413 walks. Michael Conforto is ninth in the NL with 64 walks.
Mets designated hitters have hit 40 home runs since Interleague play began in 1997, the most by any National League team. The Cubs and Cardinals are tied for second with 34 homers from their DHs.
Let’s Go Mets!
