Tuesday, June 5, 2018 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, N.Y.
RHP Alex Cobb (1-7, 6.80) vs. LHP Jason Vargas (2-3, 8.53)
SNY • WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050
The Mets have lost nine of their last 11 games, including four straight. New York has lost six straight home games and is 12-17 at Citi Field this season.
Tonight’s pitching match-up is entertaining if you’re into alternate universes as one of the pitchers a sizable portion of Mets fans wanted to sign this off-season was Alex Cobb and he’s facing off with the starting pitcher we did sign – Jason Vargas.
Mets Lineup
- Brandon Nimmo – LF
- Asdrubal Cabrera – 2B
- Michael Conforto – CF
- Todd Frazier – 3B
- Jay Bruce – RF
- Kevin Plawecki – C
- Adrian González – 1B
- Jason Vargas – LHP
- Amed Rosario – SS
Orioles Lineup
- Trey Mancini – LF
- Adam Jones – CF
- Manny Machado – SS
- Danny Valencia – 3B
- Mark Trumbo – RF
- Jonathan Schoop – 2B
- Chris Davis – 1B
- Austin Wynns – C
- Alex Cobb – RHP
Vargas is 2-3 over six games and 25.1 innings with a 8.53 ERA, 5.80 FIP, 1.855 WHIP and 45 ERA+. Vargas has made four terrible starts and two starts where he has held opponents to no runs over five innings allowing two hits and a walk. He did this against the Marlins on the 21st and and against the Braves on the 30th. I would almost consider this a fun fact, that his two good lines are nearly identical, but he’s been so bad in his other four starts that fun and Vargas tend to be on two ends of a “Did I enjoy watching the Mets game” spectrum. In one start against the Orioles last year, Vargas allowed three runs over five innings from four hits and two walks. The Orioles have the following numbers against him:
- Jones 5-for-30, 2 2B, 2 BB, 5 K
- Gentry 5-for-23, 2 BB
- Trumbo 4-for-19, 10 K
- Davis 3-for-16, HR, BB, 5 K
- Valencia 3-for-16, 4B, BB
- Rasmus 3-for-13, 2 2B, 4 K
- Machado 2-for-10
- Schoop 0-for-4, 3 K
- Joseph 1-for-4, HR
The Mets bats will get a look at Alex Cobb who is 1-7 over nine starts and 46.1 innings with a 6.80 ERA, 5.40 FIP, 1.813 WHIP and 62 ERA+. For only the fourth time this season, Cobb allowed three runs or less in his last outing where he allowed three runs over seven innings, his longest start of the year. He has allowed three runs in three of his last four starts, so maybe he is turning the corner (In April he allowed 17 runs over three starts which in tonight’s game makes him the starting pitcher with the best start of the season). In one start against the Mets in his career he allowed six runs, five earned, in 6.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
- Bautista 3-for-17, 4 BB
- Cespedes 3-for-19 5 K (DL)
- Cabrera 2-for-11
- Reyes 1-for-6
- Frazier 1-for-5
- Bruce 0-for-3
- Gonzalez 1-for-3, 2B
- Mesoraco 1-for-3
Notes
Prior to tonight’s game, the Mets returned infielder Todd Frazier from his rehabilitation assignment and activated him from the Disabled List. The Mets also returned RHP Anthony Swarzak from his rehabilitation assignment and activated him from the DL. Corresponding roster moves will be made prior to tonight’s game
New York is 1-1 in Interleague action this year, after going 7-13 vs. the AL last year. The Mets will travel to Baltimore on Aug. 14-15. Since 1997, when Interleague play began, the Mets are 186-178. The .511 Interleague winning percentage is the best all-time among NL clubs.
Jason Vargas is 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA (five earned runs/13.0 innings) in his last three starts. In two of those three starts he’s worked 5.0 scoreless innings. Vargas has compiled a 2.23 career ERA (15 earned runs/60.2 innings) in nine starts vs. Baltimore.
Over its last 16 games, New York starters have a 2.48 ERA (24 earned runs/87.0 innings). Contrarily, over its last 11 games, the Mets bullpen is 1-8 with a 7.94 ERA (40 earned runs/45.1 innings).
Brandon Nimmo has 11 extra-base hits and nine RBI in his last 13 games (five doubles, one triple, five homers). Nimmo driven in a run in five out of his last seven games. He has three homers in his last seven games…He has a career-high seven homers this season in 127 at-bats…Nimmo had six homers combined over his first two seasons (2016-2017) in 250 at-bats. Nimmo is second in the NL and fourth in the majors with a .421 OBP (min. 150 plate appearances). He is tied for sixth in the majors with four triples.
Let’s Go Mets!
