Thursday, July 26, 2018 • 7:05 p.m.
PNC Park • Pittsburgh, PA
LHP Steven Matz (4-8, 3.65) vs. RHP Nick Kingham (5-4, 4.11)
SNY • WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050
The Pirates may have had their winning streak snapped in their last game but they are still red hot as the Mets, winners of a series for the first time since May, come to Pittsburgh. Trade rumors swirling, the Mets roster could be in flux over the next few days as Wheeler, Cabrera and others find themselves scouted by other teams making a late season push.
Mets Lineup
- Amed Rosario – SS
- Asdrubal Cabrera – 2B
- Michael Conforto – LF
- Wilmer Flores – 1B
- Brandon Nimmo – CF
- Jose Bautista – RF
- Jeff McNeil – 3B
- Devin Mesoraco – C
- Steven Matz – LHP
Pirates Lineup
- Jordan Luplow – LF
- Josh Harrison – 2B
- Gregory Polanco – RF
- David Freese – 3B
- Josh Bell – 1B
- Francisco Cervelli – C
- Sean Rodriguez – CF
- Jordy Mercer – SS
- Nick Kingham – RHP
Steven Matz is 4-8 over 19 games and 101.0 innings with a 3.65 ERA, 4.71 FIP, 1.287 WHIP and 104 ERA+. He’s coming off a rough start against the Yankees where he allowed 5 runs on 9 hits and a walk over 5.0 innings after a streak of four starts where he posted a 2.52 ERA in 25.0 innings. That streak includes a start against the Pirates where he allowed 3 runs from 6 hits in 7.0 innings of work. The Pirates have the following numbers against him:
- Freese 2-6
- Harrison 3-6, 3B
- Marte 0-6
- Mercer 1-5, BB
- Polanco 2-5, HR
- Cervelli 0-2, BB
Nick Kingham gets the start for the Pirates tonight. The rookie is 5-4 over 10 games and 57.0 innings with a 4.11 ERA, 4.67 FIP, 1.105 WHIP and a 97 ERA+. Across AA and AAA this season he is 4-2 over 10 games and 54.1 innings with a 2.65 ERA (so he has a similar amount of work in the majors and minors this season to make comparisons on). In his last three starts he has posted a 2.89 ERA over 18.2 innings. This will be Nick’s first start against the Mets in his career.
Game Notes
The Mets are 10-9 in July. New York won two of three vs. San Diego to win their first series since May 18- 20 when they swept Arizona. It snapped a streak of 17 winless series. The Mets are 17-36 in their last 53 games. New York has 13 wins in its last at-bat, tied for the fourth-most in the majors.
MLB has selected the first game of the Mets vs Phillies doubleheader game on Thursday, August 16 at 4:05 p.m. as a game to be broadcast exclusively on Facebook Watch. This game will not be on television or any other digital platform such as MLB.TV or MLB At Bat.
Jeff McNeil became the 50th player the Mets have used this year, tying the Angels for the most in the majors.
Let’s Go Mets!
