Friday, May 4, 2018 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, N.Y.
RHP German Márquez (1-3, 5.14) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (2-1, 4.09)
SNY• WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050
The Mets started yesterday off with good news: deGrom is going to play catch this weekend and will be monitored for his start on Monday. While we have been conditioned the last several years to not believe any good news about an injury, this resurrection of the Mets’ savior helped Mets forget about the last 12 hours of being a Mets fan. Then yesterday’s game happened. The bats were silent. Like almost no-hit silent. Vargas got lit up for a second straight start and the Mets got swept. It was pretty bad.
Mets Lineup
- Brandon Nimmo – RF
- Asdrubal Cabrera – 2B
- Yoenis Cespedes – LF
- Jay Bruce – 1B
- Todd Frazier – 3B
- Michael Conforto – CF
- Jose Lobaton – C
- Zack Wheeler – RHP
- Amed Rosario – SS
Rockies Lineup
- Charlie Blackmon – CF
- Gerardo Parra – LF
- Nolan Arenado – 3B
- Carlos Gonzalez – RF
- Trevor Story – SS
- Ian Desmond – 1B
- Daniel Castro– 2B
- Tony Wolters – C
- German Marquez – RHP
Now the Mets turn to Zack Wheeler to get the team back on the right track as they welcome the Rockies into town. Wheeler is 2-1 over 4 starts and 22.0 innings this year with a 4.09 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 1.318 WHIP and 94 ERA+. His last start was one of the better ones this season where he allowed 2 runs off 6 hits and 2 walks in 5.0 innings of work against the Padres in a game the Mets eventually won 14-2. Wheeler hasn’t faced the Rockies since a start at Colorado in 2014 where he allowed 7 runs, 4 earned over 4.0 innings from 6 hits and 2 walks. The Rockies have the following numbers on Zack:
- Desmond 5-17, 2B, HR, 2 BB
- Parra 3-8, BB
- Arenado 0-2, BB
- Blacmon 2-3
- LeMahieu 0-1, BB
The Mets bats will get a look at the young Rockies starter German Marquez who is making his 7th start on the season. So far he is 1-3 over 28.0 innings with a 5.14 ERA, 4.08 FIP, 1.571 WHIP and 89 ERA+. He is coming off one of his better starts of the season where he allowed 3 runs, 1 earned over 6.0 innings in Miami. This was preceded by one of his worst starts of the season where he allowed 6 runs over 3.1 innings to the Cubs (the Braves also hit him up for 7 runs in 4.2 innings on April 6th). He made one start against the Mets last year where he allowed 3 runs from 6 hits and 3 walks in 6.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers on German:
- Bruce 0-3
- Cabrera 1-3
- Cespedes 1-3, HR
- Conforto 0-3
- Frazier 1-3, 2B
- Reyes 0-3
- Rosario 1-3, 3B
Game Notes
Jay Bruce makes his first appearance of the 2018 season at first base.
The Mets are 64-34 vs. Colorado at home. The .653 winning percentage is the best vs. any team (min. 15 games) in team history.
Since his debut in 2013, Wheeler has held opposing batters to a .237 batting average (82-346) with runners in scoring position. This season, opponents are 4-17 (.235) with RISP. Has allowed four homers to 414 batters faced in those situations (1.0% HR rate with RISP) in his career…Only two pitchers with at least
400 batters faced with runners in scoring position since 2013 have allowed fewer homers in those scenarios (Dellin Betances and Brad Ziegler, three home runs allowed each). With runners in scoring position and two outs, opponents have hit .201 (32-159) against the righthander, including a .167 (1-6) mark this season.
Jerry Blevins stranded one inherited runner yesterday and has stranded 11 inherited runners this season, tied for the fourth most in the majors this year. Since 2016, Blevins has stranded 94 inherited runners the most in the majors.
Let’s Go Mets!
