Thursday, August 17, 2017 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, N.Y.
RHP Luis Severino (9-5, 3.32) vs. LHP Steven Matz (2-6, 5.54)
PIX11 • MLBN • WOR 710 AM • 104.3 WAXQ-FM HD 2 • ESPN 1050 AM
The Mets will try to avoid the four game, home and home, sweep by the Yankees tonight as they send out Steven Matz to face Luis Severino. Close to game time last night, the Mets had to scratch Wilmer Flores and Jose Reyes to rib cage injuries thus launching us to a world where Travis d’Arnaud had to play 3rd. To minimize his chances at needing to make a play, he continually changed to second with Cabrera depending on the batter leading to some fantastic box scores. This was my take away from last night. I have blocked and repressed everything else from my memory.
Yankees Lineup
- Brett Gardner – LF
- Aaron Hicks – CF
- Aaron Judge – RF
- Gary Sanchez – C
- Didi Gregorius – SS
- Todd Frazier – 3B
- Tyler Austin – 1B
- Ronald Torreyes – 2B
- Luis Severino – RHP
Mets Lineup
- Curtis Granderson – RF
- Asdrubal Cabrera – 2B
- Michael Conforto – CF
- Yoenis Cespedes – LF
- Dominic Smith – 1B
- Amed Rosario – SS
- Travis d’Arnaud – C
- Matt Reynolds – 3B
- Steven Matz – LHP
Steven Matz is 2-6 over 12 starts and 63.1 innings with a 5.54 ERA, 4.91 FIP and 1.468 WHIP. His last outing was his first “good” one in quite some time as he held the Phillies to 4 hits and 2 walks over 5.2 innings leading to only 2 runs. The last time he allowed 2 runs or fewer was July 3rd in a 7.0, shutout innings. It was actually only his 4th start this year where he allowed 2 runs or fewer. Last September he allowed 6 runs off 6 hits and a walk over 6.0 innings against the Yankees who have the following numbers against him:
- Frazier 2-9, 2 HR
- Gregorius 2-6, 2B
- Headley 2-6, 2B
- Ellsbury 1-3
- Gardner 1-2, BB
- Romine 0-3
- Hicks 0-2
- Sanchez 0-2
The Mets bats will try to get something going agianst Luis Severino who is 9-5 over 23 starts and 143.2 innings with a 3.32 ERA, 3.08 FIP and 1.107 WHIP (career bests in those two categories). He is coming off by far his worst start of the season where he allowed 8 hits, 10 runs, 8 earned and 2 walks over 4.1 innings, a start that raised his ERA from 2.91 to 3.32. Before that he was on a 5 game streak of 32.2 innings with 38 K’s, a 0.83 ERA and .176 BA. In August last year he started against the Mets pitching 4.1 innings holding the Mets to 1 hit, 1 run, none earned with 1 walk. The Mets have the following numbers against Luis:
- R Rivera 1-4
- Cabrera 1-2, BB
- Cespedes 0-2
- Conforto 0-2
- Flores 0-2
- Granderson 0-0, BB
Notes –
Travis d’Arnaud is the fourth player in Mets history to appear in games at third base, second base and catcher in the same season. The other three are Jeff McKnight (1993), Tucker Ashford (1983) and Alex Trevino (1979-1981).
Steven Matz owns a 7.15 ERA (27 earned runs/34.0 innings pitched), with batters hitting .324 (45-139) this season in innings 1-3.
Gavin Cecchini and Matt Reynolds were both added to the active roster before the game with Jose Reyes landing on the DL. Kevin McGowan has been optioned back to Triple-A.
Let’s Go Mets!
