Detroit Tigers at New York Mets
Citi Field • 4:05 PM
Max Scherzer (18-1, 2.82) vs Matt Harvey (9-4, 2.25)
Starting Lineup
- Eric Young, Jr. LF
- Daniel Murphy 2B
- Marlon Byrd RF
- Ike Davis 1B
- Wilmer Flores 3B
- Juan Lagares CF
- John Buck C
- Omar Quintanilla SS
- Matt Harvey RHP
Game Notes
- Matt Harvey will be a part of history Saturday afternoon, when he takes the mound for the Mets in the middle game of a three-game series against the Tigers at Citi Field. Harvey, who started the All-Star Game for the National League, will be opposed by American League starter Max Scherzer. It is the first time that the starting pitchers in the All-Star Game faced each other in a regular season game in the same season. Harvey threw two scoreless innings and didn’t factor into the decision in the National League’s 3-0 loss on July 16. Harvey will be looking to snap a two-start winless streak Saturday. In his last outing last Sunday against the Padres, Harvey didn’t factor into the decision after allowing two runs on six hits and no walks while striking out six over six innings in the Mets’ 4-3 loss. Harvey is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA over his last two starts, which marks just the fourth time this year he’s allowed at least six runs over a two-start span. Despite the recent struggles, Harvey entered play Friday night ranking second in the NL in ERA (2.25), strikeouts (187) and WHIP (0.89). Harvey will be making his first career start against the Tigers.
- Daisuke Matsuzaka was done in by one bad inning in his first major league start of the season Friday night, when he was the losing pitcher after he allowed five runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four over five innings as the Mets fell to the Tigers, 6-1. Matsuzaka, whom the Mets signed as a free agent Thursday, gave up all five runs in the first two innings, including four in the second inning, before he retired the final 10 batters he faced. It was the first major league start for Matsuzaka since Oct. 3, 2012, when he was with the Red Sox. Matsuzaka was 5-8 with a 3.92 ERA in 19 starts for Triple-A Columbus in the Cleveland organization before he asked for and received his release Tuesday. Matsuzaka is expected to remain in the Mets’ rotation for the remainder of the year.
- Lucas Duda, who has not appeared in a major league game since June 21, is returning to the major league club. Duda had been playing rehab games with Triple-A Las Vegas when he was taken off the rehab assignment on Aug. 7 and officially optioned to the 51s. Because the Mets are returning Duda to the majors within 20 days of that option, this year will not count as an option year being used for Duda. Mike Baxter has been demoted to Las Vegas.
- 3B David Wright (right hamstring strain) took grounders before batting practice on Friday. Wright is also running in a pool as he continues recovering from the injury he suffered Aug. 2, when he pulled up lame beating out an infield single. He has said he plans to play again this year and manager Terry Collins said Friday he expects to see Wright with the Mets before the season is over. Wright is hitting .309 with 16 homers and 54 RBIs in 105 games.
- Wilmer Flores had a career-high three hits Friday night in the Mets’ 6-1 loss to the Tigers. After grounding out to end the first inning, Flores singled in the fourth, sixth and eighth innings. It was the fifth multi-hit game in 13 career starts for Flores, who was recalled by the Mets on Aug. 6—his 22nd birthday—and has been the everyday third baseman with David Wright on the disabled list. Flores is hitting .300 with one homer and 11 RBIs in 50 at-bats.
Game Preview
In what may possibly be the first time ever, the two starting pitchers of the All-Star game meet up again for a regular season game with their same respective teams. Previously the only way this was possible was if an interleague game from May/June was postponed and made up later in the season. Anyway, Matt Harvey takes the mound against Max Scherzer. For both pitchers 2013 was their first All-Star game and they both got to start for their respective leagues. The American League eventually won that game, and both Harvey and Scherzer put on a show.
Matt is 9-4 with a 2.25 ERA over 25 starts and 171.2 innings of work. In that time he was struck out 187 batters and walked 31. Two starts ago he pitched a complete game shut out, the following start he showed he was human allowed 4 ER over 6 innings and in his last start he allowed 2 over 6 in a game the bullpen let slip away. Harvey has never faced the Tigers nor anyone on the Tigers roster in a regular season game.
Max is 18-1 this year. Seriously. 18-1. That’s a 94.7 winning percentage. He has pitched 25 games and 172.1 innings with a 2.82 ERA, so his time on the field this year has been very similar to Harvey. He has struck out 185 batters and walked 38 (seriously these numbers are incredibly close). In his last three starts he is 2-0 over 21.0 innings of work with a 2.57 ERA. In his career he has pitched 12.2 innings against the Mets with a 4.26 ERA. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
Murphy 1-5
Young 1-4
Buck o-3
Byrd 1-2, 2B
Lets Go Mets!
