Marlins at Mets
Perhaps the last time the New York Mets felt really good about themselves came after making a statement against the Miami Marlins at the beginning of last month. The Mets have won only one series since, but they will attempt to change that beginning Friday when they host the opener of a three-game set against the major-league worst Marlins.
New York opened the season with a 5-1 road trip that wrapped up with a three-game sweep of Miami, scoring at least six runs in each game. The offense fell off considerably about two weeks later and has been particularly porous over the last two weeks, as the Mets are averaging only 2.6 runs while losing 10 of their last 14 following their 1-5 road trek through Milwaukee and San Diego. The Marlins have been even worse than their National League East rival over a slightly longer stretch, dropping 12 of 16 since enjoying their last winning streak from April 19-20. Miami drew eight walks Thursday in Chicago but fell to 2-10 over its last 12 games after going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position en route to a 4-1 loss to the Cubs.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Pablo Lopez (2-4, 4.03 ERA) vs. Mets RH Zack Wheeler (2-2, 4.64)
Lopez continued to get very little help from his offense Sunday against Atlanta, settling for a no-decision despite fanning six over six scoreless innings. The 23-year-old Venezuelan has been backed by one run or fewer in five of his seven outings, and he is 1-3 over his last four turns as a result despite posting a 2.35 ERA. Lopez will make his second career start versus the Mets and first since allowing two runs in six frames to get the win against them in his major-league debut last June.
Wheeler rebounded from his worst performance in over a month with his second dominant effort in three turns, permitting two runs while striking out 10 across seven innings in a no-decision against Milwaukee. The former No. 6 overall pick has recorded four quality starts in his last five trips to the mound, going 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA over that time. Starlin Castro (4-for-18, six strikeouts) and Brian Anderson (2-for-11) have each struggled against Wheeler, who is 5-2 with a 1.89 ERA in 11 starts versus the Marlins.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mets have won five straight and eight of their last nine meetings with the Marlins.
2. Miami swiped four bags Thursday after compiling 11 steals through its first 36 games.
3. New York has homered 21 times in its last 24 contests, but 18 of them have been solo shots.