Mets at Marlins
With rumors swirling in Gotham about the future of Mickey Callaway, the New York Mets are not doing their manager any favors by turning in a pair of listless performances in back-to-back losses to the worst team in the majors. Having matched their longest losing streak of the season, the Mets will look to avert a three-game sweep at the Miami Marlins on Sunday afternoon.
After a late comeback fell short in an 8-6 loss in the series opener, New York managed only one hit -- on the first pitch of the game -- in Saturday's 2-0 setback to extend its losing streak to four games. "As a leader you can't ever worry about yourself," Callaway said of his job situation after the Mets dropped a season-worst four games below .500 and fell to 11-20 in their last 31. "My goal every day is to improve that room, be consistent and make sure our players continue to improve." Jon Berti's leadoff homer was all the offense needed by the Marlins, who secured only their second series win of the year. Miami had lost seven in a row and was 0-5 against New York this season entering the series but received seven innings of one-hit ball by Pablo Lopez, who was hammered for 10 runs by the Mets last weekend.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), FS Florida
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (3-3, 4.74 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (1-4, 5.11)
Syndergaard continues to struggle with consistency but he has a chance to put together solid back-to-back starts for the first time this season after working eight strong innings and giving up two runs on four hits to beat Washington on Tuesday. He served up a pair of homers and was charged with five runs (four earned) and nine hits over six innings of a no-decision in his previous turn at San Diego. Miguel Rojas is 4-for-11 off Syndergaard, who won all three starts and posted a 1.64 ERA against Miami in 2018.
Alcantara has not won since throwing eight scoreless innings in his season debut versus Colorado and it's not hard to figure out why -- he has more walks than strikeouts in each of his last four starts while yielding six home runs in that span. The 23-year-old Dominican fell to 0-4 over his last seven outings after giving up four runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings in a loss at the Mets last weekend. Alcantara is 1-2 with a 2.92 ERA in four starts versus New York but has struggled against Jeff McNeil (3-for-6).
WALK-OFFS
1. Marlins C Jorge Alfaro, who homered in the series opener, exited Saturday's game with a mild left calf strain.
2. Mets SS Amed Rosario is 1-for-14 during the four-game slide.
3. Marlins 3B Brian Anderson is 3-for-7 with a pair of RBI hits in the series.