Mets at Marlins
The New York Mets come out of the All-Star break facing myriad questions about the rest of the season, mainly because they own the second-worst record in the National League. The future of manager Mickey Callaway is one of the hot-button issues for the Mets as they open a nine-game road trip with the first of three at the Miami Marlins on Friday night.
New York could be selling off some starting pitching by the trade deadline, but rookie Pete Alonso provides hope for the future after a superb first half. Alonso won the Home Run Derby before delivering a two-run single for the National League in Tuesday's All-Star Game. The Marlins have the worst record in baseball but were playing better until closing out the first half by losing six of their final seven games. Jason Vargas gets the start for New York while fellow left-hander Caleb Smith gets the nod for Miami, which posted a three-game home sweep of the Mets in mid-May that included a pair of shutout victories.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jason Vargas (3-4, 3.77 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Caleb Smith (4-4, 3.50)
Although Vargas does not eat up a lot of innings and has won only twice since beating Miami with five frames of two-run ball in his season debut, he has not permitted more than three earned runs in 12 consecutive starts. The 36-year-old took the loss against the New York Yankees on July 3, allowing three runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings while surrendering one homer for the fourth straight outing. Curtis Granderson is 8-for-17 and Starlin Castro 5-for-13 against Vargas.
Smith missed a month due to a hip injury but made a triumphant return by picking up the victory at Atlanta on Saturday despite giving up four runs (three earned) over five innings. That ended a five-start drought during which he was 0-4 and dulled a strong start to the season in which the 27-year-old posted a 3-0 record and 10 runs allowed over his first seven outings. Michael Conforto is 3-for-8 against Smith, who tossed five innings of two-run ball versus the Mets on April 1.
WALK-OFFS
1. Alonso is only 6-for-26 against the Marlins, but four of the hits were homers.
2. Marlins OF Brian Anderson did not start the last five games due to an elbow contusion.
3. The Mets have the worst road record in the NL at 17-31.