Pirates at Mets
Although they figure to be sellers at the trade deadline, the New York Mets are playing like a team that wants to stay relevant. The Mets will try to extend their latest winning streak to four in a row when they aim for a sweep of a three-game set against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.
After a 6-3 win in the series opener, New York took Saturday's matchup 3-0 behind Steven Matz's first career shutout. Michael Conforto and J.D. Davis both homered to back the left-hander's effort as the Mets won for the ninth time in their last 13 games. New York veteran Jason Vargas is a prime candidate to find a new home prior to the deadline and gave prospective employers something to ponder with six scoreless innings in his last outing. He sets his sights on a third win in as many starts Sunday opposite Chris Archer for the Pirates.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, WPIX (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Chris Archer (3-7, 5.40 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jason Vargas (5-5, 3.96)
Archer remained winless over a span of eight starts when he gave up four runs in six innings against St. Louis on Tuesday. He has eight strikeouts or more in five of those eight outings and 112 in 96 2/3 innings on the season. The two-time All-Star has faced the Mets just once before, fanning 10 in six solid innings on Aug. 9, 2015.
Vargas allowed only one hit while striking out eight in his win over San Diego on Tuesday. The 36-year-old is 2-2 with a 2.68 ERA in eight games (seven starts) at home while holding opponents to a .201 average. Melky Cabrera is 10-for-28 with five extra-base hits and nine RBIs against Vargas.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets 1B Dominic Smith (foot) was placed on the 10-day injured list and OF Aaron Altherr was brought up from Triple-A Syracuse.
2. Pirates 1B Josh Bell has gone a season-high 17 straight games without a homer and is stuck on 27.
3. Pittsburgh OF Corey Dickerson (groin) was out of the lineup Saturday and remains day-to-day.