Marlins at Mets (Game 1)
The New York Mets surprised some by buying instead of selling in front of the trade deadline and the team is rewarding its front office's faith by bashing its way into wild card contention in the National League. The Mets can jump above .500 with a strong showing when they host the Miami Marlins in a straight doubleheader on Monday.
New York was nine games under .500 after a loss to the San Diego Padres on July 24 but has since won nine of 10, capped by a 13-2 triumph over Pittsburgh on Sunday, to pull to 55-56 and within shouting distance of a wild card spot. "I think the biggest goal right now is getting back to .500," Mets outfielder J.D. Davis, who homered and drove in three on Sunday, told reporters. "I think it would be a huge thing, especially with the hole that we dug ourselves into. And after we accomplish that goal, we can start looking to more of getting into the playoffs and winning series that we're supposed to win. But right now, we're just enjoying it." The Marlins (42-67) own the worst record in the NL and are losers of four of five after beginning a six-game road trip with a pair of losses at Tampa Bay over the weekend. New York will send right-handers Jacob deGrom and Walker Lockett to the mound on Monday while Miami counters with righties Sandy Alcantara and Robert Dugger.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Florida (Miami), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (4-10, 4.54 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jacob deGrom (6-7, 2.78)
Alcantara is winless in his last six starts and was lit up for seven runs on six hits - three homers - over 4 2/3 innings in a loss to the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. The 23-year-old allowed at least six runs in three of his last six outings and he is up to 60 walks in 123 innings - the fourth-most in the majors. Alcantara issued two walks in six innings at home against New York on July 14 and was reached for four runs and nine hits in a loss.
DeGrom allowed two or fewer earned runs in 12 of his last 13 starts and yielded a total of two runs over his last four outings. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner breezed through seven innings at the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, surrendering one run and five hits while walking two and notching 11 strikeouts in the win. DeGrom is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts against Miami this season, recording 31 strikeouts in 24 total innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets 2B Robinson Cano suffered a strained left hamstring Sunday and is scheduled for an MRI on Monday.
2. Miami INF Neil Walker (finger) sat out Sunday and is day-to-day.
3. New York OF/INF Jeff McNeil is 6-for-13 with eight runs scored in the last four games.