Diamondbacks at Mets
Rookie Pete Alonso is enjoying a September to remember, and the month is only nine days old. Fresh off a two-homer performance, Alonso carries an eight-game hitting streak into Tuesday's tilt at Citi Field as the New York Mets continue their four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Alonso's solo shots in New York's 3-1 series-opening win on Monday upped his homer total to a majors-best 47, putting the 24-year-old on pace to break Aaron Judge's rookie record of 52. Alonso is 13-for-35 with five homers, eight RBIs and as many runs scored during a hitting streak that began on Sept. 1. While New York welcomed just its sixth victory in 16 contests, Arizona has dropped back-to-back outings after winning five in a row and 11 of its previous 12. Former Met Wilmer Flores belted a solo homer in the series opener to enter Tuesday's contest with 12 hits - including five for extra bases - to go along with five runs scored in his last nine games.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zac Gallen (3-4, 2.50 ERA) vs. Mets RH Zack Wheeler (10-7, 4.33)
Gallen lost his no-hit bid in the seventh inning and exited after allowing just that single over seven scoreless frames in Wednesday's 4-1 victory against San Diego. The win improved the 24-year-old to 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in six starts since being acquired from Miami. Gallen will receive his second meeting with the Mets on Tuesday after permitting two runs on four hits in five innings of a no-decision on July 13 while he was still a member of the Marlins.
Wheeler yielded one run in five innings of an 8-4 win at Washington on Wednesday to improve to 4-1 with a 3.42 ERA in eight starts since coming off the injured list. The 29-year-old has fared well in 12 turns this season at Citi Field, sporting a 5-2 mark while limiting the opposition to a .240 batting average. Wheeler upped his career mark to 3-1 in six career starts against Arizona after working around a pair of homers to strike out nine batters over seven innings in a 5-4 victory on May 31.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona 2B Ketel Marte, who was named the National League Player of the Week earlier in the day, struck out in all four at-bats on Monday night to see his seven-game hitting streak come to a halt.
2. Mets SS Amed Rosario has five hits in his last two contests against the Diamondbacks.
3. Arizona 3B Eduardo Escobar has five homers, 10 RBIs and 11 runs scored in his last 14 games.