The Mets (2-3) finish up at Turner Field on Sunday where they will look to avoid getting swept by the Braves (5-0).
Here is today’s starting lineup for the Mets:
1) Juan Lagares CF
2) David Wright 3B
3) Lucas Duda 1B
4) Michael Cuddyer LF
5) John Mayberry Jr. RF
6) Anthony Recker C
7) Ruben Tejada 2B
8) Wilmer Flores SS
9) Bartolo Colon RHP
Here are today’s pitching matchups:
Bartolo Colon (1-0, 1.50 ERA) will start for the Mets. The 41-year-old Colon was much maligned when it was revealed that he would get the Opening Day start over the likes of Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom, but he was terrific. Colon’s bugaboo has been and will remain to be his susceptibility to giving up the longball due to how many fastballs he throws and how often he throws strikes. This is what happened in his first start against the Nationals, where he allowed a home run to Bryce Harper, but it was a solo shot. When runners were on base, Colon buckled down and got the big outs he had to. Today he’ll attempt to play the role of stopper as the Mets try to avoid the sweep in Atlanta. In three career starts there, Colon is 3-0 with a 0.45 ERA at Turner Field.
Key matchups vs. Colon:
Freddie Freeman: 6-for-10, 3 doubles, 2 RBI.
Jonny Gomes: 7-for-18, 1 double, 1 triple, 2 HR, 2 RBI.
Alberto Callapso: 7-for-29, 3 doubles, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 5 K.
Alex Wood (1-0, 3.60 ERA) will start for the Braves. The left-hander Wood, now Atlanta’s No. 2 starter, is coming off a decent start against the Marlins, going 5 innings while allowing two earned runs, four hits, three walks and struck out four. It also helps when you’re given a 7-0 lead before you step on the mound, as Wood was five days ago. The Mets will be sitting two of their big left-handed hitters, Curtis Granderson and Daniel Murphy on Sunday, however Wood’s lefty/righty splits in his career would suggest that it isn’t necessary. Left-handers have hit .254 against Wood in his career, while righties have hit at a marginally lower .243.
Key matchups vs. Wood:
Juan Lagares: 3-for-11, 1 double, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4 K.
John Mayberry Jr: 3-for-10, 1 double, 1 HR, 1 RBI.
Lucas Duda: 0-for-6, 2 walks, 3 K.
Stop the bleeding.
When this series began, I said that the Mets needed to take care of business by winning this series against an inferior Braves roster. Well, they haven’t done that, losing the first two games of the series to this now 5-0 Atlanta squad.
Today, they have to stop the bleeding. The pitching has been pretty good, outside of Dillon Gee on Saturday night. The offense, however, has been lousy, mustering just four extra-base hits all season (30th in MLB), and averaging 3.6 runs per game. Their .252 team slugging percentage is also good for last in the league. The defense has been incredibly shaky, too, as although no errors were committed in Saturday’s game, Daniel Murphy and Wilmer Flores both made misplays, adding to this worrisome middle infield situation.
Mets are going right-handed heavy today.
The Mets are going predominantly right-handed in their lineup today, the lone exception being Lucas Duda (who is 0-for-6 lifetime against Wood). Daniel Murphy has strong numbers against Wood (he’s 5-for-11 lifetime), but Terry Collins decided to give him a day off because he’s dealing with some kind of soreness and fatigue.
Still, I wonder why Collins decided to sit Granderson. Not only do left-handers hit Wood fairly well, but the Mets are trying to avoid a sweep and earn a .500 road trip. Yes, it’s just six games into the season, but this isn’t a day where I’d be sitting the regulars unnecessarily.
Just Mets 