The Mets open a four-game series with the Marlins at 7:10 PM tonight at Citi Field.
Here is tonight’s starting lineup:
1) Curtis Granderson – RF
2) Travis d’Arnaud – C
3) Lucas Duda – 1B
4) Michael Cuddyer – LF
5) Daniel Murphy – 2B
6) Eric Campbell – 3B
7) Juan Lagares – CF
8) Wilmer Flores – SS
9) Dillon Gee – RHP
Here are tonight’s pitching matchups:
Dillon Gee (0-1, 9.00 ERA) will start for the Mets. Gee is coming off a disappointing 2015 debut against the Braves, during which he allowed five runs in five innings. Despite the loss, Gee has made 47 straight starts of five innings or more dating to May 19, 2013, the longest active streak in the majors. Gee pitched well against the Marlins last year, going 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts, and is 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA in six career starts against them.
Key matchups vs. Gee:
Marcel Ozuna: 5-for-10
Michael Morse: 2-for-10, 2B, RBI
Martin Prado: 5-for-25, 2 2B
Giancarlo Stanton: 1-for-9, HR
Jarred Cosart (0-1, 1.50 ERA) will start for the Marlins. Despite taking the loss, Cosart pitched well against the Rays during his 2015 debut, allowing just a run on three hits in six innings in Miami last weekend. Since he debuted on July 12, 2013, Cosart has the third best home run per nine innings rate among qualified big league pitchers at 0.44. Coast is making his second career start against New York – he took a no-decision last September 15 after allowing two runs on five hits in six innings.
Key matchups vs. Cosart:
Wilmer Flores: 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI
Juan Lagares: 1-for-3
Travis d’Arnaud: 1-for-3
Here’s what I am looking for tonight from the Mets…
Dillon Gee to use all of his pitches.
Gee himself admitted last Saturday night he threw too many fastballs and not enough breaking pitches during his start against the Braves. It’s always important for Gee to use all of his pitches, especially his change-up which very well could be his best pitch. When he’s on, he’s getting that change-up to tail down and in to the right-handers, and then using his curveball to go in the other direction. It’s important he stick to that program – it’s part of what led to his struggles last year as well, but something it looked like he was improving upon during Spring Training.
More contact from Wilmer Flores.
Flores is swinging and missing at a lot of pitches inside the strike zone early on in the season. Presumably he’s overanxious and trying to do too much, but he’s overswinging and has been a little lost at the plate so far as a result. In his last couple of games, his swing has become more controlled, and he’s hit the ball with more authority in the process. Hopefully, that trend continues for him today.
Keep the offense going.
Over the last two nights, the Mets offense looked much better than it had over the first week of the season. They had mostly faced top-tiered pitching to that point, but none the less they were misfiring most of the time and not scoring any runs. Cosart is a groundball pitcher and keeps the ball in the yard, so it will likely be difficult for the Mets to get much lift on the ball, especially since its going to be cool once again at Citi Field, so in the cases of Flores and Juan Lagares especially, contact and good situational hitting will be essential for success tonight.
Just Mets 