The Mets and Diamondbacks play the rubber game today as the Mets look for a series win to start this road trip off on the right foot. It is also a big day for the Mets as Jon Niese finally rejoins the rotation after injury. In case you missed last night’s game, Wheeler was great through 6.1 innings and the bullpen was able to hold it together as the Mets (and specifically Wilmer Flores) were able to put some runs on the board. Niese in his return today will be facing Zeke Spruill.
As stated earlier, this is the first start for Niese in a minute. Niese is 3-6 over 14 innings with a 4.32 ERA over 77.0 innings and 49 strikeouts this year. In his rehab starts, he pitched 11.0 innings allowing only 3 ER (2.45 ERA) while walking 4 and striking out 11. Last year Niese faced the Diamondbacks once and it didn’t go well as he allowed 9 hits, 8 runs, 6 earned over 6 innings of work. The Diamondbacks have the following numbers against Niese:
Prado 6-29, 4 2B, 3B
Ross 2-6
Hill 0-2
Goldschmidt 1-3
Kubel 1-3, 2B
Zeke Spruill is 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA over 5 games, 1 start and 8.1 innings of work. The 23 year old rookie made his first start in his last outing where he allowed 5 ER (he’s allowed 6 in his career) over 4.1 innings. He’s made 17 starts in the minors this year with a 2.68 ERA pitching 104.0 innings with 54 strikeouts. He’s never faced the Mets or anyone on the Mets roster in a major league game.
Lets Go Mets!
