The last time the Mets had an off-day was May 13th. Tomorrow, June 3rd is an off-day and this team needs it as they travel across the country back to New York to face the Giants. The only thing standing in their way between that day off for their arms is the Diamondbacks offense one more time.
Steven Matz will try to give the bullpen their day off a bit early. He is 4-3 over 10 games and 50.2 innings this year with a 3.55 ERA, 4.71 FIP, 1.342 WHIP and 114 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed 3 runs over 12.0 innings despite allowing 14 hits and 5 walks (explaining the difference between his WHIP and his ERA) while striking out 13 batters. He faced the Diamondbacks twice last year allowing 5 runs over 10.2 innings from 12 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5. The Diamondbacks have the following career lines against Matz:
- Nick Ahmed 3-5, 2B, 3B
- Ketel Marte 1-5
- David Peralta 0-5
- Jake Lamb 0-3, K
- Jarrod Dyson 0-1, BB
The Mets bats close out the series with 30 year old rookie Merrill Kelly. Kelly was originally in the Tampa Bay system with the SK Wyverns called about his availability and buying him out of his contract. Things didn’t work out for the KBO team then but later when Kelly was pitching in the Dominican Winter League, SK tried again and this time they convinced him to come over. In the KBO he posted a 3.86 ERA over 119 games and nearly 730 innings, quite a feat in a league known for homers and bat flipping. He signed a contract with the Diamondbacks this year and so far has been serviceable, going 4-6 over 11 games and 59.2 innings with a 4.83 ERA, 4.81 FIP, 1.508 WHIP and 94 ERA+. He is coming off two of roughest starts, allowing a total of 8 runs from 12 hits and 5 walks in 8.1 innings.
Let’s Go Mets!
