Game Preview: Mets @ Twins

The Mets are on a three game win streak! They look to sweep the two game set from the Twins this afternoon. Yesterday the bullpen was called on for 5 innings of work to protect a 1-run lead and it worked! The bullpen did their job! Can they do it again today?

Jason Vargas is the most likely pitcher not named Zack Wheeler to be traded before the deadline, and Wheeler’s recent trip to the IL makes this afternoon’s start by Vargas even more important. Can the Mets drive up his trade value? On the season he is 3-5 over 16 games and 15 starts logging 76.2 innings posting a 4.23 ERA, 4.66 FIP, 1.304 WHIP and 96 ERA+. His first start from the All-Star break was a rough one – he allowed 6 runs over 5.0 innings against the Marlins. Before that he allowed 17 runs, 14 earned over 47.1 innings in 8 games, a 2.66 ERA where opponents got on base against him at a .289 clip. His one relief outing this year was against the Twins and it was terrible – 4 runs in one inning, in a game the Mets lost 14-8. The Twins have the following stats against him:

Nelson Cruz 12-34, 2 2B, 5 HR, 8 BB, 8 K
C.J. Cron 2-10, 2 HR, 3 BB, 2 K
Byron Buxton 2-7, 3B, BB, 3 K
Eddie Rosario 3-7, 2B
Jonathan Schoop 2-7, HR, BB, 3 K

The Mets bats will look to provide the Mets pitching staff with a little more breathing room against Martin Perez today. Perez is 8-3 over 18 games and 15 starts logging 95.0 innings with a 4.26 ERA, 3.71 FIP, 1.368 WHIP and 107 ERA+. Perez has struggled in his last 7 starts allowing 32 runs, 26 earned, from 39 hits and 14 walks in 37.0 innings (but only 2 homers!). He’s posted a 6.32 ERA in this stretch and opponents have an on base percentage of .331 (but only a .683 OPS). He pitched against the Mets in relief earlier this season, allowing 3 runs in 2.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him: