Game Preview: Mets @ Rockies

The Mets played well against the Dodgers the last two days, but the bullpen couldn’t hold it together yesterday, and the offense gave the team 0 breathing room as they fell 3-2. Now the Mets find themselves 4.0 games back in the wild card race, where they were a week ago. Over the course of two day last week, the Mets went from 4.0 games out to 2.0 games out so it can happen again, they need to pretty much win the rest of the way out. Which is easier said than done. Luckily, for the first time in forever, the Mets schedule gets a tick easier as they head into Colorado.

Steven Matz is 10-8 over 29 games and 27 starts over 145.1 innings with a 3.84 ERA, 4.41 FIP, 1.314 WHIP and 106 ERA+. He’s coming off a great start against the Diamondbacks where he held them scoreless over 6.0 innings from 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 7. In his last 7 starts he has allowed 11 runs, 9 earned over 41.2 innings, a 1.94 ERA with opponents batting .213/.282/.361 against him. Matz faced the Rockies back on June 8th and he allowed 3 runs, 2 earned over 6.0 innings while striking out 10. The Rockies have the following numbers against him:

Charlie Blackmon 9-16, 2 2B, BB, 2 K
Nolan Arenado 6-16, 2B, 4 HR, BB, 3 K
Daniel Murphy 5-15, 2B, HR, BB, 3 K
Trevor Story 5-13, 2 2B, BB, 5 K
Ian Desmond 2-8, 2 BB, K

The Mets bats draw Antonio Senzatela for the series opener. On the season eh is 9-10 over 22 games and 108.2 innings with a 6.87 ERA, 5.36 FIP, 1.748 WHIP and 77 ERA+. After 6 consecutive starts (dating back to July 5th) of struggles (20.2 innings, 38 runs, 16.55 ERA, opponents slashing .423/.473/.660), Antonio had a strong start last time out allowing only 1 run over 6.0 innings from 4 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts. He had almost the same line against the Mets in June, allowing 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks in 6.0 innings work, just with no strikeouts. The Mets have the following numbers against him: