After dropping the first game of the series on Friday night, the Mets swept the doubleheader against the Braves in convincing fashion. In the first game, Robert Gsellman looked more like the pitcher we saw in 2015 as he notched his third straight strong start and Yoenis Cespedes returned with an exclamation point getting 4 insurance runs in the top of the 9th with a grand slam. In the evening, Steven Matz returned and he was dominant over 7 innings as the Mets won 8-1.
Seth Lugo makes his return to the rotation today. He was a key part in the Mets rise to the Wild Card game at the end of last year and was one of the best pitchers on Puerto Rico’s staff in the World Baseball Classic. Last year in with the Mets he pitched to a 5-2 record over 17 games, 8 starts with a 2.67 ERA and a 1.094 WHIP. He picked up a win in his only start against Atlanta last year where he allowed 6 hits and 1 walk over 7.0 innings leading to 2 runs. The Braves have the following numbers against Lugo:
- Inciarte 1-3
- Kemp 1-3
- Markakis 1-3
- Swanson 0-2
The Mets will get another look at Jaime Garcia who is 2-4 over 11 starts and 70.0 innings with a 3.21 ERA, 4.33 FIP and 1.229 WHIP. Each of those starts are down from last season with WHIP being down from 1.375 and his ERA is down from 4.67. The Mets last saw Jaime the opening week of the season where he allowed 6 hits and 2 walks over 6.0 innings leading to 4 runs in a game the Mets won. The Mets have the following numbers against Garcia:
- Bruce 11-54, 2B, HR, 2 BB (.216 BA, .241 OBP)
- Reyes 6-22, 2B, BB
- Flores 4-10, 2B, 2 HR (1.500 OPS)
- Cabrera 3-8, 2 2B
- Cespedes 1-7, 2B, BB
- Walker 3-8, 2 2B
- d’Arnaud 2-6, 2B
- Duda 1-2, HR, BB
Let’s Go Mets!
