Mets at Rockies
The New York Mets are looking forward to their weekend series against the Nationals in Washington, if for nothing else than a chance to thaw out. The Mets will attempt to play in winter conditions for the sixth straight day when they visit the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. New York played twice with temperatures in the 30s over the weekend in Minnesota before Sunday's game was postponed, and Monday's series opener in Denver was called because of snow.
With more snow expected to begin falling in Denver by mid-afternoon - 3-to-5 inches is forecast, Wednesday's game could be postponed and made up Thursday as part of a doubleheader. A large continent armed with shovels - including Rockies owner Dick Monfort and Mets general manager Sandy Alderson - cleared eight inches off the field Tuesday to allow a doubleheader to be played. Colorado swept the twin bill to improve to 10-4 as Jordan Pacheco won the nightcap 9-8 with a walk-off single in the 10th inning. The Rockies, who are 5-0 at home, survived a pair of David Wright home runs to win the opener 8-4.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), ROOT Sports (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jeremy Hefner (0-2, 6.00 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jon Garland (1-0, 3.75)
Mets manager Terry Collins toyed with the idea of using Hefner on Tuesday night, but decided to stay with left-hander Aaron Laffey, the scheduled starter.
Hefner will work on two extra days rest after allowing five runs in the first inning of New York's 7-3 loss at Philadelphia on April 10. He yielded one run in six innings against Miami in his season opener, but was charged with the loss when the Mets fell 7-5. Hefner has never faced the Rockies or any of their players.
After signing with Colorado at the beginning of the final week of spring
training, Garland has given the Rockies two quality starts. The
33-year-old Valencia, Calif., native, who is 133-119 lifetime, pitched
six innings and allowed five hits in each outing - both Colorado
victories. Garland did not pitch in 2012 after suffering a shoulder
injury midway through 2011. Garland has tamed David Wright (2-for-15,
three strikeouts) and John Buck (10-for-42).
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado CF Dexter Fowler, who has a team-leading six homers, missed both games of Tuesday's doubleheader after fouling a ball off his left foot Sunday. He is considered day-to-day.
2. Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki did not start the second game Tuesday after getting hit by a pitch on the elbow in the opener. He struck out as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning with Colorado trailing 8-6
3. Thursday's forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a high of 36 degrees and winds out of the north at 15 mph. This is New York's only scheduled trip to Colorado this season.