Mets at Giants
Zack Wheeler faces the team that drafted him sixth overall in 2009 for the first time when his New York Mets look for a sweep of the host San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. Wheeler was one of the Giants’ top prospects when he was traded to New York for Carlos Beltran on July 28, 2011. “I definitely want to go out there and do well for myself and maybe show them what they could’ve had, I guess,” Wheeler told reporters.
The Giants have lost 13 of their last 15 games, and they're looking for a spark after stranding 29 runners in the first two games of the series. San Francisco called up 32-year-old Kensuke Tanaka from Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday and immediately had him starting in left field and batting second. The team also signed veteran outfielder Jeff Francoeur to a minor-league deal, and he could be promoted soon after next week’s All-Star break.
TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), Comcast SportsNet-Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Zack Wheeler (2-1, 4.29 ERA) vs. Giants RH Matt Cain (5-5, 4.85)
Wheeler wasn’t particularly sharp last Friday against the Brewers, but he earned his second career win after allowing three runs (one earned) over five innings. The outing was an improvement over his previous two starts, when he yielded nine earned runs over 10 innings. Ten of the 21 hits against Wheeler this season have been for extra bases.
Cain is looking to bounce back from a dismal outing last Friday, when he tossed a season-low 2 1/3 innings and allowed eight runs in a 10-2 loss to the Dodgers. The 28-year-old has already given up 60 earned runs after yielding a total of 68 earned runs all of last season. He’s 5-4 with a 3.61 ERA in 10 career starts against the Mets.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mets are seeking their first series sweep in San Francisco since 1994.
2. The Giants placed C Hector Sanchez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder and recalled LHP Mike Kickham from Triple-A Fresno.
3. Mets 3B David Wright is batting .350 (14-for-40) during his 10-game hitting streak.