Blue Jays at Mets
The New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays have followed their rapid ascents in the standings with pronounced declines, relegating both to just one win over .500. The Mets have answered an 11-1 start with losses in 17 of 25 contests heading into Tuesday's opener of an abbreviated two-game interleague series against the visiting Blue Jays, who have dropped seven of their last 10.
Asdrubal Cabrera has five two-hit performances in his last eight outings, including in both contests of New York's two-game split in Philadelphia. Yoenis Cespedes highlighted his two-hit showing with a solo homer in Sunday's 4-2 setback versus the Phillies, but he is just 1-for-8 with three strikeouts versus Tuesday starter Jaime Garcia. Toronto may be happy to cross the border after dropping eight of its last 11 home games following Sunday's 5-3 setback against Boston. Russell Martin, who collected three hits in that contest to match his sum total over his previous seven games, will face Tuesday starter Noah Syndergaard for the first time in his career.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet One (Toronto), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Jaime Garcia (2-2, 5.40 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (2-1, 3.09)
Garcia kept the ball in the park for the first time this season on Wednesday, but five walks drove up his pitch count and left him with a no-decision versus Seattle. The 31-year-old allowed just two runs on a season-low three hits in that contest, which marked his best showing since his 2018 debut in a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox. Garcia hasn't received the best results versus New York, however, as he owns a 2-5 mark despite posting a respectable 3.18 ERA while limiting the Mets to a .258 batting average.
Syndergaard has delivered four consecutive quality starts and takes the mound on Tuesday on eight day's rest. The 25-year-old yielded two runs on six hits in as many innings versus Colorado on May 6, but four walks drove up his pitch count. Syndergaard has limited the current roster of the Blue Jays to a .176 batting average with seven strikeouts in 17 at-bats, although his lone encounter with Toronto came in 2015.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto CF Kevin Pillar, who leads the team with a .308 batting average, is 6-for-14 in his career versus New York.
2. The Mets' seven home wins are the second fewest in the National League (Cincinnati, six).
3. Blue Jays 3B Josh Donaldson is 7-for-21 with three doubles in his last five games.