Marlins at Mets
The New York Mets are riding high after the first sweep of at least three games at Citi Field in two years while the Miami Marlins are down in the dumps after squandering a six-run lead in their series finale versus Atlanta. The Mets (23-19) hope to continue their good fortune on Monday when they open a three-game home series versus the Marlins (17-29), against whom they outscored 16-9 in a three-game sweep from April 9-11.
Amed Rosario became the youngest Met to record a multi-homer game since Lastings Milledge in 2007 by going deep twice and Asdrubal Cabrera added a two-run shot in Sunday's 4-1 win over Arizona. Cabrera launched a pair of homers in New York's 8-6 triumph over Miami on April 10 to highlight a series in which he went 4-for-12 with four runs scored, while Rosario had three hits and three runs scored in the set's first two contests. While the Mets are 4-1 on their eight-game homestand, the Marlins saw leads of 6-0 and 8-2 go by the boards en route to losing for the ninth time in 13 outings with Sunday's 10-9 setback in Atlanta. Lewis Brinson belted a grand slam in the series finale versus the Braves, but went 0-for-9 with four strikeouts in the previous set against the Mets.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Elieser Hernandez (0-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jason Vargas (0-3, 13.86)
Hernandez acquitted himself well in his first career major league start on Wednesday, yielding one run on three hits in five innings of a no-decision versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 23-year-old Venezuelan primarily relied on his fastball, as he went to that pitch on 51 of his 75 deliveries to the plate. "In spring, he was just a kid with a good look on his face, No. 1," manager Don Mattingly told the Sun-Sentinel of the Rule 5 draft pick. "He's been aggressive. He was aggressive in spring. We've seen him pitch a couple of times now. He throws the ball over the plate. He doesn't seem to be fazed."
Manager Mickey Callaway opted to give right-hander Zack Wheeler an extra day of rest and is shuffling Vargas to the mound, with the latter pitcher receiving his first start since May 8. The 35-year-old has struggled mightily in three outings this season, as he was taken deep five times in his previous two and allowed four runs on six hits over four innings of a 7-2 setback to Cincinnati in the last one. Cameron Maybin is 4-for-6 and Starlin Castro is 3-for-8 versus Vargas, who lost his lone career appearance against Miami after permitting four runs on eight hits across six innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Miami RF Brian Anderson has four multi-hit performances in his last six outings and had three hits in the previous series against New York.
2. Mets 3B Wilmer Flores carries a four-game hitting streak into Monday's tilt versus the Marlins, against whom he had three extra-base hits (two doubles, homer) in two games earlier this season.
3. Miami has yielded at least seven runs in seven of its last 13 games.