Mets at Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers keep finding ways to win while solidifying their place atop the National League Central and go after an eighth victory in 10 games Saturday afternoon against the visiting New York Mets. The Brewers were shut out in the series opener and coughed up a lead in the ninth inning Friday before scoring the winner on a Travis Shaw bases-loaded walk in the 10th for a 4-3 victory.
Shaw also homered for the second straight day and infielder Eric Sogard singled in the 10th before scoring the winning run after being recalled earlier in the day as Milwaukee sent 23-year-old shortstop Orlando Arcia - batting just .194 - to the minors to work on his hitting. Chase Anderson gets the start for the Brewers in the matinee and will face veteran left-hander Jason Vargas, who is coming off his best outing of the season. The Mets had won five of seven, during which they allowed a total of 13 runs, to steady their ship before losing Friday night - dropping to 13-9 on the road. Shortstop Amed Rosario homered for the third time in six games Friday and Asdrubal Cabrera had three hits, improving to 4-for-10 in the series for the Mets, while Jose Bautista knocked in his first run with the team in the ninth to tie it.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jason Vargas (1-3, 9.87 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Chase Anderson (4-3, 3.86)
Vargas comes in off his first win of the season on Monday when he limited Miami to two hits and one walk over five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. The 35-year-old Californian, who has an 86-84 career record, gave up 19 runs on 26 hits across 12 1/3 innings in his first three starts of 2018. Vargas allowed three runs over five innings in a loss during the only career appearance against the Brewers and has held Lorenzo Cain to 2-for-11 with four strikeouts.
Anderson permitted two runs on three hits and three walks over six innings of a 4-2 victory against Arizona on Monday after sitting out two weeks due to illness. The 30-year-old Texan has posted five quality starts in nine outings this year, holding opponents to a .214 batting average, but he has given up 11 homers in 51 1/3 innings. Adrian Gonzalez is 9-for-21 with a homer versus Anderson, who is 2-2 with a 2.86 ERA in five games against the Mets.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets OF Jay Bruce boasts 35 career home runs against the Brewers, the most he has hit against any team.
2. Milwaukee also acquired C Erik Kratz from the New York Yankees on Friday and designated C Jett Bandy for assignment.
3. The Mets’ bullpen has allowed just five runs over 24 2/3 innings in the last eight contests (1.82 ERA).