Mets at Rockies
The New York Mets face an uphill climb in the National League East standings but may have a breakout star in outfielder Brandon Nimmo. The red-hot 25-year-old has created some much-needed buzz around the Mets, who continue their four-game series against the host Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.
Nimmo homered twice and finished 4-for-6 with a career-high four RBIs in Monday’s 12-2 victory as the Mets extended their winning streak to three games. Wilmer Flores and Devin Mesoraco also homered, but the New York offense was led again by Nimmo, a Wyoming native who is 9-for-15 in his last three games and has 19 extra-base hits (seven doubles, two triples, 10 homers) and 17 RBI in his last 25 games. Colorado has lost nine of its last 11 games and fallen four games under .500 for the first time this season. The Rockies are hoping for more production from catchers Chris Iannetta, Tony Wolters and Tom Murphy, who went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Tuesday’s loss.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jason Vargas (2-5, 7.39 ERA) vs. Rockies RH German Marquez (4-7, 5.13)
Since beginning the season 0-3 with a 13.86 ERA in his first three starts, Vargas has gone 2-2 and posted a 3.91 ERA in his last five games. The 35-year-old native Californian allowed three runs with five strikeouts over five innings in last Thursday’s 6-3 loss to Arizona. Chris Iannetta is 4-for-11 with a home run against Vargas, who is 2-2 with a 9.00 ERA in five career starts versus Colorado, including 1-2 with an 11.40 ERA in three outings at Coors Field.
Marquez fell to 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA in three starts this month after allowing six runs over six frames in a 9-3 loss to Philadelphia last Thursday. The 23-year-old is 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA in two career starts against the Mets, including six strong innings in a victory at Citi Field on May 4. Marquez has gone 8-7 with a 5.18 ERA in 23 career games (22 starts) at Coors Field, including 1-4 with a 7.71 ERA in seven outings this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York has hit 29 home runs in its last 23 games, but 22 of them have been solo blasts.
2. Colorado has lost eight consecutive home games.
3. Mets OF Jay Bruce has missed four of the last five games with a sore hip and is listed as day-to-day.