Pirates at Mets
The New York Mets get plenty of headlines for their struggles at the plate, but the Pittsburgh Pirates are hurting just as much with the bats. Both teams will try to scratch out a few runs when the Mets host the Pirates on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series.
The Pirates are hitting the road for a nine-game trip through New York, San Diego and Los Angeles on the heels of a five-game losing streak that saw them total eight runs. Pittsburgh managed five hits while getting blanked 3-0 by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday and watched the Nos. 4, 5 and 6 hitters in the lineup combine to go 0-for-9 with three strikeouts. The Mets are actually hitting better of late but struggled on the mound while dropping six in a row - allowing an average of 7.8 runs in that span. New York will try to stop the bleeding with righty Seth Lugo on Monday while the Pirates send right-hander Jameson Taillon to the mound.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (4-6, 4.03 ERA) vs. Mets RH Seth Lugo (2-2, 2.85)
Taillon allowed three or fewer earned runs in nine of his last 10 starts but suffered a loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday, when he was reached for three runs on seven hits and a walk across five innings. The Florida native struck out seven last time out and is allowing opponents a .247 batting average. Taillon has not faced New York since making his first two major-league starts against the Mets in 2016, when he allowed a total of three runs in 14 innings.
Lugo struggled in his last two starts, allowing a total of 11 runs - eight earned - and 14 hits over eight innings at Arizona and Colorado. The 28-year-old is holding down a rotation spot while Noah Syndergaard (finger) is on the disabled list and yielded a total of three homers in his last two outings. Lugo is seeing Pittsburgh for the first time in his career and is 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA in 13 games - two starts - at home this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Pirates placed RHP Michael Feliz (shoulder) on the 10-day disabled list Sunday.
2. New York OF Brandon Nimmo (finger) left Sunday's game after being hit by a pitch and is day-to-day.
3. Pittsburgh OF Gregory Polanco is batting .214 and was held out of the starting lineup in each of the last three games.