Mets at Pirates
Jacob deGrom could be the poster boy for the New York Mets' frustrations this season, sporting a .500 record despite owning a major league-leading 1.71 ERA. DeGrom has gone nearly six weeks without a victory, a drought he will attempt to end when he takes the mound on Saturday night in the third of a four-game set against the host Pittsburgh Pirates.
Since winning his first four decisions of the season, deGrom has only one victory despite riding a streak of 12 consecutive quality starts. The Mets continue to look toward the future, shipping second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera to the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday in exchange for Double-A pitching prospect Franklyn Kilome. David Freese has struck out in each of his four career at-bats versus DeGrom, but he singlehandedly lifted the Pirates to a 5-4 victory Friday night by driving in all five runs and reaching base five times, including a walk-off RBI single in the ninth. Already without outfielders Corey Dickerson (hamstring) and Starling Marte (hand), Pittsburgh saw Josh Bell leave after two innings but still won for the 12th time in 14 games.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, WPIX (New York), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jacob deGrom (5-5, 1.71 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Trevor Williams (8-7, 4.11)
The 30-year-old DeGrom went eight innings for the third straight start but came away with a hard-luck loss versus San Diego on Monday, striking out 10 and giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits. He has made nine starts on the road, posting a 3-2 record and a 1.79 ERA while holding opponents to a .216 batting average against. The Stetson product has made five career starts against the Pirates, going 1-2 record despite a 2.14 ERA.
Williams was credited with the first complete game of his career Monday when he blanked Cleveland on four hits over six innings in a rain-shortened victory. The 26-year-old also did not allow a run in his previous start either, permitting four hits over five innings to beat Philadelphia. Williams won his only start against the Mets, limiting them to one run on seven hits over seven innings in June 2017.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets OF Michael Conforto has four homers and 12 RBIs in his last nine games.
2. Freese is 4-for-5 with two homers, seven RBIs and four walks in the first two games of the series.
3. The Mets signed OF Austin Jackson and designated OF Matt den Dekker for assignment.