Marlins at Mets (Game 1)
The Miami Marlins aim to gain the edge in both the season and current series against the host New York Mets on Wednesday when the National League East rivals play a single-admission doubleheader at Citi Field. The Marlins (57-86) improved to 6-7 against the Mets (65-78) this season by getting the better of Jacob deGrom during Tuesday's 5-3 triumph in the opener of a four-game set.
Derek Dietrich collected two hits and a run scored in the series opener to improve to 13-for-43 with six extra-base hits (five doubles, homer) versus New York this season while crossing the plate 10 times. The 29-year-old is just 3-for-15 with nine strikeouts in his career against Wednesday's opening starter Zack Wheeler while he'll face left-hander Jason Vargas for the first time in the nightcap. While cellar-dwelling Miami has split eight of its contests in September, the Mets fell for just the third time in nine outings overall this month - although the team is batting just .215 while posting a 30-42 mark at home this season. Michael Conforto homered in a career-best third straight game and fifth time in eight contests, giving him 11 RBIs, 10 hits and six runs scored in that stretch heading into matchups against right-handers Trevor Richards and Jeff Brigham.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Trevor Richards (3-8, 4.73 ERA) vs. Mets RH Zack Wheeler (10-7, 3.39)
Richards fell to 0-3 in his last six outings on Sept. 4 after yielding six runs on four hits over 1 1/3 innings of a 9-4 setback versus Philadelphia. The 25-year-old did himself no favors by issuing four free passes, giving him multiple walks in seven straight encounters. Richards will be making his 22nd start of the season and first versus the Mets.
Wheeler improved to 8-1 with a 1.86 ERA in his last 10 starts last Wednesday after permitting three runs on as many hits over seven innings of a 7-4 win at the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 28-year-old surrendered two homers in that contest, matching his sum total of his previous nine outings. Wheeler posted a pair of sterling seven-inning performances to win two of his three encounters with Miami this season, upping his career mark to 4-2 with a 2.13 ERA against the Marlins.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York 3B Todd Frazier, who was ejected in the seventh inning for arguing balls and strikes in the series opener, is mired in a 1-for-15 stretch in his last five outings.
2. Miami CF Lewis Brinson had a two-run double in the series opener, improving to 12-for-30 with six runs driven in this month.
3. Mets RHP Robert Gsellman has yielded four runs on seven hits in his last three relief outings.