Marlins at Mets
The New York Mets gave captain David Wright an emotional sendoff on Saturday and are moving into the future without their cornerstone player. Wright is not expected to play on Sunday, when the Mets host the Miami Marlins in the 2018 finale.
Wright, who is under contract with New York until 2020, missed most of the last four seasons due to injury and is expected to retire. The Mets are headed toward another losing season but turned back the clock for one night on Saturday as Wright took third base with Jose Reyes at shortstop, though Wright had already been pulled from the game and received his lengthy outpouring of support from the fans before Austin Jackson plated Michael Conforto with a walk-off double in the 13th inning to give New York a 1-0 triumph. The Marlins are coming to the end of their own disappointing campaign and are losers of four of the last five games after managing five hits in 13 frames on Saturday. New York will try to end things on a high note with Noah Syndergaard taking the hill on Sunday opposite Miami righty Sandy Alcantara.
TV: 3:10 p.m. FS Florida (Miami), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (2-2, 4.00 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (12-4, 3.22)
Alcantara suffered a hiccup on his way to earning a 2019 rotation spot when he was ripped for six runs on seven hits - two home runs - over four innings at Washington on Monday. The 23-year-old Dominican Republic native dominated in his first two starts after being called up at the beginning of the month but lasted only four innings in each of the last two. Alcantara had little trouble at New York on Sept. 13, allowing two runs on as many hits in seven innings.
Syndergaard is trying to finish strong and scattered three hits across six scoreless innings without factoring in the decision against Atlanta on Tuesday. The 26-year-old surrendered two or fewer runs in four of his last seven starts and owns 149 strikeouts across 145 1/3 innings. Syndergaard is 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against Miami this season, notching 12 strikeouts in 13 total frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets OF Brandon Nimmo (hamstring) left Saturday's game and is unlikely to play in the finale.
2. Marlins C J.T. Realmuto will serve as player/manager on Sunday.
3. New York rookie LHP Daniel Zamora earned his first MLB win on Saturday.