Marlins at Mets (Game 2)
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: 7:40 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jeff Brigham (0-1, 9.00 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jason Vargas (5-9, 6.75)
Brigham is patiently biding his time to make his second career start after Mother Nature forced rainouts on back-to-back starts. The 26-year-old allowed three runs, four hits and four walks while striking out two in three innings of a 6-1 loss to Toronto on Sept. 2. Brigham posted a 10-3 mark with a 2.36 ERA in 17 starts over three minor-league levels this season, including 5-2 with a 3.44 in nine turns with Triple-A New Orleans.
Vargas answered a three-start winning streak by getting shredded for five runs on six hits over 3 1/3 innings of an 11-4 setback at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 4. The 35-year-old allowed two homers in that contest after being taken deep twice in his previous six trips to the mound. Vargas fared significantly better in his previous outing against Miami, scattering two hits and striking out seven across five innings in a 2-0 win on May 21.
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.