Mets vs. Diamondbacks Series Preview
In what could be one of, if not the most important series for the Mets, they look to ramp it up in the last 30 games of the season to make a push at the Wild Card, and what better way to start it than against the current holders of the first National League Wild Card spot in the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Mets stay out West after splitting four games on the road in San Diego while the Diamondbacks return home after a four-to-nothing sweep of the Boston Red Sox on the road. The Mets will need their recent stars like Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos to stay hot. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks will continue with their next-man-up mentality as their All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte sits on the injured list with an ankle injury.
The first game of the series features two lefties as Sean Manaea will be on the bump against Eduardo Rodriguez. The Mets will be throwing Luis Severino in Game Two where he will be facing off against Brandon Pfaadt and the Mets have not announced a Game Three starter to face off against Ryne Nelson after sending Paul Blackburn to the 15-day injured list with a bruised hand. The Mets currently have four starters on their roster and could look to either Tylor Megill or a bullpen game for the fifth spot in the rotation. Megill hasn’t looked all that great this year posting a 5.17 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP in 10 games, so expect a bullpen game if their bullpen arms are readily available.
After this series, the Mets head on the road for one final series of their 10-game road stand versus the Chicago White Sox before heading home for a series against the Boston Red Sox. The Diamondbacks will stay at home for a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers before heading on the road to face another National League West foe, the San Francisco Giants. The Mets hope to make up ground in the standings of the National League Wild Card, while the Diamondbacks look to lengthen their lead and put on the after-burners. The Diamondbacks currently hold a one-game lead on the Padres for the first overall spot in the Wild Card with a four-game lead over the Atlanta Braves who possess the third spot. The Mets stand behind the Braves who hold a three-game lead over the Mets for the final spot.
