9/23/19 Game Preview: Miami Marlins at New York Mets

The New York Mets (81-74) are back home after a successful road trip, winning four out of six games against the Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds. That may not be good enough, however, with the Mets trailing both the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals by 4.5 games for the second wild card spot in the National League. With only seven games to go, the Mets need to win all of them to even have a prayer, and that begins tonight as they kick off their final home stand of the season with a four game set against the Miami Marlins (54-101). First pitch for today’s game is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. at Citi Field.

The Mets will send left hander Steven Matz (10-9, 4.16 ERA) to the mound tonight. Matz got beaten up in Coors Field last Monday, giving up seven runs in four innings to lose to the Colorado Rockies. The Marlins will counter with southpaw Caleb Smith (9-10, 4.24 ERA) to complete the matchup of lefties. Smith wasn’t spectacular in his last start, allowing four runs in five innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks last Tuesday, but still picked up a win anyway.

Local Coverage:

Television: SNY

Radio: WCBS

New York Mets Lineup:

Back home in front of the best fans in baseball. #LGM

⌚️ 👉 7:10 p.m.
🏟️ 👉 https://t.co/WDSCbLaStC
💪 👉 @Smatz88
👀 👉 @SNYtv
👂 👉 @wcbs880
💻 👉 https://t.co/ZFUXoSrEaG pic.twitter.com/5WoTBgnhZK

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 23, 2019

Pre-Game Notes:

• The Mets are 11-4 against the Marlins so far this season and swept a four game set against them when the squads last met in early August at Citi Field.
• The Mets are 6-0 against Miami at Citi Field in 2019.
• Matz is 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA in three starts against the Marlins this season.
• Smith is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two starts against the Mets in 2019.
• After taking a foul ball off his toe yesterday, Robinson Cano is out of the Mets’ lineup. Jeff McNeil will start at second base and bat second.
• Brandon Nimmo will get the day off with a lefty on the mound. Juan Lagares will start in center field and bat eighth.
• Matz has been dominant at home this season, going 7-1 with a 1.94 ERA at Citi Field.
• The Mets will clinch their first winning season since 2016 with a win tonight.