Mets @ Cardinals, Aug. 18: Joey Lucchesi returns to face St. Louis at 8:15 p.m. on SNY
The Mets continue a four-game weekend set against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium starting on Friday at 8:15 p.m.
Mets Notes
The Mets enter Friday having won three of their last four, including Thursday's opener vs. the Cardinals in a 4-2 victory.
Brandon Nimmo looks to continue a nine-game hitting streak - the third-longest of his career. In that time, he is hitting .412 with three runs, two doubles, two home runs, seven walks and a 1.159 OPS.
Pete Alonso enters Friday with home runs in each of his last two games as he inches closer to 40, standing at 37 home runs - second-most in the NL - as he aims for this third season with 40-plus homers.
Jeff McNeil went 1-for-4 on Friday and has now hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games while reaching base in 20 of the 26 games he’s appeared in since July 21. He has a slash line of .297/.357/.416 in that span.
Francisco Lindor has hit safely in 16 of his last 18 games, including a RBI double in Friday's win. The Mets shortstop is hitting .338/.416/.544 with a .960 OPS in that span.
METS | CARDINALS |
|---|---|
Brandon Nimmo, DH | Tommy Edman, CF |
Tim Locastro, LF | Paul Goldschmidt, DH |
Pete Alonso, 1B | Nolan Arenado, 3B |
Francisco Lindor, SS | |
Francisco Alvarez, C | Tyler O'Neill, LF |
Jeff McNeil, RF | Jordan Walker, RF |
Danny Mendick, 2B | Luken Baker, 1B |
Rafael Ortega, CF | Jose Fermin, 2B |
Jonathan Arauz, 3B | Masyn Winn, SS |
Who is starting for the Mets?
Joey Lucchesi toes the rubber for the Mets for the first time since May 13 as the club recalled him from Triple-A to give Kodai Senga an extra days rest.
Lucchesi, who missed all of last season due to Tommy John surgery, made five starts with the Mets earlier this year, going 1-0 with a 4.43 ERA before being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
The 30-year-old southpaw has been on Syracuse's injured list since mid-July with a knee injury, but has made two rehab starts and will not only look to provide some innings for the Mets, but also make his case for his future role on the team.
Who is starting for the Cardinals?
On the opposite end for the Cardinals will be another left-hander in 25-year-old Zack Thompson.
Thompson has mostly pitched out of the bullpen this season, making just one start in 18 big-league appearances, which came on Aug. 6 against the Colorado Rockies. Thompson has allowed 11 earned runs in 25 innings pitched for a 3.96 ERA.
The Cardinals appear to be stretching Thompson out as he auditions for a rotations spot for next year, having pitched four innings in each of his last two appearances, where he allowed two earned runs on six hits while striking out 13.
Upcoming schedule
The Mets and Cardinals continue their four-game weekend set at Busch Stadium on Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
Kodai Senga (9-6, 3.30 ERA), will be on the mound for the Mets while the Cardinals will turn to veteran RHP Miles Mikolas (6-8, 4.27 ERA).
