MLB Game Preview - Miami at NY Mets
Mon Aug 5, 2019 4:10 PM EDT

MIA
2
NYM
6
F
MIL
9
PIT
7
F
NYY
9
BAL
6
F
LAA
4
CIN
7
F
CHW
7
DET
4
F
KC
5
BOS
7
F
TOR
2
TB
0
F
TEX
1
CLE
0
F
MIA
4
NYM
5
F
OAK
5
CHC
6
F
ATL
3
MIN
5
F
PHI
7
ARI
3
F
WSH
4
SF
0
F
STL
0
LAD
8
F
Red-hot Mets hope to eclipse .500 in DH against Marlins
Sun Aug 4, 2019 11:08 PM

The New York Mets were closer in the standings to the Miami Marlins when they took the field in Miami for the first game after the All-Star break on July 12.

A little more than three weeks later, the math is entirely different for the Mets, who will arrive home Monday afternoon as one of the hottest teams in baseball and with a chance to move over .500 during a doubleheader against the Marlins.

The Mets are expected to start ace right-hander Jacob deGrom (6-7, 2.78 ERA) in the opener and rookie right-hander Walter Lockett (1-1,7.82 ERA) in the nightcap, which is scheduled to start 30 minutes after the first game is completed.

The Marlins hadn't announced their starters as of Sunday evening, though right-handed prospect Robert Dugger was with the team Sunday and is expected to make his major league debut in one of the games.

Both teams were on the road Sunday. The Mets earned their fourth straight series win by routing the Pittsburgh Pirates, 13-2, and the Marlins fell to the Tampa Bay Rays, 7-2.

With the win, the Mets improved to a major league-best 15-6 since the All-Star Break, moved within one game of .500 at 55-56 and three games behind the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies in the race for the second wild card.

There are still four teams between the Mets and the second wild card, and the run has been constructed almost entirely against subpar competition. The six teams New York has faced in the second half are 53-79 since the All-Star break. The last three opponents -- the Pirates, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox -- are just 16-50 in the second half.

Still, the Mets are in a far better position than when they exited the All-Star break seven games out of the wild card and trailing everyone in the NL except the Marlins, who were just six games behind New York.

With a win in Monday's opener, the Mets would reach .500 for the first time since May 28, when they were 27-27. And with a sweep, New York would get over the break-even mark for the first time since it was 16-15 on May 2.

"I think the biggest goal right now is getting back to .500," left-fielder J.D. Davis told reporters after he hit a mammoth homer in the first inning of Sunday's win. "I think it would be a huge thing, especially with the hole that we dug ourselves into."

The Marlins' loss Sunday was their fourth in the last five games, and it may have cost them outfielder Cesar Puello, who left in the fourth inning due to a tight left hip flexor. After the game, manager Don Mattingly said Puello will probably be placed on the injured list.

Puello said he had been battling soreness for several days.

"I was trying to push myself to be in there, but I just couldn't hold it anymore," Puello told reporters.

The Mets may also need to make an IL move Monday after second baseman Robinson Cano exited Sunday with a left hamstring strain after recording his third hit of the day in the fourth inning.

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Team Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Miami            
NY Mets            

Scheduled Starting Pitchers

Robert Dugger - TEX
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. NY Mets
Jacob deGrom - TEX
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Miami

Hot Batters (Last 10 team games)

Injury Report

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