Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker wants to see more length from his starting pitchers.
But a once-dormant New York Mets lineup might be ready to make the task a tougher one for the Marlins’ starting pitchers.
The Mets will look to continue their offensive emergence Saturday afternoon, when they host the Marlins in the middle game of a three-game series between the National League East rivals.
New York’s Luis Severino (7-6, 4.17 ERA) is slated to oppose fellow right-hander Max Meyer (3-2, 5.20).
Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo homered in the fourth inning Friday night for the Mets, who rolled to a 7-3 win.
The six-run fourth was the latest evidence the Mets might be breaking out of the slump they’ve been mired in for much of the second half. New York has scored at least six runs in each of the last three games and 22 runs overall, its most in a three-game span since scoring 25 runs from June 26-29.
The Mets scored at least six runs just twice in their first 11 games this month. They scored at least six runs 25 times from May 30-July 31, during which New York went 35-18 to jump back into the National League playoff picture.
The Mets inched within one game of the Atlanta Braves in the race for the final NL wild-card spot by virtue of the Braves’ 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
“More guys that are swinging the bat well, the better,” Nimmo said. “What I would hope is that we’re coming into a stretch where we’re swinging the bats really well and we have a few guys doing it. And when you have more than one guy doing it, then you can do some damage.”
The Marlins continued to suffer from self-inflicted damage Friday, when rookie Roddery Munoz lasted only 3 1/3 innings. Just two runners got past first base against Munoz in the first three frames before he walked seventh-place hitter Francisco Alvarez with one out. McNeil followed with his homer, and Munoz walked Harrison Bader before Francisco Lindor chased him with an RBI triple.
A Marlins starter has completed six innings just three times in 14 games this month, during which Miami is 5-9. Edward Cabrera tossed seven scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres Aug. 9 before Meyer (6 1/3 innings) and Valente Bellozo (seven innings) had consecutive lengthy outings against the Padres and Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively.
“We need starters to get going at least through five,” Schumaker said. “Had to use a couple guys multiple innings tonight, but it will catch up to you later on in a series (or) then in a week before the off day.”
Severino took the loss Sunday, when he allowed four runs over five innings as the Mets fell to the Seattle Mariners 12-1. He is 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA in four career starts against the Marlins, including 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA in three starts this season.
Meyer earned the win Sunday after giving up four runs over 6 1/3 innings as the Marlins edged the Padres 7-6. He has never opposed the Mets.
–Field Level Media
