Pitchers for the New York Mets had little trouble thriving in Houston, Miami or at home.
The difficulty level might be raised a bit Friday night, though, when the Mets open a six-game road trip by visiting the Athletics in Sacramento, Calif.
Right-hander Griffin Canning (0-1, 2.79 ERA) is slated to start for the Mets against left-hander JP Sears (1-1, 3.46).
Both teams were off Thursday after losing at home Wednesday afternoon. The Mets’ bid for a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins ended with a 5-0 defeat, while the Athletics fell to the San Diego Padres 2-1 in the rubber game of a three-game set.
Despite the loss, the Mets’ major league-leading ERA rose only slightly to 2.10 thanks to a pair of unearned runs charged to starting pitcher Tylor Megill. New York has given up just 32 runs through 12 games.
The rotation and bullpen have been equally effective for the Mets, whose starters have a 2.43 ERA and whose relievers possess a 1.70 ERA even after Edwin Diaz gave up three runs in a non-save situation Wednesday.
“We have a few different weapons that can match up well with the other side,” left fielder Brandon Nimmo said of the bullpen following Sunday’s 2-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. “It’s not like it’s just one guy.”
The sledding may be a little tougher this weekend in Sacramento, where a total of 70 runs have been scored in the Athletics’ first six games at Sutter Health Park. The facility usually houses the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats but will be the Athletics’ home for at least the next three seasons while their new stadium in Las Vegas is built.
The home/road splits are stark for the Athletics, who have a 6.83 ERA at Sutter Health Park and just a 3.63 ERA away from home. They have surrendered more than four runs four times in six home games but only one time in seven road games. The host Colorado Rockies earned a 12-5 victory at hitter-friendly Coors Field on Sunday.
Still, Athletics manager Mark Kotsay is hopeful Jeffrey Springs and Osvaldo Bido may have authored a tutorial for success over the last two games, during which they gave up six runs (five earned) over 11 innings.
“From my standpoint, it’s too early to assess how this park is going to play,” Kotsay said. “The results say it’s a hitter-friendly ballpark, but I want to see a game where we execute our pitches.”
Canning didn’t factor into the decision last Saturday, when he gave up one run over four innings in the Mets’ 3-2 win over the Blue Jays. Canning is 3-5 with a 4.84 ERA in 11 career starts against the Athletics, whom he’s faced more than any other opponent.
Sears earned the win on Saturday after surrendering three runs over 6 1/3 innings in the Athletics’ 7-4 victory over the Rockies. Sears is 0-1 with a 7.45 ERA in two starts against the Mets.
–Field Level Media
