MLB: Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers

Rangers series preview: June 6-7

The Mets are headed to Texas for a two-game series with the Rangers. Officially, it’s the first time the Mets will use a designated hitter this year. Unofficially…let’s all stare longingly at the left side of the infield. This may be the perfect time for a trip to Arlington. The Rangers had a 10-game winning streak in early May, but now they have lost 10 of their last 12 games and are sitting five games below .500. Sam Dyson came in as the Rangers’ closer, but he’s been awful all season and got released over the weekend.

It may feel weird to fly half way across the country to play two games, then fly back to the east coast. I doubt the Mets are complaining too much though, with just 18 games over the next 17 days following this trip.

WHEN AND WHERE

Game 1: Tuesday @ 8:10 p.m. from Globe Life Park in Arlington (TV: SNY; RADIO: 710 WOR, ESPN Deportes)

Game 2: Wednesday @ 8:10 p.m. from Globe Life Park in Arlington (TV: SNY; RADIO: 710 WOR, ESPN Deportes)

BASEBALL WEATHER

Tuesday: The storms that rained out college playoff games over the weekend should be gone. 10% chance of rain, low of 67F

Wednesday: Clear skies, low of 67F.

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS

Tuesday: RHP Dillon Gee (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3.48 DRA, .243 TAv, 0.1 WARP) vs. RHP Jacob DeGrom (4-2, 3.97 ERA, 2.32 DRA, .258 TAv, 2.4 WARP)

The last time the Mets played in Arlington, Gee won the game to go to 8-1 on the season. That was six years and multiple career-threating surgeries ago. Gee was pitching for the AAA affiliate of his hometown team until a week ago. He’s made two relatively effective long relief appearances and Tuesday will be his first start, filling in for several injuries. For the Mets, deGrom continues to lead the National League with 12.11 strikeouts per nine innings and is among the leaders in walks. Terry Collins left him out to soak up an extra inning when he had nothing in the tank on Wednesday. It will be interesting to see if the extra day of rest from a travel day helps him recover.

Wednesday: RHP Yu Darvish (5-4, 3.13 ERA, 2.81 DRA, .234 TAv, 2.2 WARP) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (3-3, 3.72 ERA, 4.98 DRA, .254 TAv, 0.3 WARP)

The good news for Rangers fans is that after three years marked by injury, Darvish has made every start this season. Darvish is still a good pitcher, but he’s striking out fewer batters than in any prior season and walks batters more often than Wheeler this season. Wheeler gave up a career high 10 hits in his last start, but only allowed two runs. He’s settled down in his second month post-surgery and seems to be getting closer to his pre-surgery form. Expect a deeper dive on Wheeler later this week.

WHO’S HOT?

Rangers SS Elvis Andrus (13-for-25, 4 doubles, 4 steals, 10 RBI in the last week)

Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre (9-for-23 with 4 extra base hits in the last week)

Mets IF Wilmer Flores (.396/.418/.642 since May 15)

Mets 1B Lucas Duda (.411 OBP and 6 home runs in the last four series)

WHO’S NOT?

Rangers 2B Rougned Odor (4-for-26 with 10 strikeouts last week)

Rangers C Jonathan Lucroy (batting .200/.238/.275 with only 1 run, 1 RBI during Rangers’ cold streak)

Mets IF Jose Reyes (6-for-43 since he finally got his batting average above .200 two weeks ago)

Mets RF Jay Bruce (14-for-68 with 18 strikeouts, three homers and six walks since Reyes was elevated to the #2 spot in the lineup in the middle of May.)

WHEN WE LAST MET

The Mets and Rangers only play every three years. Back in 2014, Wheeler threw six great innings the last game of that series. Curtis Granderson, Daniel Murphy and Lucas Duda started all three games. David Wright was still playing. Travis d’Arnaud was healthy too. Juan Lagares got relatively frequent playing time. On the other hand, Bobby Abreu started multiple games in left field. Ruben Tejada was the everyday shortstop. Yoenis Cespedes was on his original major league team and Michael Conforto was a month removed from playing college ball. These interleague series are a reminder of just how much rosters can turn over in three years.

It’s Literally a 10-Day DL

The Mets were hoping Yoenis Cespedes could return from the disabled list for this series, since he could just be the designated hitter. But Cespedes wasn’t able to make his minor league rehab start on Sunday. As of this moment there is no update on who will play DH.

NOTABLE QUOTABLES

“Great dude. It’s just coincidental. I look at this as another start. It’s a good opportunity to go out there and win a spot in the rotation. I want to make sure I keep our team in the game and give us an opportunity to win.” – Dillon Gee, on making his first start of 2017 against his former team and buddy Jacob deGrom.

“We just need to do a better job. We just need to do a better job when we get a chance to win a series or sweep a series or salvage a series. It’s not like we’re showing up here just trying to get through the day. We’re showing up here trying to win.” – Neil Walker, after the Mets’ 11-1 loss on Sunday.

Photo credit: Tim Heitman – USA Today Sports

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