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Link to previous KTE for 5/20 - 5/22 series
It has been two and half weeks since the Mets swept Milwaukee in New York. Since then, the Brewers have won 10 of 15 games and have gotten steadier pitching from their starting rotation. The Mets meanwhile have won only 7 of 15 games since they last saw Milwaukee. The two teams meet up for a 4 game series beginning this evening at Miller Park.
STARTING PITCHING MATCHUPS:
Thursday: RHP Bartolo Colon (4-3, 3.27) vs. RHP Jimmy Nelson (5-4, 3.43), 8:10 p.m. ET
The Mets did not face Nelson in their earlier series. He has become the best starter that Milwaukee has had in 2016, though he did get charged with 6 ER in 4 IP in his last start vs. Philadelphia. Nelson is 1-1 in 3 career starts against the Mets with a 1.80 ERA.
Friday: RHP Matt Harvey (4-8, 4.95) vs. RHP Junior Guerra (3-1, 3.61), 8:10 p.m. ET
New York also missed Guerra at Citi Field. He has been a reliable starter for Milwaukee who has allowed 3 ER or fewer in his last 5 starts. Guerra has never faced the Mets.
Saturday: RHP Logan Verrett (3-3, 3.22) vs. RHP Wily Peralta (3-7, 6.79), 4:10 p.m. ET
The Mets got to Peralta for 3 ER in 5.2 back on May 20th. Peralta was considered the Brewer ace coming into the season, but with his ERA approaching 7, he may be the one who is moved from the rotation when Matt Garza returns from injury in the coming weeks.
Sunday: LHP Steven Matz (7-2, 2.69) vs. RHP Zach Davies (4-3, 4.29), 2:10 p.m. ET
Zach Davies gave up 4 ER in 5.1 innings on May 21st in New York. Davies has won his 3 starts since then with a 1.74 ERA and 18 K to just 3 BB.
The major change in the Brewer bullpen is that Chris Capuano (who was great in his 2 innings of relief vs. New York on May 20th) has gone onto the DL with elbow inflammation (which he said he first felt in his 2 inning performance against the Mets). Will Smith is back from an LCL tear that caused him to miss the first 2 months of the season. He is an above average lefty for Craig Counsell to use late in games as a compliment to their closer Jeffess who is having a very nice season himself.
OFFENSE:
The Brewers employ pretty much the same lineup that the Mets saw a couple of weeks ago. The only major difference is that Kirk Nieuwenhuis is scuffling and is just 11 for his last 66. The alternative CF, Keon Broxton, is not doing much better as he is batting just .200 (4/20) since the Mets last faced Milwaukee.
Ryan Braun is second to Daniel Murphy in the NL batting average race at .328 (though he is hitting just .227 (10/44) since his one start vs. New York on May 22nd ). Chris Carter is hitting just .180 but has 3 HR in his past 15 games. SS Jonathan Villar is batting .364 with 4 home runs since the Mets last faced the Brewers and Jonathan Lucroy continues to play steady catcher and is hitting .380 with 3 HRs in his past 14 games.
I have tickets for the games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If my softball game is rained out tonight (50/50 chance), I’ll head to Milwaukee to watch the series opener as well. I’ll be sitting with the 7 Line on Saturday and plan to meet up with MGIM who is attending Saturday’s game as well. I’m hoping the fight they showed last night propels them to an excellent back end to this current road trip.
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