Angels at Marlins
The Miami Marlins (17-30) will run into a hot pitcher in Sunday's series finale against the Los Angeles Angels (26-26).Right-hander Matt Shoemaker (4-2) has won three straight starts, beating the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.In those starts, Shoemaker, 30, allowed three earned runs in 18 2/3 innings and pitched at least six innings in each of those appearances.
Shoemaker has seen his ERA drop from 5.21 to 3.97 during the run.
Shoemaker has a better win-loss record at home but a superior ERA on the road. Here is the breakdown: 3-1, 5.20 ERA in five starts at home and 1-1, 2.79 in five road outings.Angels manager Mike Scioscia hopes Shoemaker continues his hot streak and keeps the rotation moving in the right direction. Since April 15, the Angels lead the American League with a 3.65 ERA.
"We've pitched well, considering a lot of guys are not in roles they anticipated," Scioscia said. "They are either banged up or not doing what we thought."
Miami will counter with right-hander Jose Urena (2-2, 3.08 ERA) as it tries to win the rubber game of the series.
Urena has made four starts with the Marlins this season, and the results have been puzzling. In his first three starts, he averaged just shy of six innings and allowed a total of three earned runs -- one per appearance.
But last week at the Oakland Athletics, Urena had his poorest start, allowing six runs in five innings but earned the victory as the Marlins won 11-9.
Urena is 0-2 with a 2.57 ERA in five home games and 2-0 with a 3.71 ERA in five road contests. Surprisingly, he has been getting hit by right-handed batters (.316 batting average, .916 OPS) but has been dominant vs. lefties (.154, .482).
If it gets into a bullpen battle, the Marlins are at least encouraged that set-up man David Phelps, who had struggled earlier this year, seems to have turned his season around.
In his past 14 games over 14 2/3 innigns, Phelps has not allowed a run.
Besides the pitchers, Sunday's series finale could come down to each team's superstar slugger. Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton hit a 460-foot homer Friday, and Mike Trout jacked one 443 feet Saturday.
Meanwhile, Marlins left fielder Marcell Ozuna, who misplayed two balls into doubles on Friday but stole a would-be home run from Andrelton Simmons on Saturday, said the team is trying to put more focus on defense.
Mets at Pirates
Matt Harvey, you're up.The right-hander is scheduled to start for the New York Mets when they meet the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in the final game of a weekend series on Sunday night.The Mets, who have lost four of their past six games after dropping Saturday's contest 5-4 to Pittsburgh, have some pitching woes.
Their starters aren't giving them enough innings often enough -- Jacob deGrom's win in 8 2/3 innings Friday against the Pirates being an exception.
The bullpen is often overtaxed. And starters Noah Syndergaard (right lat muscle injury) and Steven Matz (left elbow inflammation) are out with no set return date.Saturday, Zack Wheeler got the Mets through six innings -- just the fourth time in his past nine starts he has lasted through six -- and left with a 4-3 lead.
But the New York bullpen blew it when the Pirates tied it in the ninth against reliever Addison Reed.
Pittsburgh then won it in the 10th against Tyler Pill, pressed into making his major league debut in a pressure situation, and Josh Edgin.
Collins had hoped for more from Wheeler, but said going into the seventh, "Zack got a blister on his finger, he said it wasn't really bothering him but it looked pretty bad. I said, 'Hey, we've just got to get six outs to get the ball to Addison,' so I felt great.
One of the types of things that has contributed to the Mets' 20-27 record, more specifically.
Harvey (3-3, 5.36 ERA) is 0-1 in three career starts against Pittsburgh but has not faced the Pirates since 2015.
He's coming off of a win Tuesday as the Mets beat San Diego 9-3, but he only lasted five innings, giving up two runs on three hits, striking out six and walking four. It was the fourth time he has allowed two runs or fewer in a start this season.
Harvey's control has been a little off. He has walked 26 batters in 50 1/3 innings, compared with 25 walks in 92 2/3 innings last season.
The scheduled starter for Pittsburgh (23-27) is Tyler Glasnow (2-3, 6.69 ERA), who has never faced the Mets.
He will be making his 10th start, and it has been trying at times for the 23-year-old who began the season in the major leagues for the first time.
On Tuesday at Atlanta, he had one of his better outings in a no-decision, allowing two runs in six innings, but a long rain delay cost him a win as the Braves came back for a 6-5 walk-off win. He also went 3-for-3 at the plate.
Rays at Twins
Right-hander Kyle Gibson (1-4, 8.62 ERA) will start for Minnesota on Sunday. Tampa Bay has right-hander Alex Cobb (4-4, 3.82) taking the mound.
Gibson is 1-4 with a 7.82 ERA in five career starts against the Rays. He wasn't sharp earlier this season and was demoted to Triple-A Rochester. But the Twins needed another starter with the back end of the rotation faltering and facing injuries.
In his last outing, Gibson gave up six runs in five innings but managed his first win after Minnesota's offense came up big.
Cobb hasn't returned to his pre-surgery form but might be finding his way. He has made 15 starts since his return from Tommy John surgery and has allowed at least four runs in eight of the starts.
However, he's pitched into the seventh inning in his last four starts and owns a 3.12 ERA in five May starts. Cobb pitched into the eighth against the Angels in his last outing but left frustrated after allowing two homers in the first inning.Minnesota bounced back after Friday's loss to win 5-3 on Saturday. The Twins enter Sunday trying to win another series at home, where they are 12-15 this season.
D'Backs at Brewers
Nelson had been having a good month, posting a 1-0 record and 1.15 ERA in three starts before he gave up four runs on eight hits and a walk over five innings Tuesday against the Blue Jays.
He got in trouble early, allowing a pair of runs in the second inning then gave up a two-run homer to Kendrys Morales in the fifth.
He'll be making his fifth career start against Arizona. In the four previous meetings, Nelson is 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA.
Corbin, meanwhile, has gone 2-3 with a 3.60 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) against the Brewers and has a 1-1 mark and 4.76 ERA in three outings at Miller Park, including two starts.
He comes into the game on a high note, having cleared the sixth inning in each of his last three starts with victories in his last two decisions to even his record at 4-4 on the season.
Corbin held the White Sox to three runs on eight hits his last time out, striking out five with just one walk in six innings of work.
Arizona had won six in a row before the Saturday loss but manager Torey Lovullo was able to find reason for optimism despite nearly being no-hit.
A victory over Milwaukee on Sunday would clinch the series for the Diamondbacks, who have won four of their last five overall with sweeps of the Mets and White Sox included in that stretch.Counsell hinted Saturday that his lineup might look a little different Sunday as he has considered dropping slumping second baseman Jonathan Villar out of the leadoff spot.
Villar batted .285 and stole 62 bases a year ago, but has flirted with the Mendoza line all season while striking out 60 times.
