Lineups & Game Notes: Mets vs. Pirates 7:05 pm et.
New York Mets (31-26):
1. Alejandro De Aza (L) RF
2. Michael Conforto (L) LF
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) CF
4. Neil Walker (S) 2B
5. James Loney (L) 1B
6. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
7. Ty Kelly (S) 3B
8. Rene Rivera (R) C
9. Noah Syndergaard (L) P
SP: Noah Syndergaard RHP (6-2, 1.91 ERA)
Pittsburgh Pirates (32-26):
1. John Jaso (L) 1B
2. Andrew McCutchen (R) CF
3. Gregory Polanco (L) LF
4. Jung Ho Kang (R) 3B
5. Josh Harrison (R) 2B
6. Francisco Cervelli (R) C
7. Matt Joyce (L) RF
8. Sean Rodriguez (R) SS
9. Jameson Taillon (R) P
SP: Jameson Taillon RHP (ML debut)
Tonight’s game can be seen on SNY.
Game Notes:
METS-PIRATES NOTES: The Mets are 2-10 in their last 12 games at PNC Park…New York is 21-29 all-time at PNC, which opened in 2001…The Mets have lost nine straight games to the Pirates dating back to June 29, 2014, the nine consecutive losses is the most in team history to Pittsburgh…The Mets were swept twice by the Pirates last year, May 22-25, at PNC Park and August 14-16 at Citi Field.
OFFENSIVE OFFENSE: New York has scored two or fewer runs in seven of its last 10 games…The Mets have scored two runs in their last 27 innings.
FOUR IS THE KEY: The Mets are 23-5 when they score four or more runs and 8-21 when they score three or fewer.
STRONG PITCHING: The Mets rank second in the majors with a 3.15 team ERA…The staff has allowed the fewest homers (43) and has issued 137 walks, tied for the fewest in the majors…New York has 497 strikeouts, ranking eighth in the majors.
MIGHTY THOR: Syndergaard is third in the majors with a 1.91 ERA, behind Clayton Kershaw (1.46) and Jake Arrieta (1.80)… He is second in the majors with 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings behind Jose Fernandez (13.3) and third in the majors with 1.3 walks per nine innings…Syndergaard is sixth in the majors with 90 strikeouts and seventh in the majors with a 1.90 ERA at night.
ROAD WARRIOR: Syndergaard is 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA in five road starts this year…His 1.85 road ERA ranks seventh in the National League…He has allowed two or fewer runs in each of the five starts.
FLAMETHROWER: According to FanGraphs, Syndergaard averages the fastest fastball (98.1), slider (91.5) and change-up (89.9) this year.
THOR VS. PIRATES: Has faced Pittsburgh once in his career, his third career start on May 22, 2015…Went 6 innings giving up four runs, one earned, on six hits…Struck out five and walked none…Was his second career loss…Had his first career hit off of Gerrit Cole (singled to right field in the sixth inning).
Above The Mendoza 