New York Mets at Colorado Rockies: series preview

The New York Mets and the Rockies will be kicking off a three-game series as a part of the first half of a six-game home stand.

Entering the start of a three-game series with the New York Mets, the Rockies play has been nothing to write home about. They are 5-5 in their last ten games including being swept by the St. Louis Cardinals. However, they had a good series in Washington D.C. as they took two of three from the Nationals, who have the second best record in the National League.

Since the All-Star break, the Rockies are 8-7 and the offense, in that span, has done very well. In those 15 games, they have scored 103 runs (which is nearly seven runs per game), 160 hits (nearly 11 per game), a .303 batting average, a .363 on-base percentage, and a .520 slugging percentage.

On the pitching front, however, they have struggled mightily as they have allowed 95 runs, 89 earned (which is nearly six runs per game), 56 walks (nearly four per game), and a 6.18 ERA.

They will be looking to improve that on the first half of this home stand against the Mets who have only hit .267 since the break and they are seventh in the National League in runs and in the bottom half of the National League in nearly every other category.

Chris Flexen (0-1, 9.00 ERA) vs. Tyler Chatwood (6-11, 4.78 ERA)

The Mets probable starter is Chris Flexen. You probably haven’t heard of him for good reason: this will only be his second career start. He faced the San Diego Padres and he only went three innings and he allowed five hits, four runs (three earned), and walked four.

It’s not surprising to see him struggle as he started out the season in the Florida State League (Advanced-A ball) with the St. Lucie Mets. He was elevated to Double-A Binghamton for seven starts and then elevated to the majors (he did not go to Triple-A).

Combined in the minors this season, he pitched very well as he had a 6-1 record with a 1.76 ERA in 10 starts but obviously, pitching in Single- and Double-A is much different than facing major league talent (even if it is the Padres).

Tyler Chatwood is the scheduled probable starter for the Rockies. This will be his first start back in the rotation after he suffered a right calf strain in New York that landed him on the disabled list. He wasn’t able to make it out of the first inning as he went 1/3 of an inning while allowing a hit, four runs, and three walks.

He made one bullpen appearance against the Cardinals on July 26 and he didn’t look particularly sharp as he went an inning while allowing a hit, a run (that was earned), and two walks as well as 25 pitches to complete the inning.

The game, just like tonight’s game, has a scheduled start of 6:40 PM MST.

Keys to the Game

Like Matz, the Rockies have to get to Flexen early. If the Padres can knock him out in three innings (and they are last in the NL in runs, doubles, hits, batting average, and on-base percentage), the Rockies should be able to do it easily.

Chatwood needs to find his groove again. In the seven starts before his injury in June and July, he had an ERA of 3.46 with and an opponent’s batting average of .247.

Rafael Montero (1-7, 5.56 ERA) vs. German Marquez (9-4, 4.08 ERA)

Rafael Montero is another starter for the Mets that has struggled all year. He has appeared in 21 games but only seven have been starts. In his past three appearances (all starts), he is 1-2 with a 5.09 ERA. In that span, his opponent’s are hitting .262 with a .333 on-base percentage.

In his last start on July 28 vs. the Seattle Mariners, he only went 4 2/3 innings while allowing three hits, five runs (all earned), five walks, and five strikeouts.

For the Rockies, German Marquez will be toeing the slab and he has been the Rockies most consistent starter since July. In July, he did not allow more than three runs in a start and he went into the seventh inning in four of his five starts.

In the month, he went 4-0 with a 3.51 ERA. Batters only hit .228 against him with a .275 on-base percentage. He also only averaged 1.89 walks compared to 10.53 strikeouts per nine innings.

NOTE: The game on Wednesday starts at 1:10 PM MST (3:10 EST). The game broadcast on TV by the Mets’ TV outlet, SNY, as AT&T Sports Rocky Mountain is not broadcasting the game.

Keys to the Game for the Rockies

The Rockies need to be patient at the plate against Montero based on his last start in which he walked five. However, in his previous two starts, he only walked a total of two. However, batters hit .286 against him including six doubles in those two starts.

Predictions for the Series

The Rockies will sweep the Mets rather handedly because their offense has been red-hot. The Mets starting pitching in this series, to be frank, is terrible. Montero is the best starter of the three for the Mets and he shouldn’t be much of a threat.