Rockies-Mets preview
NEW YORK -- More wins like the ones the Colorado Rockies enjoyed over the last two days might vault them into the playoff race. More losses like the ones the New York Mets endured over the same time frame might knock them out of contention.
Two teams with seemingly different goals for 2016 yet traveling in unexpected directions will meet Friday night when the Mets host the Rockies in the second contest of a four-game series at Citi Field.
The Rockies won the opener in surprising fashion Thursday afternoon, when they scored twice off All-Star closer Jeurys Familia in the ninth inning of a 2-1 victory. It was the first time all season Colorado has won a game in which it trailed after eight innings (1-41).
"Familia is as good as there is in the game," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "Their staff overall -- you're not going to come in here and put up big innings and big crooked numbers. You've got to scratch and claw for everything."
The Rockies might just be scratching and clawing their way into the wild card race. Colorado (50-52), which has endured five straight losing seasons, has gone 10-4 since the All-Star Break to move within five games of the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, who are tied for the National League's second wild card.
The recent run for the Rockies has been fueled by -- of all things -- pitching. Colorado starters have produced 17 quality starts this month, the most by the staff since 18 quality starts were authored in August 2010.
"The fact (is) we've got to win games and stay in this thing," Weiss said.
If the defending National League champion Mets are going to stay in the race, they're going to have to start scoring some runs. New York ranks third in the majors in ERA (3.32) but last in batting average (.238).
"You have to come (Friday) ready to play, score some runs, help this pitching staff to win the game," Mets catcher Rene Rivera said. "That's the bottom line."
The real culprit for the Mets has been a struggling lineup that has performed in stunningly abysmal fashion in the clutch.
The Mets led 1-0 and had the bases loaded with nobody out in the seventh inning Thursday but could not add to the lead. Such woes are commonplace for New York, which is batting .205 with runners in scoring position this season -- last in baseball.
"I've talked to some of the great RBI guys in the game -- the one thing they talk about is driving in runs is mental," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "The approach you have at the plate, your mindset (is) all's you're trying to do is put the bat on the ball. You're not looking for home runs. You're not looking for anything. Just, hey, work the middle of the field. That's been kind of the common denominator with those guys. And we're just not doing it."
Mets left-hander Steven Matz is scheduled to oppose Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood. Matz faces Colorado for the first time as a big leaguer while Chatwood is 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA in four career starts against New York.
