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MLB Preview: Colorado Rockies (13-21) at New York Mets (17-17)

COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:

THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS
• The Colorado Rockies and the New York Mets play the series rubber match today in Flushing, the first stop on the Rockies’ road trip … following today’s game, the team heads to Pittsburgh for a three-game set Monday-Wednesday.

• Prior to this road trip, the Rockies swept the Brewers at home, their first sweep since June 17-19, 2022 vs. San Diego, snapping a franchise record of 38-consecutive series without a winning sweep.

• A victory today would give the Rockies’ their first series win against the Mets since 2018 when they went 6-1 overall in the match up.

THE BIG PARK
• The Rockies won four games in a row Sunday through Thursday for the first time since Sept. 6-10, 2022 … are 7-4 through their last 11, a .636 winning percentage that is tied for the fourth-best mark in the NL since April 24.

• Across that span, Rockies starters have posted a 3.60 ERA (55.0 IP, 22 ER) with 13 walks and 37 strikeouts while Colorado hitters are slashing .273/.342/.410 while going 31-for-88 (.352) with runners in scoring position … prior to this nine-game stretch, Rockies hitters were batting .220 (42-for-191) with RISP.

• Defensively, the Rockies have four errors through this span and have not had a miscue in six straight, their first such streak since Aug. 2-11, 2022 (nine games). … committed 17 errors through the team’s first 23 games.

• Overall, the Rockies .382 winning percentage is second-to-last in the National League ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals (.294).

LITTLE TOE
• Ezequiel Tovar snapped a career-best seven-game hitting streak and a 10-game on-base streak with an 0-for-3 game Friday, but rebounded with a 3-for-4 game, one double, one home run and two RBI Saturday … his three hits set a career high while his pair of RBI matched a career mark (third time, last: May 4 vs. Milwaukee).

• The 21-year-old is 14-for-42 (.333) with seven extra-base hits through his last 12 contests … spoiled the Brewers’ shutout on Thursday with a two-RBI double in the seventh inning … at 21-years-and-276-daysold, he was the youngest Rockie to record an on base streak of at least 10 games since Robert Mejia reached in 11-straight from July 22-Aug. 3, 1993.

HERE’S THE GRICHUATION
• Randal Grichuk went 2-for-4 in each of his first three games of the season after being reinstated from the injured list on April 29, tied for the longest multi-hit streak of his career … underwent offseason surgery on a bilateral sports hernia, missing all of Spring Training … it was the seventh time in franchise history that a Rockies player has begun his season with three-straight multi-hit games, the first time since Mark Reynolds did so April 3-5, 2017.

• Has multiple hits in four of six games and is 10-for-22 with a .455/.520/.545 slash line overall since being reinstated.

OFFENSIVELY GOOD
• Elias Díaz ranks fourth in the Majors, third in the NL, in batting with a .343 (34-for-99) average … marks his highest average for any 30-game span of his career (games with at least one AB or SF).

• Harold Castro is 7-for-14 with two doubles, four RBI, two walks and one strikeout through a five-game hitting streak … began the season 6-for-38 through 15 games and was two for his last 18 prior to this streak.

• Charlie Blackmon’s 12.1% strikeout rate is the sixth-lowest among qualifying NL players … in 2022, Blackmon fanned at an 18.9% clip, the second-highest rate through a full season of his career.

COAT OF ARMS
• Jake Bird leads the Majors with 24.0 innings of relief and is tied for fourth in the Majors (tied for first in the NL) with 25 strikeouts out of the bullpen … has posted a 0.49 ERA (17.1 IP, 1 ER) with five walks and 21 strikeouts over his last 11 appearances since April 11 … career-high 13.0 innings without an earned run snapped on Sunday.

• Brent Suter tossed a two scoreless innings on Friday … his 0.89 ERA (20.1 IP, 2 ER) is the third-lowest in franchise history through a player’s first 13 games (min. 13 IP) to begin their Rockies career and lowest since Jose Mesa’s 0.69 ERA (13.0 IP, 1 ER) in 2006 … lowest ERA through first 13 games with at least 20.0 IP.

ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #18 RYAN FELTNER RHP
YOUNG GUN
• The 26-year-old right-hander selected by the Rockies in the fourth round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Ohio State University.

• Born in Orlando, Florida but attended Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio … was the 2015 Ohio Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year and was selected by Toronto in the 25th round of the 2015 Draft but did not sign.

LAST TIME OUT
• Did not get a decision in the Rockies 3-2 win over the Brewers on May 2 at Coors Field, allowing two runs on six hits over 5.1 innings while walking one and striking out three.

• Marked the second time in his career going three straight starts allowing three or fewer runs, previous Aug. 20, 2022-Aug. 31, 2022.

• Earned his first win of the season April 20 in Philadelphia after tossing 5.2 scoreless innings, striking out six and walking three … was his first career start allowing no runs (25 starts prior) … allowed zero runs in one career relief outing (July 29, 2022 vs. LAD).

TURNING IT AROUND
• Went 0-2 with an 8.78 ERA (13.1 IP, 13 ER) with 11 walks and 15 strikeouts in across his first three starts of the season.

• In his three starts since, has went 2-0 with an 1.06 ERA (17.0 IP, 2 ER) with four walks and 15 strikeouts.

MET GALA
• Making his second career start against the Mets … first start came Aug. 25, 2022 at Citi Field, allowing three runs on six hits across 4.2 innings, walking two and striking out two.

• Has made 10 career starts against the NL East, going 2-5 with a 6.26 ERA (46.0 IP, 32 ER) with 20 walks and 42 strikeouts … has gone at least five innings in five of those starts.

HOME HAPPENINGS
• In 2022, went 2-4 (Rockies 4-4) with a 6.46 ERA (39.0 IP, 28 ER) across eight starts at Coors Field, walking 15 and striking out 33 … allowed five home runs while opponents hit .248 (38-for-153).

• Tossed seven innings and allowed one run in his first start at Coors Field May 30 vs. Miami, allowing four hits with one walk and six strikeouts … the lone run came on a solo homer from Jesús Sánchez … tossed at least six innings just once in his seven remaining home starts, posting a 7.59 ERA (32.0 IP, 27 ER).

• Lone career relief appearance came July 29 vs. Los Angeles-NL, tossing 3.1 shutout innings with three hits, two walks and two strikeouts.

ROAD WOES
• Has gone 4-7 with a 5.38 ERA (78.2 IP, 47 ER) in 16 career starts on the road … pitched fewer than five innings seven times, including fewer than four innings four times.

• Posted a 5.73 ERA (55.0 IP, 35 ER) across 11 road starts in 2022, logging a 2-5 record (Rockies 2-9) with 18 walks and 49 strikeouts … opponents slashed .281/.338/.484 with 11 home runs (61-for-217).

BODY OF WORK
• Through his first 27 career starts has gone 6-12 with a 5.92 ERA (130.2 IP, 86 ER), 53 walks and 118 strikeouts … his 5.92 ERA is the fourth-highest in franchise history through a Rockies pitcher’s first 27 starts while his 12 losses are the second-most through a pitcher’s first 27 starts behind Eddie Butler (14 losses, 2014-16) … 137 hits allowed are the second-fewest through 27 starts to begin a Rockies career

NEW YORK METS NOTES:

METSCELLANEOUS: The Mets fell to the Rockies, 5-2, yesterday at Citi Field…New York is 3-7 in its last 10 games and 3-10 in its last 13 contests…Today, the Mets finish a three-game set against the Rockies (1-1)…The Mets are off on Monday before hitting the road for a seven-game road trip to Cincinnati (three games) and Washington D.C. (four games).

RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD: The Mets are 2-0 in rubber games this year and 20-4 in rubber games dating to the start of 2022.

INVADER NIM: Brandon Nimmo has safely hit in four straight games, going 6-15 with two runs, two doubles, a home urn, one RBI, one walk with a 1.171 OPS in that span…Over the last 21 games, Nimmo is batting .349 (30-86) with 13 runs, six doubles, one triple, three home runs, nine RBI, six walks with a .940 OPS…He ranks fifth in the majors and third in the NL with a 1.7 fWAR.

EN FUEGO: Joey Lucchesi is set to make his fourth start of the year today and his second at home…The lefty has posted a 1-0 record with a 3.86 ERA (7 ER/16.1 IP) with four walks and 13 strikeouts… Lucchesi has made 11 previous starts against the Rockies and is 1-4 with a 4.47 ERA (26 ER/52.1 IP) with 18 walks and 49 strikeouts.

DOCTOR ROBERT-SON: David Robertson has appeared in 13 games and has allowed one run in 14.1 innings of work, good for a 0.63 ERA…He has allowed eight hits, five walks while striking out 18 in that span…He is holding left-handed hitters to a .154 (4-265) batting average this season…He has converted all seven save opportunities he’s had this season…Overall, he has recorded 164 saves in his career…That is the seventh-most among active players.

GUESS WHO’S BACH?: Over his last 17 games, Daniel Vogelbach is 13-41 (.317) with three runs, three doubles, one home run, nine RBI, six walks with a .404 OBP and a .463 SLG…He has posted a .397 OBP in 26 games this season, which is second on the team.

ATTABOY ÁLVAREZ: Over the last 12 games, Francisco Álvarez is hitting .281 (9-32) with four tuns, a double, one home run, three RBI, two walks with a .324 OBP and a .406 OPS.

AND THEY’RE OFF: The Mets are second in the National League with a 83.9% success rate in steals this season…The Mets are tied for fourth the NL with 26 steals this season…Starling Marte is tied for 10th in the majors and tied for sixth in the NL with nine steals…He ranks third among active players with 323 career SB… Only Elvis Andrus (340) and Billy Hamilton (326) have more.

LORD BRANDON OF WYOMING: Brandon Nimmo, who grew up less than 100 miles from Coors Field has hit .330 (29-88) with 19 runs, two doubles, six home runs and 15 RBI and 13 walks in 25 games against the Rockies…He has safely hit in 17 of his last 19 games against the Rockies, batting .365 (27-74) with eight extra-base hits in that span that started on June 18, 2018.

LONG LIVE QUEENS: The Mets are 7-7 at Citi Field this year…The team’s 14 home games are tied for the third-fewest in the major leagues…The team won 54 games at home last year…That was their highest total at Citi Field in franchise history…The last time the team won more than 50 games in New York was in 2000 when they went 55-26…Overall, the Mets went 54-27 at Citi Field…The team’s .667 winning percentage was the fourth-highest in team history…Only the 1988 (56-24, .700), 2000 and 1986 teams (both 55-26, .679) had a better home winning percentage.

ON THE ROX: Luis Guillorme is .556 (5-9) with two runs and two walks in 10 games against Colorado….Starling Marte has hit .343 (74-216) with 47 runs, 10 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 33 RBI and 11 walks in 55 career games against the Rockies… Pete Alonso has hit .328 (22-67) with eight runs, two doubles, five home runs, 12 RBI, four walks and a .582 SLG in 18 games against the Rockies.

BRETT THE MET: Over the last 14 contests, Brett Baty is batting .304 (14-46) with five runs, three doubles, two home runs, three RBI and five walks in that span…This comes after he went 1-8 in his first three games.

MULTIPLICITY: McNeil has recorded nine multi-hit games this season…He has 172 multi-hit games in his career, which places him 19th on the Mets all-time list…He has 62 multi-hit games since the start of last season, which is tied for the third-most during that span behind Freddie Freeman (68) and Bo Bichette (68).

GUESS WHO’S BACH?: Over his last 17 games, Daniel Vogelbach is 13-41 (.317) with three runs, three doubles, one home run, nine RBI, six walks with a .404 OBP and a .463 SLG…He has posted a .397 OBP in 26 games this season, which is second on the team.

A HIT’S A HIT: The Mets have collected 38 infield hits this season, which is the third-most in the majors…Last year, the Mets collected 186 infield hits, the fifth-most in franchise history and the third-most in MLB in 2022.

RUNS: New York has scored four total runs over its last four games…The Mets have scored two runs or fewer in 13 of their 34 contests this season.

OUCH: The Mets have been plunked 20 times this season…That is tied for the fourth-most in the majors and tied with the San Francisco Giants for the most in the National League.

TAKE THE TRAIN TO THE GAME: With the expected large crowd at Citi Field today and the 5 Boro Bike Tour scheduled to take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. traveling through the five NYC boroughs, the Mets encourage fans to avoid delays due to various local street closings by taking mass transit

STARTING PTICHER – JOEY LUCCHESI LHP #47
2023 STATS: 1-0, 3.86 ERA

LUCCHESI’S PITCH ARSENAL
Pitch Type Usage Rate vs. LHB vs. RHB Avg. Velocity
Sinker 54% 71% 51% 89.5 mph
Cutter 24% 3% 27% 89.8 mph
Churve 23% 26% 22% 78.0 mph

LAST TIME OUT: Lucchesi threw 4.0 innings on May 3 at Comerica Park, allowing four earned runs on five hits…Fanned one Tigers batter in the Mets’ 6-5 loss.

ON THE ROCK(IE)S: Lucchesi has faced the Colorado Rockies eleven times in his career, the most against any one opponent in his career…In those eleven starts, Lucchesi has pitched to a 2-4 record and a 4.47 ERA (26 ER/52.1 IP)… He last faced Colorado on May 27, 2021 at Citi Field in the second game of a 7-inning doubleheader, during which he allowed one earned run on two hits in 3.2 innings…When facing the Rockies at home, Lucchesi holds a 1-1 record with a 3.04 ERA (9 ER/26.2 IP) and has fanned 23 Colorado batters.

PUTTING UP GOOSE EGGS: Dating back to June 13, 2021, Lucchesi tossed 18.1 straight scoreless innings, a career-best scoreless streak, which game to an end on April 27 against the Nationals…Among starting pitchers, Lucchesi’s scoreless streak was the third-longest active scoreless streak in the majors at the time, behind Zac Gallen (28.0 innings) and Gerrit Cole (20.0 innings)

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU: Lucchesi holds a 2-4 record in 14 appearances and 12 starts in the month of May…Has pitched to a 4.45 ERA (32 ER/64.2 IP) in those games, while fanning 58 batters…This will be his fourth start in May against the Rockies, his second as a Met…During those appearances, Lucchesi has thrown 14.0 innings, pitching to a 3.57 ERA (5 ER/14.0 IP) with eight
strikeouts.

JOEY FUEGO: Made his major league debut on March 30, 2018 while with San Diego in a start against Milwaukee…Played for the Padres for three season before coming to the Mets in 2021…As a Met, Lucchesi–who adopted the nickname “Fuego” while in college-made eight starts in 11 appearances in 2021, pitching to a 4.46 ERA (19 ER/38.1 IP) and racking up 41 strikeouts before his season was cut short after undergoing “Tommy John” surgery…Made his Mets debut in relief on April 7, 2021 at Philadelphia, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings… Pitched to a 1.19 ERA (3 ER/22.2 IP) with 24 strikeouts over his last five outings of the 2021 season before his season-ending injury

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