The Mets will try to salvage a split of their four-game series against the Dodgers Thursday night at 10:10 p.m. on SNY.
Mets notes
Jason Vargas doesn't typically pitch deep into games, but the Mets will need him to go as long as he possibly can Thursday as Edwin Díaz, Jeurys Familia and Robert Gsellman are all taxed. Díaz has pitched in three of the last four games, throwing 46 pitches over the last two days and said he's unavailable Thursday; Familia has also gone three of the last four, including the last two; Gsellman has thrown 41 pitches over the last two days. ... Tomás Nido steps in for Wilson Ramos behind the plate, while Dominic Smith is back on the bench with J.D. Davis starting in left field.
| Mets | Dodgers |
|---|---|
| Amed Rosario, SS | Chris Taylor, SS |
| J.D. Davis, LF | Max Muncy, 3B |
| Michael Conforto, RF | David Freese, 1B |
| Pete Alonso, 1B | Cody Bellinger, RF |
| Todd Frazier, 3B | Enrique Hernández, 2B |
| Carlos Gómez, CF | Alex Verdugo, CF |
| Adeiny Hechavarría, 2B | Russell Martin, C |
| Tomás Nido, C | Matt Beaty, LF |
| Jason Vargas, LHP | Hyun-Jin Ryu, LHP |
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Who is starting for the Mets?
LHP Jason Vargas (1-2, 5.22 ERA), who allowed one run in five innings in his return from the injured list last Saturday, throwing 81 pitches. Vargas hasn't thrown more than 89 pitches and hasn't lasted more than 5.1 innings in a start so far. He'll have to get pushed tonight, assuming he's pitching well enough to remain in that long.
Who is starting for the Dodgers?
LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (7-1, 1.65 ERA), who leads the majors in ERA. He has 62 strikeouts against a remarkably low four walks in 65.1 innings so far this season. He allowed a season-high 10 hits to Pittsburgh his last time out, but he hasn't given up more than two runs in any of his 10 starts.
Upcoming schedule
The Mets head to Phoenix for a three-game set against the Diamondbacks, which begins Friday at 9:40 p.m. RHP Zack Wheeler is the Mets' scheduled starter, while Arizona's starter is TBA.