Arizona @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( May 24, 2014 ) Arizona 3, NY Mets 2
The Arizona Diamondbacks suffered a three-game sweep at the hands of the visiting New York Mets last month, but they'll have a chance to return the favor if they can take both ends of a doubleheader Sunday at Citi Field. The Diamondbacks snapped a three-game skid with Saturday's 3-2 win and have a shot at their first series sweep of the season. The Mets have lost seven of their last nine and haven't won a series at home since taking two of three from Miami from April 25-27.
The twinbill came about because Friday's series opener was rained out in the fourth inning. Neither team's bullpen had to work too hard Saturday as both starters went six-plus innings, but each team called upon an extra pitcher to fill the 26th roster spot for the doubleheader. The Diamondbacks recalled right-hander Zeke Spruill to start the nightcap, while the Mets added hard-throwing righty Vic Black to their bullpen.
TV: 4:40 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zeke Spruill (2013: 0-2, 5.56 ERA) vs. Mets RH Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-0, 2.14)
Spruill gets the nod for the spot start in part because of his experience during a couple brief call-ups last season. The 24-year-old made four appearances out of the bullpen last June and came back up to make two starts in August, losing both and allowing 10 runs (six earned) over seven innings. His numbers at Triple-A Reno this spring are not terribly inspiring - he's 2-1 with a 4.72 ERA in 12 games (five starts).
Matsuzaka is set to make his first major-league start of the season after pitching out of the bullpen for the past two months. He has been effective in 14 relief appearances but hasn't thrown more than 56 pitches, which could become an issue for the bullpen on the back end of a doubleheader. The former Japanese star lost his only previous start against Arizona despite allowing only two runs in six innings for Boston in 2007.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets 3B David Wright, who was 3-for-4 with a homer Saturday, is 13-for-29 during a seven-game hitting streak.
2. Diamondbacks OF Gerardo Parra is a career .350 hitter in 16 games at Citi Field.
3. New York rookie Eric Campbell flew out as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning Saturday, ending his streak of eight straight games with either a hit or an RBI to start his career.
PREDICTION: Mets 5, Diamondbacks 4