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MLB weekend preview: Mets host Rockies, Yankees at Rays – Metro US
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MLB weekend preview: Mets host Rockies, Yankees at Rays

MLB weekend preview: Mets host Rockies, Yankees at Rays
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The Mets and Yankees look to end July on a positive note before they face off in a four-game Subway Series next week. The Mets host the Rockies this weekend while the Yankees take on the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Steven Matz (8-6, 3.36 ERA) gets the ball for the Mets on Friday night. He picked up his first win since May 25 when he held the Marlins to four hits in six shutout innings on Sunday. Matz draws a favorable matchup with the Rockies, as they are 13-16 against left-handed starters this year.

Tyler Chatwood (9-6, 3.65 ERA) counters for Colorado. He doesn’t have extensive experience against the Mets but Yoenis Cespedes, Curtis Granderson and Asdrubal Cabrera have all gone deep against him in the past. Chatwood has failed to go past five innings in his last five starts, and has an astronomical walk rate in that span (20).

Bartolo Colon’s turn comes a day early on Saturday, the result of a doubleheader the Mets played on Tuesday. Colon (9-5, 3.35 ERA) was pulled after just 87 pitches but dominated St. Louis in Game 2 of the twin-bill, allowing just one run on three hits in seven frames while striking out a season-high eight batters.

Jorge De La Rosa (6-7, 5.70 ERA) responds for the Rockies, and after posting solid numbers in June (4-0, 1.96 ERA), things have spiraled downward for him in July (1-3, 4.45 ERA). James Loney and Neil Walker have both been effective against De La Rosa in prior opportunities (12-for-31 combined).

Noah Syndergaard (9-4, 2.43 ERA) takes the hill in Sunday’s finale; he’s 0-2 in his last three starts, due in part to a lack of run support (five runs in three games). Syndergaard will look to keep the walks in check in this outing, as he’s issued eight in his last three contests.

Chad Bettis (8-6, 5.31 ERA) will be Syndergaard’s opposite number, and he’s been fairly dependable of late, going at least six innings in seven of his last eight starts. Colorado has won eight of its last nine tilts started by Bettis.

Yankees – Rays

Ivan Nova (7-5, 4.65 ERA) will be on the mound in Friday’s series opener, and he’s paired together two great starts in a row (two runs on 10 hits in his last 13 IP). Nova has to watch out for Evan Longoria, as he’s 10-for-36 against him with three home runs.

The Yankees are after better results in their second go-around with Jake Odorizzi (4-5, 4.10 ERA) on Friday. On May 29, Odorizzi allowed just one hit while surrendering two runs to the Bombers in seven stanzas.

Nathan Eovaldi (9-6, 4.80 ERA) comes into Saturday’s start off arguably his most impressive performance of the season, as he held the Giants to two runs on seven hits in 6.2 innings of work on Sunday. The 118 pitches he tossed in that game however was a season-high by far (107 is his next-highest).

Drew Smyly (2-11, 5.42 ERA), one of two southpaws the Yankees encounter in this trio of games, has the call for Tampa Bay on Saturday. Smyly stumped the Bombers when they faced him in April (one run on six hits in seven innings on April 24), but he has just one win to go with nine losses in his 15 starts since that tilt. The Yankees will be counting on Carlos Beltran, who has crushed lefties to the tune of a .352 average this season, to continue his success.

Michael Pineda (5-9, 5.00 ERA) has been brilliant in his last two starts, allowing just one run to cross the plate in 13 IP, and he’ll get the nod in Sunday’s finale. Pineda will attempt to improve on his career numbers against the Rays (2-3, 4.50 ERA in nine starts).

Blake Snell (2-4, 3.05 ERA) responds for Tampa. The Rays are just 2-7 behind Snell this year but the rookie left-hander flummoxed the Yankees through five innings on April 23, letting up just one run on two hits.