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MLB weekend preview: Mets take on Brewers, Yankees host Tigers – Metro US
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MLB weekend preview: Mets take on Brewers, Yankees host Tigers

MLB weekend preview: Mets take on Brewers, Yankees host Tigers
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This weekend the Mets travel to Milwaukee to face the Brewers while the Yankees host the Detroit Tigers.

Friday’s game between the Mets and Brewers will see the resurgent Matt Harvey (4-8, 4.95 ERA) taking the hill against Junior Guerra (3-1, 3.61 ERA). Harvey has rebounded from a poor start to the season by allowing just one earned run in his last 14 IP. This will be his first career start against Milwaukee.

Guerra was called up in May to aid the Brewers’ starting rotation that still ranks in the bottom third in baseball by ERA. He’s done admirably, as the Brewers are 6-1 in the seven games Guerra has started, but he hasn’t recorded a win in his last three starts.

Logan Verrett (3-3, 3.41 ERA) makes a spot start on Saturday to prevent Steven Matz or Jacob deGrom from pitching on short rest (both were used in Tuesday’s doubleheader against Pittsburgh). Verrett was roughed up in his last start on May 14 but it came at Coors Field; before that Verrett turned in back-to-back quality starts on April 13 and 19 (no runs allowed in 12 IP).

The Mets’ batters have an opportunity for a much-needed outburst against Wily Peralta (3-7, 6.79 ERA), who takes the hill against them on Saturday. He has the worst ERA and WHIP (1.93) among qualified MLB starters. Curtis Granderson has been particularly successful in the past against Peralta (5-for-11 with two home runs).

Steven Matz (7-2, 2.69 ERA) gets the ball in Sunday’s series finale, and he’ll be hoping to replicate the start he had against the Brewers on May 20 (two runs on three hits in seven innings). Zach Davies (3-3, 4.53 ERA) counters for Milwaukee. The soft-tossing right-hander served up two home runs when he faced the Mets on May 21; one to Granderson and one to Yoenis Cespedes. New York won that game 5-4.

Yankees – Tigers

The Yankees will try to tame the Tigers in a three-game set this weekend. CC Sabathia (3-4, 2.58 ERA) starts on Friday, and he had a control issue in his last start, surrendering six walks in just five frames against the Orioles on June 5. He’ll have to pay careful attention to Miguel Cabrera, who’s a .294 hitter against him (34 ABs) with two homers and 12 RBI.

Mike Pelfrey (1-5, 4.76 ERA) looks for his second straight win on the mound, but he’ll have to rebound off a poor start against the Bombers on April 9 in which he allowed six runs on seven hits in less than four innings. Pelfrey has the fewest strikeouts among qualified starters, which should only aid a Yankees’ roster that has the fourth-fewest strikeouts in baseball.

Masahiro Tanaka (3-1, 2.76 ERA) and Justin Verlander (5-5, 3.97 ERA) will get a chance to face off on Saturday night after having their Sunday Night Baseball matchup rained out on April 10. Tanaka has allowed just four earned runs in his last four starts, but is 0-1 with a 4.76 ERA against Detroit in two career outings. Slugging outfielder J.D. Martinez has gotten the better of Tanaka in their handful of face-offs (4-for-6, two HRs).

Verlander has looked like his old self of late (2-1, 2.42 ERA in his last three starts) but he’ll still have to be wary of Alex Rodriguez, who’s taken him deep five times in 32 career ABs (.344 average).

Yankee legends will be honored on Old-Timers’ Day this Sunday, and Michael Pineda (2-6, 6.41 ERA) will take the mound. Pineda has pitched decently since his ERA spiked to a season-high 6.92 on May 28, giving up four runs while striking out 12 in his last two outings (12.2 IP). Michael Fulmer (6-1, 2.83 ERA), riding a 22.1 scoreless innings streak, responds for Detroit. The rookie seeks his fifth straight win on the mound.