Baltimore @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 19, 2012 ) Baltimore 0, NY Mets 5
The New York Mets haven't allowed a run in 22 innings and the Baltimore Orioles haven't scored one in 21 frames. It doesn't take a mathematician to realize that the numbers add up favorably for New York, which will attempt to complete a three-game sweep of visiting Baltimore on Wednesday. The Mets recorded their National League-leading eighth shutout with their second straight 5-0 victory on Tuesday.
Dillon Gee will try to follow in the footsteps of starters R.A. Dickey and Johan Santana, who joined three relievers to limit the Orioles to just six hits in the first two games of the series. David Wright is riding a 10-game hitting streak for the Mets, who have moved to within three games of National League East-leading Washington. Baltimore's power outage has dropped it 2 1/2 games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH Brian Matusz (5-7, 4.94 ERA) vs. Mets RH Dillon Gee (4-5, 4.43 ERA)
Matusz has struggled with his control en route to dropping three of his last four starts. The former first-round pick has allowed 14 runs and as many walks during that stretch. Matusz yielded two homers and four runs total on nine hits in a 4-2 loss to Atlanta on Friday. He is 0-2 with a gaudy 9.39 ERA in his last two starts.
Gee is searching for his first win in five starts when he takes the mound Wednesday. The 26-year-old suffered his second straight loss after permitting four runs on five hits in six innings in a 7-3 loss to Cincinnati on Friday. Gee has given the Mets at least five innings in all 13 starts this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York outfielder Scott Hairston has been torching left-handers this season, batting .338 against southpaws as opposed to .200 versus right-handers. He is 0-for-3 in his career versus Matusz, however.
2. Baltimore has not homered in five games - its longest stretch since 2010. The Orioles could break out against Gee, who yielded two blasts in his last outing and 11 this season.
3. Mets shortstop Omar Quintanilla will likely receive a day off Wednesday, according to manager Terry Collins. Justin Turner is expected to step in, although he is just returning from a sprained ankle.