Houston @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2012 ) Houston 1, NY Mets 3
While the Houston Astros have been on the losing end far too many times this season, they can actually secure a series victory on Sunday. Houston will attempt to take two of three from the New York Mets when the clubs conclude their set at Citi Field. New York evened the series at a game apiece after Justin Turner homered for the first time in more than a year in a 3-1 triumph on Saturday.
Despite the setback, Houston has claimed four of the five meetings between the teams. The Mets aren't offering any apologies after snapping a six-game losing skid and scoring more than two runs for the first time since Aug. 17. The clubs, which both entered the league in 1962, will face each other for the final time before the Astros begin play in the American League in 2013.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FSH (Houston), WPIX (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Lucas Harrell (10-9, 4.04 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jeremy Hefner (2-5, 5.11)
After allowing 10 runs in his previous seven outings, Harrell was roughed up for six runs on eight hits in a 7-0 loss to St. Louis on Tuesday. The 27-year-old traditionally keeps the ball in park (10 homers in 151 1/3 innings), but has issued 12 walks in his last four outings. Harrell has yet to face the Mets in his career.
Making his first start in two weeks, Hefner yielded five runs on eight hits in five innings to take the loss versus Washington last Sunday. Perhaps the 26-year-old had more on his mind than the game as his wife Sarah gave birth to daughter Jaylee three days later. Back to baseball, Hefner is expected to see additional time on the mound after Johan Santana's season came to an end.
WALK-OFFS
1. Although Turner ended a 258 at-bat homerless drought on Saturday with his first blast since Aug. 6, 2011, Daniel Murphy is expected to return to the lineup after a two-game absence.
2. After collecting four hits in the team's previous series versus St. Louis, Houston 2B Jose Altuve is hitless in seven at-bats against New York. Altuve is 3-for-19 in his career versus Mets pitching.
3. New York's Jason Bay snapped an 0-for-14 slump with an RBI single in the eighth inning.