Orioles-Mets series preview: Wrapping up the homestand

It was almost one month ago that these two teams faced off for a pair of games in Queens. The Mets took both affairs, and the Orioles began their downward spiral in May, winning just one game the rest of the month.

Both teams enter this mini series on steady footing. The Mets are winners of eight out of their last 11, and the Orioles have started June on a tear, taking four of five games, and back-to-back home series for the first time all year. New York’s recent run has catapulted them to the top of the NL East while the O’s reside in the AL East’s basement.

The Mets promoted a familiar face from Triple-A last month, when Mason Williams joined their outfield. The 29-year-old spent parts of the last two seasons bouncing between Norfolk and Baltimore. Along with Miguel Castro and Jonathan Villar, that makes a trio of former Orioles on the Mets’ active squad.

The Williams promotion was necessitated by the mounting number of players that New York has on the IL. Almost half of the position players from their Opening Day roster are currently shelved: J.D. Davis, Jeff McNeil, Albert Almora Jr., Michael Conforto, and Brandon Nimmo.

The Orioles will also be fortunate to miss Jacob deGrom and Marcus Stroman in this series. But it might not matter because of how strong this Mets bullpen has been. Their 3.3 fWAR as a unit is the best in baseball, as is their 3.11 FIP.

Game 1: Tuesday, June 8th, 7:05 p.m., MASN

Bruce Zimmermann (3-3, 4.96 ERA) vs. David Peterson (1-4, 5.89 ERA)

In general, the Orioles have to be pleased with the season that Bruce Zimmermann is putting together. The lefty has certainly had his struggles, but he has also been able to take his lumps, learn from them, and bounce back. His last two starts he has allowed three runs over 10.1 innings and lowered his season ERA from 5.59 to 4.96. Due to off days, Zimmermann will be working on six days of rest.

David Peterson is headed in the opposite direction. His season ERA has risen by more than a point (4.86 to 5.89) over his last three outings, including his most recent start in which he recorded just one out and allowed five runs on three hits, three walks, and zero strikeouts. The 6-foot-6 lefty is striking out nearly 10 batters per nine innings, but is also giving up loads of hard contact.

Game 2: Wednesday, June 9th, 7:05 p.m., MASN

Matt Harvey (3-6, 6.62 ERA) vs. Taijuan Walker (4-2, 2.17 ERA)

Matt Harvey has not won a decision since May 1. The rest of the month was a disaster for him. His ERA skyrocketed from 4.06 to 6.84 in that time. He settled down in his last outing, which was an expectedly short three-inning trip to the mound on short rest. Normally, an ERA of 6.62 ERA over 12 starts is enough to get a pitcher booted from a major league rotation. But the Orioles are thin on options given the recent injury to John Means the the struggles of some young pitchers, like Zac Lowther.

Taijuan Walker will be hoping to recreate his May 12th start against these Orioles, where he tossed seven innings and allowed just one run while striking out four and walking three. In order to do that he will need to bounce back from a poor outing against the Padres last week. It was his first loss since April 20th.