Game Thread: Nova tries to salvage a series win against the Mets

Following a split of the first tow games of the series, the Pirates’ Ivan Nova (4-5, 3.98) will face off against the Mets’ Zach Wheeler (2-6, 4.85) at 7:10 pm Eastern time in Citi Field in New York.

Since returning from the disabled list in June 10th, Nova has only allowed two runs in three starts, covering 19 ²⁄₃ innings. With games scores of 63, 58 and 84, they are three of his best five starts of the season.

The 28 year old right-hander Wheeler was the 6th overall pick in the 2009 draft by the Giants, but has recently been derailed by injuries. He was traded to the Mets in mid 2011 for Carlos Beltran and made his major league debut two years later, posting a 3.42 in 17 starts at the age of 23. In 2014 me made 32 starts with a 3.54 ERA and 187 strikeouts, but would throw only one inning over the next two years as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, then had his 2017 season cut short with bicep tendonitis and stress reactions in hos throwing arm.

In 14 starts so far this year Wheeler is throwing harder than ever, averaging 95.3 mph on his fastball, even if the results aren’t what they were before his injuries. He uses the four-seam fastball 46% of the time, two-seam 19%, slider 17% and curve 13%.

Starling Marte takes the day off for the Pirates as Josh Bell returns to the second spot in the lineup as the Mets continue to search for a consistent combination.

PIRATES

1 L Austin Meadows CF

2 S Josh Bell 1B

3 R Josh Harrison 2B

4 L Colin Moran 3B

5 R Elias Diaz C

6 L Corey Dickerson LF

7 L Gregory Polanco RF

8 R Jordy Mercer SS

9 R Ivan Nova RHP

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METS

1 L Brandon Nimmo CF

2 R Jose Bautista RF

3 S Asdrubal Cabrera 2B

4 L Wilmer Flores 1B

5 L Michael Conforto LF

6 R Todd Frazier 3B

7 R Devin Mesoraco C

8 R Ahmed Rosario SS

9 R Zach Wheeler RHP