The Miami Marlins got off to a hot 5-1 start, but followed that up with eight straight losses and now have a 10-12 record. The New York Mets started off slow, but are turning some things around. They just took three of four from the St. Louis Cardinals and currently sit two games above .500 at 12-10. Now the two will play for the first time this season with the Marlins next on the New York Mets schedule for this home stand at Citi Field. The average price for Mets tickets this series is $53.02, down 43 percent from the season average of $92.22.
Friday 7:10PM | MIA Henderson Alvarez vs. NYM Zack Wheeler | Avg. Price: $42 | Get-in Price: $9
Despite his 1-2 record, Henderson Alvarez has been solid for the Miami Marlins. Last season he was one of their better pitchers with a 1.9 WAR, and this year he’s sporting a 2.66 ERA after his first four starts. Those numbers are helped by a great — and probably lucky — home run rate. Alvarez has only given up three homeruns in his last 126.1 innings, after giving up 29 over 187.1 back in 2012. But the Mets, at Citi Field, aren’t the ones to test it. Instead they’ll rely on one of their top young pitchers, Zack Wheeler. Wheeler has struck out 21 batters in 23.1 innings, but he’s allowing an uncharacteristic .297 BAA which has led to a 4.63 ERA. A sky-high .357 BABIP certainly makes it seem like he’s gotten unlucky to start the season. In addition to the pitching match-up, fans attending the game will receive a t-shirt as part of a promotional giveaway. The tickets are the cheapest of the weekend series with an average price of $42 – 54 percent cheaper than the season average – and a get-in price at $9.
Saturday 7:10PM | MIA Kevin Slowey vs. NYM Jenrry Mejia | Avg. Price: $57.94 | Get-in Price: $14
The Mets are following up their t-shirt giveaway with a helmet giveaway on Saturday. Mets tickets are 37 percent below the season average at $57.94 and a get-in price of $14. In addition to the helmet, fans will get a chance to see Jenrry Mejia, who has been the Mets best pitcher to date. It was a question if Mejia was even going to make the team out of Spring Training, but he is currently leading the Mets with a 3-0 record, and a 1.99 ERA. He shut the Cardinals out over 6.2 innings his last time up and hitters are only hitting .193 against him for the season. He’ll be opposed by Kevin Slowey who is in his second season with the Marlins, after spending his first five with the Minnesota Twins. Slowey has a career ERA of 4.57 and is right around that number this year at 4.15. It’ll only be Slowey’s second start of the season.
Sunday 1:10PM | MIA Tom Koehler vs. NYM Dillon Gee | Avg. Price: $59.11 | Get-in Price: $13
The weekend’s most expensive ticket on average is still 36 percent below the season average. The get-in price for Mets tickets is also just $13 dollars for the Sunday matinee, and the Mets will be giving away loom bands to complete their promotional giveaway weekend. Tom Koehler will be the pitcher for the Marlins, coming off one of his best performances of the season. The righty struck out eight Braves batters over 6.1 innings, walked two and only gave up two runs. In four starts he hasn’t given up more than two runs and has made it through at least the sixth inning. Dillon Gee has been similarly productive for the Mets. While he doesn’t have the same sparkling ERA, he’s been an innings eater averaging over six innings a start with a WHIP of 1.04. He got the tough-luck loss last time out, as the Mets were shutout against Cardinals’ ace Adam Wainwright. Gee gave up two runs in six innings of work.
The intergalactic laws of blogging compel MetsPolice.com to report this is a sponsored post from our friends at TiqIq with whom we’ve worked several seasons. But I’m supposed to tell you per the FTC.
Does this surprise anyone? Both teams have been predicted to battle it out for the basement. It could be worse Marlins stadium is virtually empty, except for friends an family