New York Mets Rookie Leads Off Series with Minnesota Twins

The New York Mets have set their pitching probables for their three-game series with the Minnesota Twins, which starts on Friday at Target Field in Minneapolis.

Friday’s opener is set for 8:10 p.m. eastern. Saturday’s game is set to start at 2:10 p.m. while Sunday’s finale is also set for 2:10 p.m.

Kodai Senga (10-7, 3.17) is expected to start on Friday for the Mets against former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel (1-1, 5.06).

Senga took the loss in his last start last Friday against the Los Angeles Angels, in spite of a quality outing. He went 6.2 innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs. He walked three and struck out 10. In his last seven games he is 3-2 with a 3.10 ERA with 42 strikeouts and 15 walks in 40.2 innings in that span.

Keuchel only joined the Twins a few weeks ago, but he’s found some of the magic that made him one of the game’s best pitchers while he was with the Houston Astros. His last start was against Texas on Saturday and he gave up five hits and five earned runs in 3.1 innings. He struck out two and walked one.

David Peterson (3-7, 5.40) is expected to start for the Mets on Saturday against Kenta Maeda (3-7, 4.73).

Peterson took a no-decision in his last outing against Seattle on Saturday, giving up seven hits and four earned runs in four innings. He struck out four and walked none. In his last seven outings (six starts), he doesn’t have a decision, has a 3.86 ERA and 29 strikeouts against 16 walks in 28 innings.

Maeda will make his 18th start of the season on Saturday. He absorbed a no-decision against Texas on Sunday, giving up nine hits and three earned runs in five innings. He struck out three and walked two. He’s worked 35 innings in his last seven starts, giving up nine walks against 36 strikeouts. He is 1-2 with a 4.89 ERA in that span.

Tylor Megill (8-7, 5.28) is expected to start for the Mets on Sunday against Pablo López (10-7, 3.64).

Megill won his last start against Seattle on Monday, as he gave up five hits and three earned runs in 5.1 innings. He struck out six and walked two. He has 32 strikeouts and 14 walks in 33.1 innings in his last seven games and has a 2-3 record with a 6.21 ERA in that span.

López won his last start on Tuesday against Cleveland. He gave up eight hits in six innings, but only allowed an earned run. He struck out three and walked three. One could argue he’s been the Twins’ best starter in the last month, with a 5-1 record and a 2.14 ERA in his last seven starts. He has 39 strikeouts and 10 walks in 42 innings in that span.

After Minnesota, the Mets return home to start a series with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.