The New York Mets have not been swept at home by the Houston Astros in 18 years. On Thursday, that streak is in jeopardy as the Astros aim to close out the three-game series with a third straight win and score a historic MLB victory.
The New York Mets (5-13, 1-8) are off to their worst start since going 3-15 in 1964. The Mets own the worst record in the majors, and their 1-8 home record is their worst start since they went 1-7 in 1962 when they managed a modern era-low 40 total victories.
The Mats are hoping that Jason Bay’s expected return Thursday will provide a spark. The left fielder was placed on the disabled list after a rib-cage strain and hasn’t played in a game since the beginning of the regular season. He went 6 for 12 with two home runs and four RBIs during a four-game rehab stint.
The Houston Astros (7-11, 3-5 away) are looking for their first three-game winning streak of the season. The Astros haven’t swept the Mets in New York since April 9-11, 1993. They haven’t even achieved a road sweep since winning four in a row at Philadelphia from Aug. 23-26.
The Astros handed the Mets their seventh straight loss on Wednesday by a score of 4-3. The win came at a price, though, as second baseman Bill Hall sprained his right ankle and will miss a few games.
Chris Capuano (1-1, 8.53 ERA) will pitch for the Mets on Thursday. The left-hander allowed seven runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings of a 9-4 loss to Colorado last Thursday.
J.A. Happ (1-2, 5.79 ERA) will take the mound for the Astros. The left-hander gave up four runs in seven innings of a 4-2 loss to San Diego on Friday.
