Mets Blank Marlins, Major Test in Houston Awaits

METS 6 - MARLINS 0

The Mets did exactly what they needed to do with the Miami Marlins on getaway day, shutting them out 6-0 to jump back to 21 games over .500 at 45-24 before embarking on what will be fascinating two days in Houston. The victory was the 11th shutout by the Mets this season, tying them with the Yankees for most shutouts this season.

Brandon Nimmo led the team with three hits, and Eduardo Escobar had three RBI in the victory. More importantly, David Peterson rebounded nicely from his previous outing, tossing five-and-a-third shutout innings against Miami. He held Miami to just six hits and two walks, with seven strikeouts. He improved to 4-1 on the season.

Even with the win there was some concern for infielder Jeff McNeill who left with hamstring tightness and is listed as day-to-day.

The Mets will play Houston over the next two nights in what figures to be a huge test of the Mets perseverance. New York will send Trevor Williams and Carlos Carrasco to the hill over the next two nights. Houston will counter with Jose Urquidy and Luis Garcia. The Astros are second in the American League in home runs with 87, and have won five of its last seven to stand at 41-25 on the year.

Of course the Astros still feature a lineup of difficult hitters with vast postseason experience in the likes of Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Yuli Gurriel. It will be interesting to see if Yordan Alvarez, who is having an MVP quality season with a .311 batting average, 18 homers and 47 RBI plays plays in this series as he battles a hand injury. Should he play, it will make things even more difficult on the Mets pitching staff.

The Mets and Astros, one time National League rivals, will play four games over the next two weeks with two games this week in Houston and two game next week at Citi Field.