Time: 10:15 P.M. EST Venue: AT&T Park
SAN FRANCISCO -- The New York Mets welcomed back outfielder Justin Ruggiano for the series opener against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night. They liked what they saw so much, manager Terry Collins is planning to bring back two more injured players Friday. Left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (strained right quad) and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (strained left knee) are expected to be reinstated from the 15-day disabled list in time for the Mets' rematch with the Giants after San Francisco took the series opener 10-7 Thursday. Cespedes missed the minimum 15 days, while Cabrera last played for the Mets on July 31. The Mets' third loss in four games on their road trip Thursday came despite the efforts of Ruggiano, who had three hits, including a grand slam off Giants ace left-hander Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner extracted a measure of revenge against the Mets, however, belting a home run of his own to aid in a Giants comeback that helped produce the win. The homer came off Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom, who shared the marquee with Bumgarner in what was billed as a pitchers' duel in the series opener." I don't think that's how either of us had it drawn up," Bumgarner said the 12 combined runs scored off the two starting pitchers. "But we'll take it for sure." At least Bumgarner and deGrom walked away healthy. The same couldn't be said Thursday of Giants right-hander Matt Cain, who had to go on the disabled list because of a sore lower back, and Mets lefty Steven Matz, who was scratched from his scheduled Friday start because of a sore shoulder. That leaves Mets rookie right-hander Seth Lugo (0-1, 2.65 ERA) to make his first major league start against the National League's All-Star Game starter, Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto (13-3, 2.97 ERA)." It's a hole to fill," Collins said of losing Matz, who is being pointed toward keeping his spot in the rotation next week. "Right now, Seth Lugo's going to be the guy." Lugo has made nine relief appearances for the Mets, and he has demonstrated an uncanny ability to get left-handed hitters out. They are batting just .130 (3-for-23) against him. The Giants got eight hits from lefty hitters in Thursday's barrage on deGrom. The win allowed the Giants (67-54) to move seven games ahead of the Mets (60-61) in the National League wild-card race. San Francisco has won just two of seven on its current homestand, but the hometown fans are starting to see the club swing the bats better. The 10-run total Thursday was the Giants' highest since a 12-run tally against the Oakland Athletics on June 30. The club has totaled 36 runs in its past six games. Cueto, meanwhile, hasn't won since July 6, a six-game stretch in which he has gone 0-2 with a 4.84 ERA. The Giants lost four of the six contests. Cueto has been particularly off his game in three August starts, during which he owns a 5.59 ERA without getting a decision. The ERA is the third worst in all of baseball among unbeaten pitchers in August who have made three or more starts, trailing only the Colorado Rockies' Chad Bettis (6.43) and the Texas Rangers' Lucas Harrell (6.17).
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