Max Scherzer, Mets prepare for series opener in Colorado

When it is New York Mets come Denver, that usually means bad weather heading for Colorado

Games have been postponed three times since 2013 due to inclement weather, including last season when the opener of a three-game series was cut short due to snow and cold.

No snow in the forecast for New York’s trip to Colorado to play the Rocky Mountain this weekend, but there may be rain on Friday night when the Mets send Max Scherzer (3-2, 4.01 ERA) against Colorado’s Connor Seabold (1-1, 5.97).

New York lost two of three games against the Cubs earlier this week, but beat Chicago 10-1 on Thursday. THE Metswho came into 2023 with World Series aspirations is hovering around .500 despite Scherzer and Justin Verlander at the top of the rotation

Scherzer is 2-5 with a 4.54 ERA in 12 career starts Rocky Mountain, but one of those was a loss in Denver last year. Scherzer struck out 11 in seven innings and gave up a shutout in Colorado’s Aug. 28 win.

It was a rare 1-0 game in Denver, especially with Pete Alonso on the New York team. He won the 2021 Home Run Derby at Coors Field, his second straight victory in the event, and has a career high in home runs this season.

Alonso leads the bigs with 19 long balls, including six in his past nine games — and now he’s headed for a hitter-friendly park.

“I just feel like I’m in a really good place,” Alonso said. “I control my at-bats and understand what I can and can’t do. I do a really good job of taking advantage of things in my zone and if it’s not there, I don’t swing.”

Elias Diaz has just six home runs Rocky Mountain, but has gone deep in three of the last four games. His hitting and defense are on track to be Colorado’s All-Star Game representative this summer.

“There is an inner calm in his game from the catcher position” Rocky Mountain manager Bud Black said. “There were times last year where he didn’t hit and tried to make up for it on defense

“He’s calm. His at-bats have been very solid all year. You’ve seen the clutch at-bats. You’ve seen the pinch-hit at-bats. The whole game is under control.”

Diaz started at designated hitter in Colorado’s wild 7-6 win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday, so he will likely be at the plate on Friday night.

Rocky Mountain Center fielder Brenton Doyle suffered a knee injury in the ninth inning Thursday when he hit the outfield wall trying to make a leaping catch on Jorge Soler’s home run.

Black said, “We’ll know more (Friday), but we’re hoping it’s just a bruise.”

Seabold, who has never faced New York before, is making his fifth start since joining the rotation in early May.

— Field Level Media