FLUSHING, N.Y. - Catcher Austin Wynns is making his major league debut tonight with the Mets starting left-hander Jason Vargas. The Orioles officially recalled Wynns earlier today after Sunday's postponement delayed the announcement.
Trey Mancini is back in the leadoff spot. Danny Valencia is batting cleanup and Mark Trumbo is in right field, as there is no designated hitter in a National League ballpark.
Signed to a two-year, $16 million contract in February with an $8 million club option, Vargas is 2-3 with an 8.53 ERA and 1.855 WHIP in six starts over 25 1/3 innings. He hasn't gone more than five innings.
Right-handers are hitting .338 against Vargas and left-handers are hitting .300.
Vargas has made nine career starts against the Orioles and registered a 2.23 ERA and 1.055 WHIP in 60 2/3 innings. No one on the current roster owns impressive numbers against him.
Adam Jones is 5-for-30 (.167) with two doubles. Craig Gentry is 5-for-23 (.217). Trumbo is 4-for-19 (.211). Valencia and Chris Davis are 3-for-16 (.188). Davis homered off him in 2009 while playing for the Rangers.
Jones is batting .353 (36-for-102) with six home runs in his last 25 games since May 4 to raise his average from .231 to .284.
Alex Cobb made his only career start against the Mets on June 12, 2012, when he allowed five earned runs and six total in 6 2/3 innings in an 11-2 loss. Tonight marks his Citi Field debut.
Yoenis Céspedes is 3-for-19 against Cobb. Jose Bautista is 3-for-17 with six strikeouts, and still a villain in Baltimore.
For the Orioles
Trey Mancini LF
Adam Jones CF
Manny Machado SS
Danny Valencia 3B
Mark Trumbo RF
Jonathan Schoop 2B
Chris Davis 1B
Austin Wynns C
Alex Cobb RHP
For the Mets
Brandon Nimmo LF
Asdrúbal Cabrera 2B
Michael Conforto CF
Todd Frazier 3B
Jay Bruce RF
Kevin Plawecki C
Adrián González 1B
Jason Vargas LHP
Amed Rosario SS
Update: In the third round of the First-Year Player draft, the Orioles used the 87th overall pick on Arkansas right-hander Blaine Knight. He was the 36th-ranked prospect according to Baseball America, which described him as having "an electric arm, mid-90s fastball and high-spin curve."
The Rangers chose Knight last year in the 29th round.
The Orioles took Kentucky prep left-hander Drew Rom in the fourth round (115th overall) and University of Iowa outfielder Robert Neustrom in the fifth (145th).
The Indians selected Towson University shortstop Richie Palacios with the 103rd overall pick. The Orioles heavily scouted him. University of Maryland second baseman Nick Dunn was selected by the Cardinals in the fifth round (153rd).
Single-A Delmarva outfielder Zach Jarrett, first baseman Seamus Curran and third baseman Trevor Craport hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in a May 30 game at Kannapolis. They're linked again today with news that they've been chosen to play in the 59th annual South Atlantic League All-Star Game on June 19 in Greensboro, N.C.
Shameless plug alert: I'm doing a live hit from Citi Field for "O's Xtra" that airs at 6:30 p.m. on MASN. If I can remember how to get down to the field from the press box. The trip requires a map and snacks.