Carlos Beltran will have the afternoon off but is available to pinch-hit.
Here’s today’s lineup:
Angel Pagan, CF
Justin Turner, 2B
David Wright, 3B
Jason Bay, LF
Ike Davis, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Henry Blanco, C
Ruben Tejada, SS
Johan Santana, LP
SANTANA: Needs to rebound.
Jose Reyes will indeed sit tonight at Washington. Also, another game without Angel Pagan.
Here’s the lineup:
Jesus Feliciano, CF
Ruben Tejada, SS
David Wright, 3B
Ike Davis, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Chris Carter, LF
Henry Blanco, C
Alex Cora, 2B
Johan Santana, LP
Here’s tonight’s lineup in Puerto Rico:
Jose Reyes, SS
Jesus Feliciano, CF
David Wright, 3B
Ike Davis, 1B
Jason Bay, LF
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Henry Blanco, C
Ruben Tejada, 2B
RA Dickey, RP
Game #72 vs. Tigers
The Mets will be going for the sweep tonight against Detroit without, as expected, without center fielder Angel Pagan, who is sidelined with a muscle spasm in his right side.
Jesus Feliciano will start in center.
Pagan left last night’s game in the seventh inning, and typically Jerry Manuel rests a player the day after taking him out of a game with an injury.
Manuel said Pagan could be able to play tomorrow night against Minnesota.
Here’s tonight’s lineup vs. Tigers:
Jose Reyes, SS
DICKEY: Going for 6-0.
Angel Pagan, CF
David Wright, 3B
Ike Davis, 1B
Jason Bay, LF
Jeff Franoeur, RF
Henry Blanco, C
Ruben Tejada, 2B
RA Dickey, RP
Game #68 at Yankees
I always liked Luis Castillo in the two hole because of his ability to bunt, hit behind Jose Reyes and work the count.
However, with the way Angel Pagan has taken to that position in the order, and how the Mets have played with him there, when Castillo comes back from the disabled list I’d rather have him hit eight and keep Pagan second.
Last night, Pagan broke open a close game with a two run double, something he’s done a lot of lately with an average of well over .300 with RISP.
Reyes and David Wright are hitting now, but unquestionably the Mets’ most consistent hitter this season has been Pagan.
He’ll bat second again today in a pitcher’s duel between Mike Pelfrey and Phil Hughes, both of whom are 9-1.
Here’s today’s lineup:
Jose Reyes, SS
Angel Pagan, CF
David Wright, 3B
Ike Davis, 1B
Jason Bay, LF
Chris Carter, DH
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Alex Cora, 2B
Henry Blanco, C
Mike Pelfrey, RP
The Mets will be seeking their seventh straight victory tonight at Cleveland.
Here’s the lineup:
Jose Reyes, SS
Angel Pagan, CF
David Wright, 3B
Ike Davis, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Chris Carter, DH
Henry Blanco, C
Jesus Feliciano, LF
Ruben Tejada, 2B
R.A. Dickey, RP
For all the talk about the Mets needing starting pitching, they are going through a stretch now where that seems inconceivable.
Game #63 at Orioles
After winning the first two games of their series at Baltimore behind RA Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi (who gave up one run in a combined 14 innings), the Mets have pitched to a major league-leading 2.31 ERA in June as they have won eight of their last ten games.
They look to complete the road sweep – it would be their first in two years, and first ever in interleague play – behind the sizzling Mike Pelfrey (8-1, 2.23 ERA), who is seeking his fifth straight victory.
The last three-game road series they swept was Sept. 1-3, 2008, at Milwaukee.
