Game #84 vs. Reds
Do you remember that eight-game winning streak? Well, the Mets are 7-9 since and if they continue their sputtering they could be in danger of giving back the ground they gained.
They’ll give the ball to Johan Santana tonight with the hope of climbing back to ten games over .500.
Santana, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, is 1-3 with a 3.40 ERA in his last seven starts. He’s been given two runs or less in six of them – all games lost by the Mets.
Jerry Manuel said he’ll keep an eye on Mike Pelfrey tonight as he his pitching for the third time in six days in an effort to give the Mets two straight wins for the first time this season.
Last Thursday he pitched seven shutout innings in beating the Rockies and Saturday worked an inning of relief in the 20-inning marathon against St. Louis.
Remember how woeful the Mets were the first week of the season? Well, that’s the Cubs right now. This is the team the Mets should get well against.
Here’s the line-up for the Mets (5-8):
Jose Reyes, SS
Luis Castillo, 2B
David Wright, 3B
Jason Bay, LF
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Ike Davis, 1B
Angel Pagan, CF
Henry Blanco, C
Mike Pelfrey, RP
SOME THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS: Will be interesting to see how Reyes responds from his day off. First thing I thought of when I heard he requested last night off was a thyroid reaction. … I’m waiting for Wright to take off at the plate. Some tentative at-bats lately. … Also waiting on Bay. He hit the ball yesterday, but still looking for the long ball. … Francoeur needs a hit to snap out of a slide. Those long games have sent many players into slumps. … Looks like to the center field platoon is no more. … Blanco is with Pelfrey because they worked so well the last time. Could it be permanent?
NOTE: I am taking my class tonight so I’ll miss the start of the game. Should be back around nine. I hope you guys pick up the flow.
CHAT ROOM
Let’s face it, ain’t happening. Also not happening is Gary Sheffield. He won’t start tonight, either, but is available as a pinch hitter like last night.
The Mets go into tonight’s game at Arizona losers of nine of their last 12 games. With the offense on life-support, the rotation has responded with a 5.57 ERA in that span.
At one time, June 7 after throwing seven shutout innings against Washington, was 5-1. He takes a 7-6 record and 5.08 to the mound tonight.
Last Thursday, Hernandez gave up seven runs in five innings in losing at San Diego. He has given up seven runs or more in three of his last six outings. Lifetime, Hernandez is 10-6 with a 3.51 ERA against the Diamondbacks, but his history over the past two months is a greater measure of what to expect.
The Mets will send this line-up against Max Scherzer (6-6, 4.01):
Cory Sullivan, LF
Luis Castillo, 2B
Fernando Tatis, 3B
Daniel Murphy, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Jeremy Reed, CF
Alex Cora, SS
Brian Schneider, C
Livan Hernandez, RP