Category: Game Preview

Mets Try to Avoid Sweep in Toronto

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - FEBRUARY 24: RY 24: Dil...

After losing a blowout Friday night and a pitching dual yesterday, the Mets try to avoid leaving Toronto empty-handed. The Blue Jays can send the Mets packing for Pittsburgh with a sweep today.

It may not be easy either as the Mets send Dillon Gee to the mound. He got bombed by the Brewers in his last start for 7 runs in 5.1 innings and the Phillies got him prior to that for 4 runs in 5.2 innings. Basically, he hasn’t been pitching well in the last two weeks.

Contrast that with Blue Jays starter Henderson Alvarez. He’s gotten wins in three of his last four starts and his ERA is 1.03 in May.

On paper, it doens’t look good for the Mets. But I have to say that early in the season the Mets haven’t let losses start to pile up on them. They’ve done a good job of coming back with wins before there can become a series of losses. Today will be a big test of that resilience that we’ve seen thus far in the season.

Preview: Phillies at Mets July 16, 2011

Philadelphia Phillies (58-34) at New York Mets (46-46) 4:10pm

Cole Hamels (11-4 2.32) vs. Jon Niese (8-7 3.88)

TV: FOX             Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Phillies will try to put another beat down on the Mets today on national TV, while the Mets struggle daily to stay relevant. Hamels is having the best season of his solid six year career. He has the lowest ERA, WHIP, and BAA of his career which adds up to a lot of wins. He’s got 11 wins already and only had 12 all of last season. And he does it in a hitter’s park, so the Mets will have their work cut out for them today at Citi Field.

Niese got hit for 2 runs in .1 innings in his first relief appearance in San Francisco before the break. But his pas three starts have been pretty good. He’s been solid and never really lets the Mets get completely out of the game. He’s been tough on lefties this year (.239 BAA) so that should help against the Phillies lineup. And his ERA at home (3.40) is almost a run less than it is on the road (4.37).

Preview: Mets at Giants July 10, 2011

New York Mets (46-44) at San Francisco Giants (51-40) 8:05pm

Mike Pelfrey (5-7 4.64) vs. Matt Cain (7-5 3.22)

TV: ESPN             Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets and Giants play the rubber game of the series before the All-Star break on national TV tonight. Pelfrey has lost two of his last three starts but his last start in LA was solid throwing 6 shutout innings for a win. He’s started 5 games in his career against the Giants and has a 2-1 record with a 2.04 ERA.

The Giants have lost three of the last four games that Cain started. But he always seems to suffer from a lack of run support.  In his career at home (98 starts), he’s 37-32 with a 3.15 ERA.

Join me and Kerel Cooper of On The Black at 7pm tonight for a live streaming pre-game show on Ustream.

Preview: Mets at Giants July 8, 2011

New York Mets (45-43) at San Francisco Giants (50-39) 10:15pm

R.A. Dickey (4-7 3.68) vs. Ryan Vogelsong (6-1 2.13)

TV: SNY             Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Giants just split a four game series at home with the Padres and have a 2 game lead in the NL West over the D-Backs. Vogelsong has been kicking around the league for the last 10 years but he’s been pitching pretty well this season. The Mets hit him hard on May 3rd at Citi Field for 5 runs in 4 innings. But that was the last time he allowed more than 3 runs in a start.

Dickey has been pitching well too. Although he left his last start against the Yankees after 5 innings with tightness in his glute. The Mets have won the last three games that Dickey started.

Preview: Mets at Dodgers July 4, 2011

New York Mets (42-42) at Los Angeles Dodgers (37-48) 9:10pm

Chris Capuano (7-7 4.27) vs. Rubby De La Rosa (4-7 3.77)

TV: SNY             Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets start a four game series in LA tonight against the last place Dodgers who have lost three straight series’. Capuano has won four of his last five starts despite not pitching that well in Detroit in his last start. He gave up 5 runs in 5 innings but benefited from the Mets scoring 16 runs behind him.

De La Rosa is a rookie right-hander who only has five career starts this season with the Dodgers. He’s lost his last three starts although he pitched well in Minnesota going 7 innings and allowing 1 run in his last start. He ended up losing a 1-0 game to the Twins and Scott Baker.

Preview: Yankees at Mets July 3, 2011

New York Yankees (50-31) at New York Mets (41-42) 1:10pm

Freddy Garcia (7-6 3.28) vs. R.A. Dickey (4-7 3.77)

TV: TBS             Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets are trying to avoid the home sweep today if the weather allows. Its’ supposed to be raining pretty heavily on and off today. If you’re home watching today, don’t forget that the game is on TBS for some reason.

Garcia has been pitching incredibly well for the Yanks lately. He hasn’t gone less than 6 innings in a start since June 7th. He’s won three of his last four starts and hasn’t allowed more than 3 runs in a game during that span.

Everyone on the Mets will need to pick it up today without Jose Reyes in the lineup. Angel Pagan will be hitting leadoff and Ruben Tejada will be at shortstop. Dickey’s last two starts against Detroit and Oakland were both solid. He pitched 15 innings and allowed 4 runs in those starts.

Preview: Mets at Rangers June 26, 2011

New York Mets (38-39) at Texas Rangers (41-37) 3:05pm

Dillon Gee (7-1 3.21) vs. Derek Holland (6-2 4.69)

TV: SNY             Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets can win the series today and get to .500 in the same game. It would be a big psychological victory for this team if they can do it. Gee will have to stay focused pitching in front of a big contingent of friends and family near home today. His last start against the A’s was the worst of his brief career going 4 innings and allowing 4 runs.

Holland has a winning record this season, more because of the great team he plays for than his own performance. The league is hitting .275 against him and his 1.46 WHIP isn’t anything to brag about. So the Mets have a chance to put up some runs today if Gee can keep them in the game.