New York Mets (52-44 Road: 24-26) at Cincinnati Reds (46-51 Home:26-20) 7:10pm
John Maine (8-6 3.99) vs. Bronson Arroyo (7-7 5.97)
TV: SNY Radio: WFAN
What to watch: The Mets take their ten game winning streak into tonight’s game. Maine hasn’t won a game since June 25th (his last win) and hasn’t pitched more than six innings since June 20th. He’s got something to prove tonight. Maine’s a high ball pitcher though, which can be dangerous in the small park in Cincy.
New York Mets (51-44 Road: 23-26) at Cincinnati Reds (46-50 Home:26-19) 7:10pm
Johan Santana (8-7 2.84) vs. Johnny Cueto (7-9 4.67)
TV: SNY Radio: WFAN
What to watch: The Mets, baseball’s hottest team, roll into Cincy for a four game weekend series beginning tonight. A nice pitching match-up kicks off the series with Santana going up against young gun Cueto. The Mets are looking to extend their winning streak to ten games tonight.
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Cincinnati Reds monster prospect Jay Bruce is being called up today. To make room on the roster the Reds have a couple of options. One is to designate struggling outfielder Cory Patterson. The other option is to designate Scott Hatteberg.
If Hatteberg is designated today the Mets need to make a move for him, even if it requires trading a low level prospect. Hatteberg shouldn’t command too much in the trade market. He’s 38 years old and hasn’t had a good season as a pinch hitter this year.
Hatteberg is a below average fielder at first base which is no change from what we have now with Carlos Delgado. Last season the lefty hitting Hatteberg got 361 at-bats for the Reds and hit .310/.394/.474 with 10 homers and 47 RBI’s. It would be nice to see a .300+ hitter at first base every day.
If the Mets aren’t going to make a change at manager immediately, it’s time to make a change at first bast. Hatteberg and Nick Evans might make a nice lefty-righty platoon at first base.
Read the full story from John Fay at the Cincinnati Enquirer. Thanks to MLBTR for the story.
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Carlos Beltran is back! He continued to hit the Reds hard again on Mother’s Day going 2 for 5 with 2 RBI’s and his third home run of the season. Beltran was ice cold going into Los Angeles this week and started to show signs of life. Against Cincinnati he showed that he’s right on the ball.
Oliver Perez was serviceable going six innings for the win. He looked great until the sixth inning when things started to fall apart and he gave up three runs. This was his best start since April 19th in Philly.
Ryan Church continued his dream season making a fantastic catch against the wall in right field, and hitting a homer which was back to back with Beltran.
Carlos Delgado looks pretty comfortable in the seventh spot in the order. I hope Willie keeps him there until he proves that he deserves to move up.
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Cincinnati Reds (15-22) at New York Mets (18-16) 1:10pm
Johnny Cueto (2-3) vs. Oliver Perez (2-3)
What to watch: The Mets HAVE to win this game to take the series from the Reds. Cincinnati’s a struggling team and the Mets can’t lose a home series to them in today’s rubber game. Johnny Cueto is a good, young pitcher. So Oliver Perez should have his hands full keeping up with Cueto.
As usual, the double header was split between the Mets and Reds today. That’s exactly the reason that the Mets tried to get the game in despite the rain last night. Double headers are almost always split.
The good news in this game is that Mike Pelfrey pitched really well and kept the Mets in the game through six innings giving up only two runs. That’s something for Pelfrey to build upon.
The bad news was that the Mets only got four hits in the game. Bronson Arroyo was on tonight even though he’s had a terrible season. He’s had a few starts that were fair this season, but this was by far his best game yet. There’s not much that you can do when a pitcher is on like that.
Duaner Sanchez and Billy Wagner didn’t have it tonight. Wagner was hurt by some poor fielding though.
The Mets absolutely must win the rubber game tomorrow. They cannot lose a home series to the Reds. That would be a terrible sign if they did.
Cincinnati Reds (14-21) at New York Mets (17-15) 1:10pm 7:30pm
Matt Belisle (1-2) vs. Johan Santana (3-2) 1:10pm
Bronson Arroyo (1-4) vs. Mike Pelfrey (2-2) 7:30pm
TV: SNY Radio: WFAN (Both Games)
What to watch: Last nights rain out forced a dual admission double header today. Santana is keeping the day game and Pelfrey is moving to the night game. Ken Griffey was scratched from last nights lineup because he was sick. We’ll see if he can play today, he’s coming up on 600 home runs. The Reds are really bad this season so the Mets need to take advantage of that in this home series.
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