For the Mets its back to all the basic values it will take to win ball games. With a 4-1 record against Arizona on the year, they may have the formula down to take care of them. They keep drawing similar teams. The Diamondbacks are another team at the tail end of the Wild Card race in the NL, hoping for the best.
The Mets have already nabbed one game at Chase Field, so its time for more at a ballpark that always seems to be rather kind to the Mets.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are certainly an underachieving team on offense in the eyes of many. As far as their pitching goes, it is tough to expect success out of a group of young guys that have cycled in and out of the rotation all season long.
At long last, the Mets are avoiding a series sweep in the early stages and have the energy in their favor for a change. Two pitches go tonight, Jon Niese and Josh Collmenter, that have been highly overlooked in general due to three or four blow-ups on the year. Things were low-scoring last night, and it doesn’t look like much may change unless one of these two teams wakes up on the wrong side of the bed
Lineups
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New York Mets
1) Ruben Tejada SS
2) Jordany Valdespin RF 3) David Wright 3B 4) Ike Davis 1B 5) Daniel Murphy 2B 6) Jason Bay LF 7) Josh Thole C 8 ) Andres Torres CF 9) Jon Niese LHP |
Arizona Diamondbacks
1) Willie Bloomquist 3B
2) Aaron Hill 2B 3) Jason Kubel LF 4) Paul Goldschmidt 1B 5) Justin Upton RF 6) Chris Young CF
7) Stephen Drew SS 8 ) Henry Blanco C 9) Josh Collmenter RHP |
Matchup
NYM: Jon Niese (7-4, 3.59 ERA) When you look at Niese on the whole, you have to be pleased with what he has produced this year. It is just a couple implosions that have created some inflation in his seasonal ERA. In seven of his last nine starts, he’s pitched well enough for a quality start. Its the bullpen that has harassed him during his recent starts. His last win came against the Phillies on July 3 where he held them at bay allowing just one run over the course of eight innings. He hasn’t faced Arizona in 2012 and doesn’t have a particularly good track record against them over the last several years.
ARI: Josh Collmenter (2-2, 3.82 ERA) Making just his ninth start of the year, Collmenter has come a long way since his early season struggles. Having never started against the Mets in his career, it is unclear in which way the momentum will sway tonight. What is clear is that he’s been nearly untouchable outside of April this year, and especially since his resurgence in the Arizona rotation. He hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any of his last four starts. His control is spot on, and he’ll need that against a team of Mets that are more hungry than ever for some rebound wins.
Stache Keys to the Game
- Like Josh Edgin last night, its time for someone else out of the bullpen to shine tonight. The pen owes it to Niese.
- Daniel Murphy is in an odd spot. He can bolster his trade stock with a big a night. He can also keep his Mets loyalty intact tonight with a stellar performance as well.
- Rebuild what is lost. The Mets have spent far too much time tumbling since the break, but remember how streaky of a team this was in the first half. They could easily be due for about seven more games right now.
Slated for a 9:40 PM ET start, catch the game live on SNY and WFAN 660.
