The Mets head to Pittsburgh to play a 3-game series against the Pirates at PNC Park. Game 1 will be tonight, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm. The game can be seen on SNY and heard on WFAN660AM. Be sure to follow @MetsWFAN, @dailystache and @Meriwyn as well.
That lineup…WOW.
Starting pitchers Johan Santana and Erik Bedard have something in common. Together, they are a combined 3-7 for their teams due solely to lack of run support. Johan’s track record at PNC Park however may provide some much needed relief for Santana. He has a 1.80 ERA in Pittsburgh and has held the Pirates to a .176 average. On the flip side, Erik Bedard hasn’t pitched against the Mets since 2006, and David Wright is the only current Met that has ever faced him.
Part of the Pirates problems is that CF Andrew McCutcheon has been the only one swinging the bat thusfar, much like the Mets with David Wright providing most of the offense as of late. Speaking of Wright, yesterday he surpassed Jose Reyes on the Mets all-time hit list, moving him into second place behind Ed Kranepool.
The Mets’ starting rotation took yet another serious hit with the news that Miguel Batista (who started out pitching another gem yesterday) would be placed on the DL today with lower back issues. He says he is feeling better, but he will still most likely miss his next start.
Mets Lineup
Torres, CF - Turner, 2B - Wright, 3B - Hairston, LF - Duda, RF - Rottino, 1B - Cedeno, SS - Nickeas, C - Santana, SP
Pirates Lineup
Tabata, LF - Harrison, RF - McCutcheon, CF - Alvarez, 3B - Walker, 2B - McGehee, 1B - Barmes, SS - McKenry, C - Bedard, SP
Pitching Matchup
NYM: Johan Santana (1-2, 2.89 ERA). Santana has pitched beautifully so far this year, but due to lack of run support, he has wound up with no-decisions in 4 out of 5 of his starts. In 5 of his 8 starts, he’s held the opposition to 2 runs or fewer.
PIT: Erik Bedard (2-5, 3.07 ERA). No stranger to the injury bug, Bedard has recently been battling back spasms, but did OK against Washington in his last outing keeping the Nats scoreless until allowing consecutive 2- out home runs in the 6th inning.
Stache Keys to the Game(s)
- Forget about the blowouts in Toronto.
- The bullpen is in dire need of help, hopefully Mejia can add some stability.
- Ike Davis better find his groove soon, or he’s facing time in AAA.
May 21st in Mets History
Happy Birthday to Hank Webb and Tom Martin!
LET’S GO METS!!
