The Mets begin a six-game homestand that leads directly into the All-Star break tonight at Citi Field when they host the Philadelphia Philles in the opener of a three-game set. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and the game can be seen on SNY or heard, as always on WFAN 660 AM. Join the conversation on Twitter by following @dailystache or yours truly, @DevOnSports.
This homestand represents a golden opportunity for the Mets, who host two sub .500 teams with a chance to make a statement to the league about their second half intentions. New York is currently floating six games above .500, 3.5 games out of first in the NL East and in a dead heat for the Wild Card. Meanwhile, the Phillies come to town reeling, losers of five straight and seven of their last 10. The return of Chase Utley to the lineup was supposed to revitalize the Phils but they haven’t won a game since he got back.
The Mets send Jon Niese to the hill in the opener and he will try to extend the Phillies’ skid. Niese is coming off a solid June and makes his third start against the Phillies this season. He’ll be opposed by Vance Worley, the last Phillies starter to record a win. Worley makes his second start of the year against the Mets and will see a very similar lineup to the one he saw on April 14 in Philadelphia, Jason Bay’s absence — Scott Hairston replaces him — being the lone exception.
**UPDATE**
Kirk Nieuwenhuis is a late scratch from the lineup with a right hand contusion according to the Mets Twitter Feed
Mets Lineup:
Tejada – Murphy – Wright – Davis – Duda – Hairston – Torres – Tejada – Niese
Small Sample Stache: After a woeful start to the season, Ike Davis hit .264/.363./.563 in the month of June with six homers, 24 RBI, 16 runs scored, 14 extra base hits and 14 walks. The numbers in each of those categories were more than he had in April and May combined.
Phillies Lineup:
Rollins- Polanco – Utley- Ruiz – Pence – Victorino – Wigginton – Mayberry – Worley
Small Sample Stache: Chase Utley is 5-for-13 in four games since coming off the disabled list last week. He homered in his first at-bat but has only singles since. He’s also struck out four times and walked just once.
Pitching Matchup:
NYM: Jon Niese (6-3, 3.55 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 85 K) – June was perhaps the best single month of Niese’s career. After posting a 6.07 ERA in six May starts, he came back to throw out a sparkling 1.89 ERA in five June outings. Interestingly, batters actually hit 10 points higher (.271) against Niese in June, but he cut his walks from 18 down to five.
Niese enters Tuesday’s game coming off one of his most complete performances of the year last Wednesday in Chicago. After fighting through the first three innings of the game, he was able to settle in and go seven allowing just one run as the Mets pounded out 17 in a victory. He can’t rely on run support like that every game, but it’s clear that having a lead to work with is very beneficial to Jon, as it allows him to lock in and pitch without having to be too fine.
He’s pitched twice against Philly this season, in two vastly different outings. He tossed 6.2 shutout innings in an April 14 win only to come back six weeks later and allow four runs in five innings on May 28, an outing that featured five free passes issued by Niese to Philly batters.
PHI: Vance Worley (4-4, 2.92 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 66 K) – Like many of Philadelphia’s core group, Worley has missed time this season on the disabled list, but he returned to the staff early in June and hasn’t missed a beat, posting a 2.70 ERA over the last month and limiting hitters to just a .216 batting average against him. In his last outing against the Pirates, Worley scattered three runs on six hits over six innings to pick up the win. Philly hasn’t won since.
In his only start against the Mets this year, Worley went six, allowing four runs on eight hits. He also walked four and gave up home runs to Lucas Duda and David Wright in a 5-0 Mets win. Duda is 3-for-7 lifetime against him and Wright is 3-for-10 vs. Worley. Daniel Murphy has also had success against Worley, with four hits in nine at-bats.
Stache Keys to the Game:
- Get Going Early – Niese was buoyed in his last outing by all the run support he received. If the Mets can get off quick against Worley, who has been susceptible to early trouble in the past, it can only benefit Niese in the long run.
- Grading on a Curve – The other thing that could benefit Niese on a warm night in New York is his curveball. Niese has been known to shy away from his curve if he doesn’t find a feel for it early. That leaves him with only the cutter, a pitch Philly’s veteran hitters will burn him on. He must work the curveball in early to keep them off balance and have an effective outing.
- Close it Out – No matter how well he’s pitching, Niese hasn’t been known to go the distance in his outings, which means cleaning this one up will almost certainly fall to the bullpen. But if Niese can give the team seven innings and leave with a lead, the Mets will have a chance to finish it off. Anything less is asking for trouble.
This Date in Mets History:
Today is the birthday of former Met and noted hygiene expert Moises Alou.
In addition, the Mets have had some success on July 3rd. On this date in 1990, Frank Viola threw a 5-0 shutout in a 12-0 win over the Astros and six years later prospect bust Alex Ochoa showed a rare flash of brilliance, hitting for the cycle in a 10-6 win over the Phillies.
