Happy Memorial Day everyone! If you’re going to the game today and you see someone in uniform, make sure to stop and thank them for their service.
The Mets’ bitch…er, I mean Cole Hamels, is on the mound today as the Phillies come to town for the first time this season. They will open a 3-game series today at CitiField, with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 pm. The game can be seen on SNY and heard on WFAN660AM. Follow @MetsWFAN, @dailystache and @Meriwyn as well for added fun.
For the first time this season, EVERYONE in the NL East is above .500 as the division becomes hotly contested and will most likely stay that way until the very end. The struggling Phillies continue to get bad news however, as their ace Roy Halladay had to be pulled yesterday after 2 innings due to shoulder soreness. Both the Mets and Phillies have extremely tough schedules coming up.
On the flip side, the Mets pitching staff has been looking like aces recently, with Johan Santana and R.A. Dickey pitching off the charts! Even Dillon Gee pitched great his last time out. Let’s hope Jon Niese can continue the trend. The Mets and Phillies are locked in two races in the MLB. R.A. Dickey and the Cardinals’ Lance Lynn are tied for the MLB lead in games won. Cole Hamels could join them if he wins today. Also, David Wright leads the NL in batting average, with Phillies’ catcher Carlos Ruiz right behind him.
Spunky Justin Turner will hit leadoff today in a lineup that really looks like it could carry some pop here. Scott Hairston, Vinny Rottino, Lucas Duda and David Wright have all homered in the past week. With Ruben Tejada and Josh Thole close to returning, things can (hopefully) only continue to get better! Oh, Ike Davis…how the mighty have fallen. The struggling-but-possibly-coming-out-of-it Davis is batting 7th today. He’s been hitting more steadily as of late, but it seems just when he starts to figure things out, he slips back into his slump. Hopefully he can keep improving.
Congratulations to CF Andres Torres and his wife, Soannie, on the birth of their child this morning! As a result, Torres will be unavailable today.
Mets Lineup
1. Justin Turner, SS
2. Daniel Murphy, 2B
3. David Wright, 3B
4. Scott Hairston, CF
5. Lucas Duda, RF
6. Vinny Rottino, LF
7. Ike Davis, 1B
8. Rob Johnson, C
9. Jon Niese, SP
Phillies Lineup
1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Placido Polanco, 3B
3. Hunter Pence, RF
4. Carlos Ruiz, C
5. Shane Victorino, CF
6. Ty Wigginton, 1B
7. John Mayberry, LF
8. Freddy Galvis, 2B
9. Cole Hamels, SP
Pitching Matchup
NYM: Jon Niese (3-2, 4.29 ERA). Niese bounced back nicely in his last outing against the Pirates, allowing only 1 run in 7.2 innings. He’s 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA in 2 starts against the Phillies in 2012.
PHI: Cole Hamels (7-1, 2.17 ERA). Isn’t it amazing how everyone performs when they’re in a contract year? Hamels is having a banner year, and his last outing against Washington was no different. He pitched 8 scoreless, allowing 4 hits, 3 walks and struck out 6.
Stache Keys to the Game(s)
- The Mets have Cole Hamels’ number…keep it going.
- Keep the momentum going after the series win over San Diego.
- Keep those bats hot!
May 28th in Mets History
Happy Birthday Bobby Gene Smith (1934), Mike DiFelice (1969), and Ryota Igarashi (1979)
LET’S GO METS!!
