The Mets travel to Pittsburgh to start a four game set tonight. Last time they played, the Mets swept the Pirates at Citi in a series that helped them get a 7 game winning streak and a very strong month of May. Now they return looking a little different thanks to injuries but also very confident after finishing a 19-9 month. The Pirates tonight will call on Ian Snell who is enigmatic in he has the stuff but the last two years he has struggled and the Mets will send out Livan, the unexpected complete game pitcher in his last outing.
Livan is 4-1 on the season with a 4.28 ERA over 54.2 innings and in his last four games he has pitched 27.0 IP where he has a 2-0 record and a 3.00 ERA. He really helped out the Mets with a strong outing his last time up and continues to surprise as a key part of this rotation this year. He already pitched against Pittsburgh in the sweep earlier where he went 6.0 IP allowed 2 ER, with 4 BB and 5 K. Here are some stats the Pirates have on him:
Adam LaRoche 7-29, 4 2B, HR
Hinske 6-22, 2B, HR
Vazquez 3-19, 2 2B, HR
McLouth 4-5, 2B, 3B
Wilson, 4-19, 2B
Hernandez has done well against the Players he has seen a lot, and pretty well against the guys he hasn't except Nate McLouth who is the big bat in this lineup. The pitched has to get by him, and if they get run support, then they can take this game.
Snell is struggling again with a 1-6 record, 5.43 ERA over 53.0 IP. In his last three games he has pitched 13.0 IP, allowed 12 ER, 6 BB and 13 K. Against the Mets this year he pitched in a losing effort where pitched 6.0 IP where he allowed 3 ER, walked one and struck out 5.Despite his struggles, a lof the Mets he could possibly face today have not been stellar against Snell over his carear:
Beltran 2-12, HR
Wright 2-12
Castillo 2-12
Schnieder 2-9
Santos 1-3
The Mets have knock Snell out early and have to make sure he doesn't settle in. If they can do that, they can get to the Pirates bullpen, which they have been able to beat up on so far this year and get into the win column and start off this month right. Lets Go Mets!
