The Mets and the Reds will play two today, of sorts. Yesterday the Mets tried really hard to get the game in with the rain. I was there and I’ve never seen that much rain at a ballgame with the teams still playing (my personal feeling is it was a combination of the Steve Miller concert at the end of the plus the Reds only coming to town once this season). Anyway, Harvey pitched great and Granderson provided the only run of offense (and his dropped ball in the outfield led to the Reds only run, so whatever). After the Mets and Reds finish this game, it will be the battle of two rookies at Citi Field.
First, Steven Matz will make his long awaited debut for the Amazins. In the minors this year he has a 7-4 record over 15 games, 14 starts and 90.1 innings with a 2.19 ERA with 94 strikeouts. What makes his minor league numbers so surprising is he is pitching in the incredibly hitter friendly PCL league and the even more so Las Vegas park. Over the off-season Wally Backman told Mets fans at the second annual Queens Baseball Convention that Matz is the pitcher in the Mets system that he feels is the unhittable one.
The Mets bats will get another rookie today in Josh Smith. Smith will be making his second major league start after allowing 4 ER and 6 walks over 3.0 innings in his major league debut. Across three minor league levels this year he made 13 starts with a 3.04 ERA and 74.0 innings of work.
Let’s go Mets!
