The Mets complete their two game stint in Atlanta tonight as they try to sweep a series for the first time this season. The Mets will be relying on Hernandez to perform tonight as the Braves will be watching their investment in Kawakami, who hasn't been spot on so far this season. The key for the Mets is not just to sweep tonight but a win moves them closer to .500, where they want to get to and then get beyond. To do that they will need the themes from last night to continue.
Hernandez wasn't the greatest the last time out as he had to leave after 5.1 after giving up 3 runs. On the season he is 1-1 over 4 games and 21.1 innings pitched with a 6.75 ERA, 6 BB and 12 K. In recent years, Atlanta is one team he has not wanted to face. Last season he lasted only 4.1 innings as he gave up 8 hits and 4 runs and year before he lasted 4.0 innings and he managed to give up 8 runs. He is going to have to focus tonight and shut down this Atlanta team. Here are what the Braves have been able to do to him in the past:
Chipper 22-57, 10 2B, 3B, HR, 11 BB
Johnson 2-13
Francoeur 4-10, 2B, HR
Kotchman 2-3
After that one rough inning last night for Maine, the Mets pitching staff was able to lock down this Atlanta offense with the exception of course being Chipper. As long as we can keep Chipper Jones in check all night, this Mets pitching staff, on the back of Livan having a good start, should be able to control this offsense.
Kawakami has had a rough few starts so far this season where he is 1-3, has a 7.06 ERA over 21.2 innings, 11 BB and 18 K. This season righties have hit .292 against him with a .542 slugging chip and lefties have hit .278 off of him with a .659 slugging percentage. The Mets bats this year have hit a combined .277 against righties and have 15 of their 19 homers this year against righties (which is mostly due to the amount of right handed pitching they see vs left handed pitching). To start the year off the Mets have struggled in the power department but in thier last three games they have hit 6 as a team including one friday night, two saturday afternoon and three last night. Keeping up the power will keep the Mets competetive because you don't leave men on when you knock the ball out of the yard (but that doesn't mean they should become power happy, they still need to play fundalmentals, and play a fast, base running game, the power follows and sometimes arrises from that). Lets Go Mets! Sweep the Braves!
