213 Miles From Shea

The Mets month on the road continues tonight as the Mets start a series in Wrigley. The last five games were a marathon for the Mets who played the rare five game set in Philly, playing over 57 innings and winning four games. Now the Mets find themselves one game below .500 and 3.5 games out of first. It is actually who amazing about how this time last week things were looking bleak and now there’s a lot of optimism starting to brew. Tonight, Wheeler will get the start of the Mets as they take on Jake Arrieta and the Cubbies.

Zack Wheeler is 2-5 over the first 11 starts of the year with a 62.2 innings with a 4.31 ERA. Zack is coming off of a strong start in Philly where he got the win after allowing 1 earned run over 6.1 innings, 4 hits and 9 strikeouts while walking no one. In his last two starts now, he has allowed 4 runs, 3 earned over 13.0 innings with 16 K’s. This will be Wheeler’s first time facing the Cubs in his career and he has not faced anyone the Cubs roster in a major league game before.

Jake Arrieta, the former Oriole, gets the start for the Cubs. He is 1-1 in his first 5 starts in 2014 with a 3.20 ERA over 25.1 innings. In his five starts this year, he has allowed 1 run or less in three of them, and in two he has allowed four runs. He has not pitched more than 6.0 innings in any start. He has faced the Mets once in his career allowing 4 ER over 7.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Jake:

• Granderson 7-20, 2B, 3B, 3 HR
• Abreu 1-6
• Duda 1-2
• Wright 0-3

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets end their five game series with the Phillies today. So far the Mets are leading the series 3-1, and a 4-1 trip to Philly would be a fantastic step in the right direction to start off the month of June. The Mets and Phillies have struggled in this series to keep it to 9 innings with the Mets losing in 14, then winning in 14 then winning in 11. Today Colon will get the start as he faces off against Roberto Hernandez.

Colon is 4-5 on the season over 10 starts and 64.2 innings while posting a 4.73 ERA. In his last two starts he has allowed two earned runs over 15.1 innings with 14 strikeouts. He has not faced the Phillies yet this season and in his career he is 1-2 over 5 starts with 31.0 innings of work while posting a 4.65 ERA. The Phillies have the following numbers against him:

• Rollins 5-15, 2B, HR
• Brignac 3-9
• Byrd 0-2
• Howard 2-2, 2 HR
• Ruiz 0-2
• Utley 0-2

The Mets bats will contend with Roberto Hernandez who is 2-2 over 12 games and 9 starts over 52.2 innings with a 3.76 ERA. Hernandez had a tremendous month of May where he pitched in 6 games, making 4 starts logging 26.0 innings with a 1.73 ERA. He has pitched in parts of three games against the Mets including one start totaling 6.0 innings allowing 7 hits, 1 earned runs, three walks and four strikeouts. The Mets have the following numbers against Hernandez:

• Granderson 18-43, 4 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 8 BB
• Abreu 6-24, 6 BB
• C Young 0-5
• Lagares 0-4
• Recker 1-3, 2B
• d’Arnaud 2-3
• Flores 1-3

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets and Phillies played extras again yesterday, this time with the Mets on top. David Wright brought in the winning run ing the 14th, deGrom was great minus a mistake in the 7th inning and Ruben Tejada had a huge day at the plate. With the Mets 2-1 so far in the series, a win tomorrow would clinch a series win for the Mets in the rare 5 game set. Today Jon Niese gets the start against Cole Hamels.

Jon Niese is 3-3 over 10 games while pitching 62.1 innings with a 2.74 ERA. In the month of May he pitched 29.2 innings with a 3.34 ERA. He has also made two starts this season against the Phillies allowing a total of 4 earned runs over 13.0 innings. The Phillies have the following numbers against Niese:

• Rollins 10-46, 3 2B
• Mayberry 9-34, 2 2B, 3 HR
• Utley 3-28
• Ruiz 8-23
• Howard 3-21
• Byrd 6-11, 2B, HR

Hamels is 1-3 this season over 7 starts and 44.2 innings with a 4.43 ERA. In the month of May he pitched 5 games over 34.0 innings while posting a 3.71 ERA. One of those starts was against the Mets where he allowed 7.0 innings, one earned run, walking three and striking out 10 batters. The Mets have the following numbers against Cole:

• Wright 23-70, 3 2B, 3B, 5 HR
• Murphy 17-40, 4 2B, HR
• Tejada 9-28, 3 2B
• C Young 5-20, 2B, HR
• Duda 1-13
• Lagares 6-16, 3 2B

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets lost a tough one yesterday in 14 innings. It was a back and forth game that ended with the Mets snapping their three game streak, and tonight they look to start a new winning streak with deGrom on the mound as he takes on Kyle Kendrick.

Jacob deGrom is 0-2 over three games this season and 19.2 innings with a 1.83 ERA. His last start against the Pirates was his best of his short career allowing 5 hits no runs over 6.2 innings while walking 5 and striking out 4 batters. Well, by some measures it might not have been the best start (maybe his opening start 7.0 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 6 K). This will be his first start of many against the Phillies.

The Mets bats will get another look at the familiar Kyle Kendrick who is 1-5 over 10 games and 62.1 innings with a 4.04 ERA. His first four starts in May he pitched 25.0 innings with a 5.76 ERA but in his last start he allowed no runs over 6.2. One of those starts was against the Mets where he allowed 4 ER over 5.1 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Kyle:

• Wright 15-44, 3 2B, 3 HR
• Murphy 6-30, 2B
• Duda 3-18, 2 2B, HR
• Tejada 4-19
• C Young 3-17, 2B, HR
• Lagares 3-5, 2B

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets and Phillies play game two of the five game set tonight, as the Mets look to stretch their winning streak to four games. Why have they won three games in a row? I blame 50 Cent. Throwing the ceremonial first pitch changed the course of the Mets. Anyway, Wheeler was phenomenal last night and the Mets bats were able to scratch out some runs (even a bases loaded walk! although that is all they did with the bases juiced). Tonight Montero gets the start against Burnett.

Montero is 0-2 on the season over three games with a 4.96 ERA and 16.1 innings while striking out 17 batters. His last start was easily the best of his career (of three major league games) where he allowed 2 hits and one run and walked 3 while striking out 10 batters over 6 innings. The Mets offense stunk that day so he received a no decision. This is his first start of many against the Phillies, so they have no major league stats against Montero.

Burnett is 3-4 over 11 starts and 66.2 innings and a 3.51 ERA this season. In his last four starts he pitched 23.0 innings with a 6.26 ERA. Last year he faced the Mets once allowing 2 ER and 7 hits over 5.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Burnett:

• Abreu 24-76, 9 2B, 2 HR
• Wright 3-21, 2B
• Granderson 3-13, 2 2B, HR
• Murphy 2-10
• Tejada 0-3

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets start a very unique series tonight as they play their first of five games in Philly. Originally a four game set, the Mets and Phillies were rained out of a game in a two game set earlier in the year creating this 5 day series in Philly. The first of this playoff length (NLDS) series of games will have Zack Wheeler facing off against David Buchanan.

Wheeler is 1-5 on the season pitching 56.1 innings over 10 starts and a 4.63 ERA. After two straight charts of allowing 5 ER, he allowed 2 ER, three total over 6.2 against Arizona while walking 1 and striking out 7. Last year he allowed 4 ER over 11.1 innings against the Philies (3.18 ERA) who have the following numbers against Zack:

• Rollins 2-6
• Ruf 0-4
• Utley 1-5
• Mayberry 2-5, 2B
• Ruiz 0-5
• Brown 0-3

David Buchanan will be making his second start of his career tonight against the Mets. In his major league debut he allowed 2 earned runs and 5 hits over 5.0 innings allowing no walks and striking out 2. In the minors this year he is 5-1 over 9 games with a 3.98 ERA over 40.2 innings. Amazingly his ERA matches his career minors ERA which is over 88 innings and 502.0 innings.

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets look to build off the momentum from last night’s win with tonight’s game. Yesterday the offense was able to string hits together to score runs, something they just haven’t been able to do consistently throughout the season. Today Morton gets the start for the Pirates as he faces off against Colon.

Colon is 3-5 over 9 starts and 57.1 innings with a 5.34 ERA.  Last time out, wasn’t really a time out. He allowed 2 runs in 4.0 innings or so against the Diamondbacks, but the game was called due to rain, so it is as if it didn’t happen. In his last official game, he allowed 2 ER over 8.0 innings of work against the Nationals. He has made five starts against the Pirates with a 3-1 record with a 1.46 ERA over 37.0 innings. The Pirates have the following numbers against Colon:

• Stewart 4-9
• Snider 3-8
• Martin 1-6, 2B
• Marte 0-4
• McCutchen 1-4
• Tabata 2-4

Morton is 1-6 this year with a 3.29 ERA over 10 games and 63.0 innings. His last start was a good one and he was finally in the win column as he allowed 1 ER over 5.2 innings against the Nationals. He has made 5 starts and pitched 32.0 innings in May with a 2.25 ERA while striking out 20 batters. Last year he allowed 2 ER in 7.0 innings against the Mets who have the following numbers against him:

• Murphy 2-13
• Wright 3-10, 2 2B
• C Young 3-10, HR
• Duda 3-7, 2B
• Tejada 4-5

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets look to bounce back from a close game against the Pirates tonight. Yesterday they lost 5-3 in the homecoming of Ike Davis who went 0-2 with a walk. On the other side, Lucas Duda had a couple of hits including a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth. Today Edinson Volquez will take the mound for the Pirates as Jon Niese will start for the Mets.

Niese is 3-3 over 9 starts and 56.2 innings of work this season with a 2.70 ERA. In his last three starts he is 1-1 over 17.0 innings allowing 11 runs, 9 earned with a 4.76 ERA with 6 BB and 13 strikeouts. Last year he had an ugly start against the Pirates where he allowed 8 earned runs over 4.1 innings, 3 walks and struck out one. The Pirates have the following numbers against Niese:

• Sanchez 5-21, 2B, HR
• Barmes 5-14, 2B, HR
• Martin 1-8, HR
• McCutchen 4-8, 2 2B
• Tabata 4-5, 2 2B
• Walker 1-6

Volquez is 2-4 over 10 games and 9 starts and 55.2 innings with a 4.37 ERA in his first year with the Pirates. He had a rough start to May in the first three games allowing 14 earned runs over 16 innings. In his last outing he allowed 1 ER over 6.0 innings, which was shades of how he started out 2014. In his two games last year against the Mets he pitched 8.0 innings allowing 8 earned runs. The Mets have the following numbers against Volquez:

• C Young 2-15, HR
• Wright 2-10
• Murphy 3-10
• Abreu 2-8, 2B, 3B
• Granderson 0-4
• Duda 0-3
• Flores 1-3, 2B
• Lagares 2-2
• Niese 1-1

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets split the doubleheader yesterday and head into a series with the Pirates today. In the first game yesterday, Montero diced up the Diamondbacks lineup but the offense couldn’t get into the game and the Mets lost in a frustrating way. In the later afternoon game, the Mets were able to pull out a win and will hopefully build off of that today with the Pirates and Ike Davis returning to town.

Jacob deGrom will make his third start of the season today. In his first two starts he has pitched 13.0 innings allowing 4 runs (2.77 ERA), 8 hits, 5 walks and 10 strikeouts. When his starts are looked at more closely, his first start was excellent, allowing one earned run over seven innings. The second start was more average allowing three earned runs over six innings. Knowing this, it makes sense that deGrom has never faced anyone in the Pirates lineup in a major league game.

The Mets bats will get a look at Brandon Cumpton who is 0-1 over two starts this season with a 4.26 ERA over 12.2 innings. Cumpton hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 1st, and was called up with Wandy Rodriguez being DFA’d earlier this week. Last year he pitched in 6 games across the season totaling 30.2 innings with a 2.05 ERA. In the minors this year he has pitched 6 games with a 1.35 ERA with a 4-1 record. He has never faced the Mets or any batter on the Mets roster.

Lets Go Mets!

The Mets dropped Saturday’s game against the Diamondbacks, but have the chance to take the entire series on Sunday as they play two to make up for Friday Night’s game. Both Arizona and New York are making roster changes for the day with the Diamondbacks adding Spruill to the roster in game two as a starter and Vic Black  coming in for the Mets.

The first starter for the Mets, Rafael Montero, is 0-2 in his first two starts as a major leaguer. Overall he has allowed 8 ER over 10.1 innings with his last start being a tough one allowed 4 ER over 4.1 innings, mainly due to walks. If he can come in today and get ahead of his control, he should be fine today. This will be the first time he faces hitters from Arizona’s lineup in a major league game.

The Mets bats in the first game get to face Bronson Arroyo, who is 4-3 this year over 9 starts and 54.2 innings with a 4.45 ERA. He started off May on a roll allowing one earned run, two runs total, over 23.1 innings over three games. In his last outing he allowed 5 ER over 7.0 innings. His worst start of the season by far was against the Mets were he alllowed 9 ER over 10 hits and 3.1 innings. The Mets have the following stats against Bronson:

• Wright 11-41, HR
• C Young 4-21, 2 2B
• Abreu 3-14, 3B
• Murphy 8-16, 2 2B
• E Young 4-11

Daisuke Matsuzaka gets the start for the Mets in game two. He is ready to go about 100 pitches in his first start of the season. Over 14 games this year and 21.0 innings, he as a 2.14 ERA. Last year he had a 4.42 ERA over 7 starts and 38.2 innings. He did not play against the Diamondbacks earlier this year and the only three members of the Arizona club that have faced him are HIll (5-28, 2B, 2 HR), Pennington (2-7) and CHavez (2-3, HR).

In game two the Mets bats will get the first 2014 look at Zeke Spruill. He had limited time in the majors last season with a 0-2 record over 11.1 innings with a 5.56 ERA. The Mets have some stats against him:

• Flores 0-1
• Lagares 1-2
• Murphy 0-2
• Recker 1-2, 2B
• E Young 0-1
• Niese 1-1

Lets Go Mets!