NEW YORK—After getting swept by the Marlins in a four-game series in Miami in mid-May, the Mets will have a chance to do the same over three games at Citi Field today.
They will hope that Hisanori Takahashi can rebound from his last start on Monday in San Diego, when he gave up a grand slam in an 18-6 Mets loss.
Before that start, Takahashi had pitched scoreless ball in his first two starts against the Yankees and Phillies.
Pitching for the Marlins will be Ricky Nolasco, whose ERA is at a bloated 4.57. After a decent start to his season, Nolasco got battered for eight earned runs on 10 hits on May 21 at the White Sox.
He's beaten the Mets once this season and the Marlins have won both games that he's started against them. If Nolasco's won-loss pattern were to hold up today, it wouldn't be a good thing for the Mets.
After having no-decisions in his first two starts of the season, he's gotten one in all nine starts since then. In fact, they've gone like this: Win two, lose two, win two, lose two, win one (5-4). If you notice, he's on a two-win pattern, so if you believe in that type of mathematical pattern, you're pretty nervous.
If you want to get serious though, just take a look at what the Mets have been doing at home, that's pretty serious. The Mets, with their win yesterday, improved to 21-9 at home, and always seem to make up on home stands for lost road trips.
Now, only if the Mets could find a way to muster some road wins. Nobody quite understands what's wrong with the Mets on the road.
Not every road ballpark is a bandbox, so that shouldn't be used as an excuse. Especially seeing what they did in a Citi Field-type ballpark last week, losing two of three to the Padres at PETCO Park.
As long as the Mets keep on playing this type of elite baseball at home, they'll be in the thick of things all summer long.
It was a welcome site to see David Wright hit a home run yesterday at Citi Field. It was his first home run at home since opening day, April 5, against the Marlins.
Wright has had a season of milestones so far. Earlier in the season, he recorded his 1,000th career hit. In yesterday's game he reached two more, 150 home runs and 600 runs batted in.
Yesterday was also a career day for rookie Ike Davis, who went 4-for-4 with two doubles, three hits coming against a left-hander. Jeff Francoeur drove in yesterday's first run, extending his hitting streak to nine games.
So, the Mets offense is starting to click a little bit and they've put themselves in position to have another pretty good homestand.
The good thing is, closer Francisco Rodriguez didn't pitch in yesterday's game, so the Mets will finally have him rested if they need him today.
If the Mets can get the sweep, they'll have a chance for a prolonged winning streak with Pelfrey and Santana on the mound for the first two games against the Padres.
Hisanori Takahashi this season (18 games, 3 started)
4-2, 3.21 ERA, 42 IP, 40 hits, 17 BB, 45 SO
Ricky Nolasco vs. New York this season (2 starts)
1-0, 3.55 ERA, 12.2 IP, 9 hits, 5 BB, 8 SO
2010 season series (New York vs. Florida)
April 5: New York 7, Florida 1
April 7: Florida 7, New York 6 (10)
April 8: Florida 3, New York 1
May 13: Florida 2, New York 1
May 14: Florida 7, New York 2
May 15: Florida 7, New York 5
May 16: Florida 10, New York 8
June 4: New York 4, Florida 3
June 5: New York 6, Florida 1
Marlins lead series 6-3
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