Game Preview: Mets @ Pirates

The Mets try to make it two in a row tonight as they take on the Pirates for game 2. Yesterday was an all around great game for the Amazin’s as they pitched well (starting with a great outing by Big Pelf and finished off by Parnell) and hit well (7 runs, 15 hits including 3 from each Wright and Reyes). The goal will be to keep that going with Niese on the mound and the Mets bats against McDonald.

Niese has been fantastic this season with a 7-5 record and a 3.38 ERA. In each of his last three starts he has allowed only one earned run while pitching 7 innings (or a 1.29 ERA over 21 innings pitched) while walking only 5 and striking out 19 batters. Last season he picked up a no decision against the Pirates as he allowed 2 earned runs over 6 innings of work. Even though he faced the Pirates last year, only three batters on their roster have had AB’s against him (LaRoche 1-3, Cedeno 0-2, last night’s SP Karstens 0-1).

The Mets bats look to duplicate last night agaisnt James McDonald who has turned his season around since joining the Pirates. He started off 2010 with the Dodgers where he allowed 7 ER over 7.2 innings. Since joining the Pirates he has allowed 5 ER over 17.2 innings (2.55 ERA). He made two relief apperances against the Mets this season in which he allowed runs in both. The combined numbers are 0.2 IP and 3 ER. The Mets have these numbers on James:

Lets Go Mets!

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