Mets Send Dickey To The Mound In Rubber Game Against D-Backs

Starting Lineup

1. Andres Torres – CF
2. Kirk Nieuwenhuis – LF
3. David Wright – 3B
4. Lucas Duda – RF
5. Daniel Murphy – 2B
6. Ike Davis – 1B
7. Ruben Tejada – SS
8. Josh Thole – C
9. R.A. Dickey – RHP

Mets Notes

RECENT METS: New York snapped its season-high, four-game losing streak…New York is 9-6 at home this season. New York was 34-47 at home last year.

ROSTER MOVE: After yesterday’s game, the Mets announced that righthanded pitcher D.J. Carrasco would return from his rehabilitation assignment and be activated from the 15-Day Disabled List and the club optioned infielder Jordany Valdespin to Buffalo (AAA) of the International League. Carrasco will wear #77 and will be available for today’s game. Carrasco pitched 9.0 innings, allowing three hits, one run, with one walk and five strikeouts in six rehab outings between St. Lucie (A) of the Florida State League and Buffalo (AAA).

SERIES NOTES: The Mets are 1-2 in rubber games this season, including 0-1 at home.

CLOSE CALLS: The Mets improved to 7-3 in one-run decisions with yesterday’s 4-3 win. New York is 6-2 in one-run games at home. New York is 10-3 in games decided by two or fewer runs, including 8-2 at home.

Game Preview

The Mets will finally face a pitcher who isn’t a rookie today, however Trevor Cahil has never faced the Mets in his career, but more on that later. R.A. Dickey will get the start for the Mets today. He is 3-1 on the season with a 4.45 ERA over 30.1 innings and 5 starts. In his last two starts he has allowed 4 ER over 13.0 innings with 13 strikeouts. Last time he faced Arizona was back in 2009 where he allowed 3 ER over 7.0 innings. The Diamondbacks have the following numbers against Dickey:

Overbay 1-14
Kubel 3-5, HR
Upton 1-4, HR
Parra 1-2, 3B
Blanco 0-2

The Mets face a third straight starting a pitcher who has never faced the Mets in a career start. Trevor Cahil is 2-2 over 5 games this season and 31.0 innings with a 3.13 ERA. In his last three starts he has pitched 18.1 innings with a 4.42 ERA. Last season he pitched 207.2 innings for Arizona with a 4.16 ERA over a season leading 34 games started. The only Met who has ever faced him is Andres Torres, who is 2-9.

Let’s Go Mets!

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