Starting Lineup, Game Preview: Niese Tries To Cage The Cardinals In Prime Time

Starting Lineup

1. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, lf
2. Andres Torres, cf
3. David Wright, 3b
4. Lucas Duda, rf
5. Daniel Murphy, 2b
6. Ike Davis, 1b
7. Omar Quintanilla, ss
8. Josh Thole,
9. Jon Niese, lhp

The Mets were selected for the 8 PM game tonight as the Mets and Cardinals play game 3 in their 4 game set. Before tonight’s game, the Mets will honor John Franco as he enters the Mets Hall of Fame. In on the field news, the Mets have dominated so far this series as Johan Santana threw a no hitter and Dickey pitched a complete game shut out yesterday. Jon Niese will try to keep it going tonight as he takes on Jake Westbrook.

Niese is 3-2 on the season over 10 games with a 4.55 ERA over 55.1 innings of work. The month of May wasn’t so kind to Niese as he made 6 starts, 2 good, 4 not so good and ended up with a 6.07 ERA over the month. Last season he had a good start against the Cardinals as he pitched 6.0 innings with 3 ER and 5 hits while striking out 7 batters. The Cardinals have the following numbers against Jon:

Holliday 1-7
Molina 0-6
Freese 0-3
Furcal 0-2

The Mets bats will get a crack at Jake Westbrook tonight who is 4-4 with a 3.54 ERA over 10 game sand 61.0 innings of work. Jake is 0-2 in his last four starts as he has also struggled in the month of May. The Cards are 0-4 in those four starts as Westbrook posted an ERA of 8.10. Jake enjoyed success against the Mets last year as he was 1-0 in two starts with a 1.93 ERA (3 ER over 14.0 innings). The Mets have the following numbers against Jake:

Torres 3-12, 2B
Wright 0-7
Davis 2-4
Duda 2-3, 2B
Murphy 0-3
Thole 2-2, 2B

Let’s Go Mets! Check 213 Miles From Shea!