“Nolasco is somebody that can help us out,” Colletti said. “Obviously he’s an accomplished big league starter. We felt we needed to add a starter at this point in the season and we had conversations with the Marlins going back about a week or so now. I think it’s a benefit to acquire somebody before you get to the 31st. That was part of it as well.”

Nolasco, a Southern California native who can become a free agent after the season, went 5-8 with a 3.85 ERA in 18 starts for the Marlins and has a career mark of 81-72 with a 4.44 ERA.

His acquisition bolsters a hot Dodgers team that has won 11 of their last 12 games. With recent injuries to Chad Billingsley, Josh Beckett and Ted Lilly, Nolasco makes perfect sense for the Dodgers and it also keeps him away from their division rival, the San Francisco Giants, who are openly on the market for starting pitching help. No, not Shaun Marcum, Mets fans, real pitching help.

Nolasco, 30, is the Marlins all-time winningest pitcher and strikeout leader and will likely replace former Met Chris Capuano in the Dodger rotation.

With Cy Young Award winners Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke already at the top of the rotation, and impressive rookie lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu behind them, Nolasco gives the Dodgers one of the best top-four in the game.

The post Dodgers Obtain Ricky Nolasco From The Marlins appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Starting Lineup

1. Ruben Tejada – SS
2. Daniel Murphy – 2B
3. David Wright – 3B
4. John Buck – C
5. Ike Davis – 1B
6. Marlon Byrd – RF
7. Lucas Duda – LF
8. Juan Lagares – CF
9. Matt Harvey – RHP

Game Notes

• Jon Niese is expected to throw a scheduled side session tomorrow, but remains on target to make his next start according to Terry Collins, although he’ll feel a lot better when he sees Niese back on a mound. Niese left Tuesday’s game in the third inning after being hit on the foot on a line drive.
• Shaun Marcum is in New York and ready to make his Mets debut on Saturday against the Phillies, Mets manager Terry Collins said today. Marcum threw 52 pitches over five scoreless innings in an extended spring training game Monday and later threw more pitches in the bullpen.
• Robert Carson and Brandon Lyon are not available out of the bullpen tonight according to Terry Collins. Jeurys Familia might not pitch either, Collins said.
• Lucas Duda is a first baseman by trade, but Collins will reluctant to move the left fielder to his first position even when Ike Davis is out of the lineup. “I want to have this kid be able to do is when he takes the field each day is be comfortable out there,” Collins said. “Can he play first base? Absolutely.”
• Center fielder Matt den Dekker, who suffered a fractured right wrist on an attempted catch in a March 24 Grapefruit League game, is due to have the cast removed Monday. Den Dekker then will begin an approximate two-week rehab program to regain range of motion before beginning baseball activities.

Game Preview

The Mets look to rebound after last night’s loss against the Dodgers as they play game two tonight. It’s the time of the week that all Mets fans look forward to because ITS HARVEY DAY.

If no one has wished you a Happy Harvey Day yet today, well a Happy Harvey day to you. Harvey will be making his fifth start of the season today. Fun fact, if the Mets wear the blue softball tops (and I don’t think they will) then Harvey will have worn 5 different jersey tops in his first 5 starts of the season. Anyway Harvey has dominated this season posting a 4-0 record with a 0.93 ERA over 29.0 innings where he has struck out 32 batters. Harvey has never faced the Dodgers and the only Dodger who has statistics against him is Schumaker who was 1-3 last year.

For the Dodgers, Ted Lilly will be making his season debut for a starting rotation that has caught a serious injury bug. Last year Lilly was 5-1 over 8 starts  over 48.2 innings with a 3.14 ERA. This year, he has allowed 13 ER, 15 total over 17 innings in three starts in the minor leagues. The last time he faced the Mets was in 2011 where he allowed 3 ER and 6 hits over 6 innings of work. The Mets have the following numbers against Lilly:

Byrd 8-17, 2B, HR
Murphy 1-6, 2B
Wright 1-5
Buck 1-4
Cowgill 1-3
Duda 0-3

Lets Go Mets!

Check 213 Miles From Shea!

The post Mets Game Notes: Niese Will Be Fine, Marcum On Saturday, Harvey Time! appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Lagares led off in the bottom half of the fifth with a hard hit fly to the warning track in left field against Dodgers’ ace LHP Clayton Kershaw. In his next at-bat, Lagares singled against left-hander Paco Rodriguez in the seventh for his first major league hit. The first of what I’m sure will be many.

“When I got to the dugout, all my teammates said ‘Congratulations,’” Lagares said. “I really don’t know how to say it, but I am so excited to be here with the team.”

Lagares, 24, was promoted in place of outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who was optioned to Las Vegas after hitting .125 (2-for-16).

I appealed to the Mets to call him up only the day before they did after looking at his .346 (27-for-78) in 17 games with Las Vegas. The athletic outfielder started every game in centerfield and had already hit three home runs, three doubles and two triples in his 82 total plate appearances. His .929 OPS was second on the team.

“He’s the future,” Mets manager Terry Collins said before Tuesday’s game. “A great defender. Got some power. There are people in this organization that think he’s a better outfielder than Matt den Dekker. That speaks a lot.”

Initially an infielder, Lagares converted to the outfield in 2009 and has only gotten better according to Wally Backman.

Collins said Lagares will start Wednesday with the Dodgers starting left-hander Ted Lilly.

Welcome to The Show, kid…

The post Welcome To The Show: Lagares Singles In Major League Debut appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Jon Heyman of SI.com believes the the Mets prefer Astros RHP Brett Myers to Cubs LHP Ted Lilly.

The Mets, Tigers, Twins and Dodgers all had scouts in attendance last week when the Astros’ Brett Myers went up against the Cubs’ Ted Lilly.

Last night, Myers delivered his best start of the season, a complete game 6-1 win over the Chicago Cubs. Myers (8-6) allowed four hits while striking out a season high 12 batters. He has pitched at least six innings in all 21 of his starts this year, a new Astros record.

What was most impressive about his start last night, was how strong he finished. Entering the ninth inning with a two-hitter, he let up a solo shot to Tyler Colvin, before ending the game by fanning three straight Cubs, including Marlon Byrd for his 12th strikeout of the night. It was his 10th career complete game. He has thrived since leaving the turmoil of Philadelphia.

If the Mets were to trade for Myers, they could keep the 29-year old right-hander for the 2011 season, as his current contract includes a mutual option for $8 million dollars, an absolute steal.

It will probably cost the Mets a couple of high-end prospects to snag him from the Stros, but at least he wouldn’t be a rental like Lilly.

The post Brett Myers Tosses A 12 Strikeout Gem appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

With the trade deadline only five days away, things are getting kind of dicey. Lee and Haren are already gone, but there’s still some solid choices out there for the Mets who could use a starter or a shut down reliever.

The choice is yours, the choice is yours… 

Roy Oswalt (6-12, 3.42 ERA 1.109 WHIP)

You Can Go With This…

6.15 ERA

Or You Can Go With That!

Ted Lilly (3-8, 3.88 ERA, 1.121 WHIP)

You Can Go With This…

1.975 WHIP

Or You Can Go With That!

Joakim Soria (2.25 ERA, 1.124 WHIP, 27 Saves)

Or You Can Go With This…

7.9 BB/9

Or You Can Go With That!

Fausto Carmona (10-7, 3.51 ERA, 1.283 WHIP) 

Or You Can Go With This…

3 Wins Since Signing $36MM Deal

Or You Can Go With That!

Zach Grienke (6-9, 3.59 ERA, 1.134 WHIP)

But This Is Kinda Phat!!!

Doo… Dah… Dippity!

The post Doo… Dah… Dippity… appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Chris DeLuca, sports editor for the Chicago Sun Times, reports that the Cubs want to trade Ted Lilly before his next scheduled start on Tuesday.

Lilly’s trade value skyrocketed after he held the Houston Astros to one run in 7 1/3 innings Wednesday. His next scheduled start is Tuesday in Houston, and sources say the Cubs would like to complete a deal before that outing.

He also writes that the Mets have shown the most interest in Lilly. The Detroit Tigers are also interested in Lilly after a breakdown in talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks for Dan Haren. The Yankees are believed to be the frontrunner’s for Haren, and have no interest in Lilly.

The Mets had scouts at Wrigley Field on Wednesday for Lilly’s start against right-hander Brett Myers, who is also on the block and being shopped by the Astros. He has also drawn interest from the Mets.

Ted Lilly has a limited no trade clause, but can not block a trade to the Mets.

Lilly projects to be a Type A free agent after the season, which means teams could obtain picks in the 2011 draft if they offer him arbitration.

Currently, Lilly has a 3.88 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP in 17 starts for the Cubs.

I believe that with news of the potential season ending injury to Ben Sheets, more teams will turn their attention to Lilly as the deadline nears. Although not attractive as pitchers like Roy Oswalt and Haren, Lilly would be an upgrade and enable the team to shift Takahashi to the bullpen.

That said, if the Mets want him, they better act fast before the competition heats up.

The post Cubs Very Anxious To Move Lilly, Mets Still Interested appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

With trade discussions between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners now appearing to be heating up, it adds yet another serious contender in addition to the Minnesota Twins into the mix to acquire starting pitcher Cliff Lee.

The price continues to rise for Lee’s services and the latest reports say the Mariners have called teams asking for two blue-chip prospects plus a third young player in return.

Yesterday, Ken Davidoff of Newsday tweeted that the Mets now like the idea of acquiring lefthanded starter Ted Lilly from the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs are getting more serious about trades, and the Mets like the idea of getting Ted Lilly and the $6 million dollars owed him and giving fewer prospects.

Lilly, 34, is having a solid season and would certainly be a solid addition to the Mets rotation. Though his name may not be as sexy and as attractive as that of Lee, from a statistical standpoint Lilly compares very favorably and would cost the Mets much less in prospects than Lee would.

Additionally, Lilly currently projects as a “Class A” free agent at the end of this season, which means that if the Mets were to let him walk at the end of the season, they can get two first round prospects in return by offering him arbitration. Sort of what the Boston Red Sox did last season with Billy Wagner.

Lilly has a 3.76 ERA in 14 starts for the Cubs this season, and has struck out 64 batters while walking 22 in 93 innings pitched.

While his ERA seems a little high, his excellent 1.10 WHIP suggests that he may have fallen prey to a few extra longballs at Wrigley Field. His numbers could get even better if he were pitching half of his games at Citi Field.

Finally, I like the idea of having three southpaws in Johan Santana, Jon Niese and Ted Lilly in a division that features some of the best lefthanded hitters in the league.

The post Latest On Mets Quest For A Starter appeared first on Metsmerized Online.