On my drive home from work today I heard Evan Roberts (Mets fan) say that he believes this is a mediocre team that is just hot right now. Well, Mr. Roberts, this is a team with at least 4 starting players that belong in backup roles, and are merely 2 games shy of the elusive .500 mark.

The wild card leading Colorado Rockies came into town, and our mediocre Mets are just one game from sweeping them away. The Mets have to be excited about the idea of the Arizona Diamondbacks coming into Citi Field for 4 games, but they need to focus on finishing the job against the Rockies. Finish the job, there’s a phrase we’ve all grown to hate huh?

The Mets hand the ball to 22 year old Jonathon Niese. Niese will hope to build on his last outing, which was in Houston where he threw 7 strong innings, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits. His first innings was pretty shaky, which makes tonight’s first inning one to pay attention to if you’re a Mets fan.

The Rockies will ask 28-year-old Jorge De La Rosa (LHP) to stop the bleeding in New York. They couldn’t be asking a better pitcher right now. De La Rosa has won each of his last 6 starts for the Rockies, giving up only 6 earned runs in 28.2 innings pitched this month.

Neither has faced their opposition before, and with exception to a few at bats here and there, this is another foreign match up for both lineups.

Luis Castillo is back in the lineup after his wife gave birth to a baby girl. Fernando Tatis will get the start in left field tonight, while Daniel Murphy moves down in the order to the 6th spot.

In my estimation, this is going to be a game in which the Mets will actually need their bats to win. The Rockies have been shut out each of the last two games, and you have to think they will be waiting to feast on the young Jon Niese. If Niese gets into trouble, the bullpen should be in good shape to bail him out thanks for Pelfrey and Santana’s outings.

De La Rosa is capable of imploding. He hasn’t lost a game since June 16th against Tampa Bay when he lasted just 2.1 innings.

A win tonight and the Mets can cross another wild card contender off their list (just like Ocho Cinco does!)

Anything can happen with as many games as they have left, and with a win tonight, this team gains more and more confidence as they await the return of Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes.

OVER/UNDER RUNS: The line tonight is 8.5, I’m taking the OVER. (Season Record: 1-0)

METS POTG: I’m going with Jeff Francoeur tonight. After hearing about the way he took care of his hand injury (Dirt, Ice, Jack and Coke) how could I not pick him to have a big game tonight?

KEEP YOUR EYES ON: I’m taking Clint Barmes again. I don’t think he would have sat last night had they played, but with the double header, it made sense to sit the guy who is mired in a slump. Time spent with Don Baylor could help Barmes tonight, and remember, Barmes loves hitting left handed pitching.

I’LL BE DRINKING A: Samuel Adams Summer Ale. Yeah I know, but I can’t predict mother nature, so we got a variety pack last night, and we’ve had family over, and trust me, a Sam Adams not only makes a Mets game better, but it also has a way of making family better too!

Enjoy the Game, and Let’s Go Mets!