Giants (70-82) at Mets (68-83)
LHP Madison Bumgarner (12-9, 2.83) vs. LHP Jon Niese (7-7, 3.88)
Starting Lineup
- Eric Young, Jr. – LF
- Josh Satin – 1B
- Daniel Murphy – 2B
- Andrew Brown – RF
- Wilmer Flores – 3B
- Juan Lagares – CF
- Travis d’Arnaud – C
- Omar Quintanilla – SS
- Jonathon Niese – LHP
Since Niese made his return from a partially torn rotator cuff in his pitching shoulder, Niese has been very sharp. He is 4-1 with a 3.13 ERA in seven starts and has struck out 44, while walking just 10.
Catcher Travis d’Arnaud says he has been hit by more foul tips and backswings in recent weeks than he can recall, and attributed it to “randomness, part of catching.” But Mets manager Terry Collins thinks there may be more to it. He says d’Arnaud will likely receive a few more nicks than the average catcher because of the proximity of his crouch to home plate.
Terry Collins emphatically stated that Ruben Tejada is the Mets’ best internal option to be the 2014 Opening Day shortstop. But once the shortstop’s broken leg heals, Collins added, Tejada must demonstrate he wants the role. Tejada suffered a broken right fibula in the ninth inning on Wednesday. He is not expected to require surgery.
Eric Young Jr. has 23 steals in the second half, including 10 in his last 21 games, to lead the Majors since the break.
Terry Collins expects David Wright will play in his first major league game in seven weeks in Friday’s series opener in Philadelphia, assuming Wright makes it through Thursday’s workout without issue.
Game Preview
Well I wish I didn’t fall asleep early last night. The Mets scored 4 runs in the bottom of the ninth to come back and beat the Giants and this afternoon, the Mets look to take the series behind Jon Niese as he faces off against Madison Bumgarner. Jon Niese is making his 22nd start of the season. So far he has pitched 123.0 innings with a 7-7 record and a 3.88 ERA. September has not been a kind month to Jon has he has pitched 18.0 innings allowing 10 earned runs, 11 total. He missed the Giants earlier this season and the Giants have the following numbers against him:
Pence 3-24
Posey 4-8, 2 2B, HR
Blanco 1-6
Pill 0-6
Pagan 1-4, HR
The Mets bats will get a crack at Madison Bumgarner who is 12-9 over 30 starts pitching 194.0 innings with a 2.83 ERA. He has also pitched 18.0 innings over three starts in September, but with an ERA of 2.00 where he has allowed 2 ER twice and shutout his opponents once. He missed the Mets in July and the Mets have the following numbers against him:
Young 3-21
Tejada 1-6
Brown 1-3
Murphy 0-2
Turner 1-3
Lets Go Mets!
