Starting Lineup
- Ruben Tejada – SS
- Daniel Murphy – 2B
- David Wright – 3B
- John Buck – C
- Ike Davis – 1B
- Marlon Byrd – RF
- Lucas Duda – LF
- Juan Lagares – CF
- 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!
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