MMO Game Thread: Mets at Athletics, 10:05 PM

Tonight the Mets open a two game series against the Oakland Athletics in California. Dillon Gee (4-5, 3.69) faces former Met Scott Kazmir (13-5, 2.78) beginning at 10:05 pm.

In his last start, Gee got the loss in the Mets’ 4-1 defeat against the Washington Nationals on August 14th at Citi Field. He pitched 6.0 innings, allowing four earned runs and four hits, striking out three along the way.

The Mets are 8-7 vs. the American League this year (2-1 vs. Seattle, 2-1 vs. Texas, 1-1 vs. Oakland, 2-2 vs. the Yankees and 1-2 vs. the Angels). They are 154-143 all-time in Interleague play and their 519 winning percentage ranks fourth among NL clubs.

The Mets were held to four hits on Monday, the fifth straight game the team has finished with four hits or less, tying a franchise record. This was also done in 2004 and 1963. Since the Mets’ streak in 2004, no other major league team has had such a streak.

Starting Lineup

Juan Lagares – CF
Curtis Granderson – RF
David Wright – 3B
Lucas Duda – 1B
Travis d’Arnaud – DH
Eric Campbell- LF
Wilmer Flores – 2B
Ruben Tejada – SS
Anthony Recker – C

Since the Mets are playing the AL West this year, the Mets start their 5th out west road trip tonight that will swing through Oakland and LA. Tonight they look to forget the last two games against the Cubs as Dillon Gee squares off against Scott Kazmir (which 10 years after the trade still has a bit of a sting).

Dillon Gee is 4-5 over 15 games and 95.0 innings has posted a 3.69 ERA this season. After a good start against Philly where he allowed 1 ER over 7.0 innings, his first good start since coming off of the DL, he allowed 4 ER over 6.0 innings against the Nationals in his last start. He missed Oakland earlier this season and in his career he has made only one start against the Athletics where he allowed 4 ER over 4.0 innings. The Athletics have the following numbers against him:

Crisp 1-3
Parrino 0-2
Gomes 0-0, BB

Scott Kazmir is in the midst of an excellent season where he is 13-5 with a 2.78 ERA over 24 starts and 149.0 innings. This is his lowest season ERA by far in his career. The month of August hasn’t been that good to him though as he has allowed 12 ER over 19.2 innings in three starts which is a 5.49 ERA. His worst start of the season was against the Mets where he allowed 7 ER over 3.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Scott: