MMO Game Thread: Mets vs Dodgers, 10:10 PM

The Mets look to build off of their 8-5 win on Wednesday against the Athletics in their opener against the Dodgers in Los Angeles tonight behind Jon Niese (7-8, 3.50 ERA) as he takes on Dan Haren (10-10, 4.59) in the 10:10 PM opener at Dodger Stadium.

Bartolo Colon has been activated from bereavement list and Gonzalez Germen has been demoted to Triple-A Las Vegas. This could allow the Mets to put Colon on waivers.

Lucas Duda extended his career-high with his 23rd home run on Wednesday. Duda has two home runs in his last three games and is tied for fourth in the NL with his 23 home runs. Duda is tied for fourth in the majors with nine home runs since the All-Star break. Only Giancarlo Stanton (11), Chris Carter (11) and David Ortiz (10) have more.

Travis d’Arnaud has 11 home runs which are the most by a rookie catcher in team history and he is currently second among NL rookies, one behind the Cubs’ Mike Olt. D’Arnaud’s 11 home runs are the most by a Mets rookie since 2010 when Ike Davis hit 19 home runs in his first year.

Vic Black has stranded 23 straight inherited runners (including one on June 30 after he had departed the game). Black has the second-best percentage (96%) in the majors, stranding 24 ofm25 runners (minimum 20 runners).

Justin Turner is hitting .362 (17-for-47) with one homer, six RBIs and two steals in August. He has a .464 OBP for month.

Starting Lineup

Curtis Granderson, RF
Daniel Murphy, 2B
David Wright, 3B
Lucas Duda, 1B
Travis d’Arnaud, C
Matt den Dekker, LF
Juan Lagares, CF
Wilmer Flores, SS
Jon Niese, LHP

Niese is 7-8 over 23 games and 141.1 innings with a 3.50 ERA. His last start was average as he allowed 3 ER over 6.0 innings, striking out 6. Overall in his last two starts he allowed 5 ER over 13.0 innings with 12 K’s. Earlier this season he allowed 3 ER and 4 Hits over 7.0 innings. The Dodgers have the following numbers against Niese:

Kemp 4-13
Barney 5-12
Ellis 2-9, 2B
Ethier 4-10
Gonzalez 0-5
Crawford 0-3
Puig 0-3

Haren is 10-10 over 25 starts and 143.0 innings with a 4.59 ERA. He is coming off of a rough start where he allowed 5 hits, 6 runs, 3 earned over 3.0 innings. He didn’t face the Mets earlier this year but last year he was 2-2 over 4 starts with a 5.95 ERA over 19.2 innings allowing 13 ER. The Mets have the following numbers against Haren: