at&t park giants

The Mets begin a three-game series in San Francisco on Friday against the Giants who own an MLB-best 39-21 record.

Jon Niese (3-3, 2.69 ERA) gets the start for the Mets and will be opposed by right-hander Matt Cain (1-3, 3.66) in a 10:15 PM start at AT&T Park.

The Mets had six more walks last night and now lead the National League while ranking second in the majors with 229 walks. Oakland is first with 259 walks. The Mets have 63 walks in their last 10 games.

Mike Piazza said the Mets need to stop blaming Citi Field for their offensive struggles. “Don’t be so wrapped up into the environmental factors of the game, find a way to push through it,” Piazza said. “There is such a thing as productive outs, there is such a thing as finding a way to win, finding a way to get guys on and finding a way to get them home. You’ve got to be resourceful, you’ve got to be creative.”

Andrew Brown was promoted from Triple-A on Thursday and hit a game-tying two-run homer while batting in the cleanup spot. “We’ve put him in the middle there to see if he can do some damage,” Terry Collins said after the game. Brown was raking in Vegas, batting .359 with 13 HR, 12 doubles and a 1.178 OPS in just 142 at-bats.

Starting Lineup

  1. Matt den Dekker, CF
  2. Daniel Murphy, 2B
  3. David Wright, 3B
  4. Curtis Granderson, RF
  5. Andrew Brown, LF
  6. Lucas Duda, 1B
  7. Ruben Tejada, SS
  8. Travis d’Arnaud, C
  9. Jon Niese, LHP

Game Preview

The Mets followed their 4-1 trip to Philly with an 0-3 trip to the struggling Cubs, essentially erasing everything they did in Philly. The Mets have no time to lament as they head to San Francisco to face the league leading Giants. Tonight Niese will get the start against Matt Cain.

Niese is 3-3 this season over 11 games and 70.1 innings with a 2.69 ERA. His last start against Philly was excellent going 8.0 innings allowing 2 ER and 1 BB with 6 K’s. Last year he faced the Giants once, getting the loss allowing 2 ER over 7.0 innings and 7 hits, 2 BB and 4 K’s. The Giants have the following numbers against Niese:

  • Pence 3-26
  • Morse 3-15, 3 2B
  • Posey 4-12, 2 2B, HR
  • Pagan 1-8, HR
  • Blanco 1-6
  • Sandoval 3-7

Matt Cain is 1-3 this season with a 3.66 ERA over 8 starts and 46.2 innings of work. Cain is coming off the DL tonight to face the Amazins. Last year he faced the Mets twice allowing 8 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned over 8.1 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Cain:

  • C Young 8-36, 2 2B
  • Wright 11-25, 6 2B
  • Murphy 3-13, 2B
  • Tejada 4-11
  • Abreu 1-5, 2B
  • Duda 1-6, 3B

Lets Go Mets!

MMO