Today is the 10-year anniversary of David Wright‘s first game with the Mets as the team heads to Seattle for the start of a three-game series against the Mariners tonight at 10:10 PM. Jon Niese (5-4, 2.96 ERA) will return from the disabled list to face left-hander Roenis Elias (7-8, 4.54) for the M’s.
New York suffered its ninth walk-off loss of the year yesterday in a 2-1 setback at San Diego. The nine walk-off losses are the most in the majors. The Mets have 18 losses in the opponents’ final at-bat, which also leads the majors.
New York is playing in Seattle for just the second time in team history. The Mets were swept in a three-game series, June 17-19, 2005. The last time the two clubs met was in 2008 when the Mets went
1-2 vs. the Mariners. Seattle holds a 7-2 mark all-time vs. the Mets.
Jon Niese has gone 21 consecutive starts allowing three earned runs or less, the longest current streak in the majors. It is tied for the second-longest streak in team history and longest since Johan Santana also went 21 straight starts from July 22, 2009-May 11, 2009.
Daniel Murphy is eighth in the NL with a .304 road batting average. He collected his 25th double yesterday, his fifth season with 25 or more doubles. Murphy’s five years of 25 or more doubles is tied for the second-most in team history with Darryl Strawberry, Edgardo Alfonzo, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran. David Wright is first with seven such seasons.
Although Bobby Abreu will sit out Monday’s game against Elias, New York manager Terry Collins said the outfielder will serve as his designated hitter on Tuesday and Wednesday. Collins has grown concerned that Abreu is losing some potency off the bench given his lack of playing time, as he is part of a four-man left-field mix that also includes Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Chris Young and Eric Young.
Starting Lineup
- Curtis Granderson, RF
- Daniel Murphy, 2B
- David Wright, 3B
- Eric Campbell, 1B
- Lucas Duda, DH
- Travis d’Arnaud, C
- Chris Young, LF
- Juan Lagares, CF
- Ruben Tejada, SS
After starting off strong on Friday, the Mets fell apart Saturday and then came just short of the comeback yesterday. The Padres were close a no hitter yesterday, then the Mets made a comeback in the 8th, but then tripped (maybe literally?) in the 9th. The Mets are making the rare trip to Seattle today as Jon Niese comes back from the disabled list as faces off against Elias.
Niese is 5-4 over 17 starts and 103.1 innings this year with a 2.96 ERA. Before he was injured at the start of the month he allowed 3 ER in three consecutive starts with 6.0 innings of work. It makes sense that, even though Niese is a veteran, he has never faced the Mariners. There are a few players who have seen him before:
- Morrison 3-9, 2B
- Cano 4-12, 2B
- Hart 2-8, 2B
- Bloomquist 2-3
Elias gets the start for the Mariners. He is a rookie with 19 starts this season over 113.0 innings, a 7-8 record and a 4.54 ERA. His last three starts have been a mess as he has pitched a total of 14.1 innings with 16 ER. Obviously, he has no record or stats against the Mets and Mets players.
Lets Go Mets!
