MMO Game Thread: Phillies vs Mets, 1:10 PM (Happy Moms Day!)

The Mets have lost a season-high five straight and eight of nine. They will attempt to salvage the final game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday at 1:10 PM. (SNY, WOR)

Jon Niese (2-2, 1.82 ERA) will take the mound for the Mets and he’ll oppose left-hander Cole Hamels (0-2, 7.02) for the Phillies.

Niese has been the Mets’ top pitcher and is currently fourth in the majors with a 1.82 ERA and ranks 10th in the majors with a 1.008 WHIP. If anyone can stop this five game slide it’s him.

David Wright’s sixth-inning RBI double last night was his 1,600th career hit becoming the 24th active player to reach that plateau. He is also three RBI shy of becoming the 20th active player to reach 900.

Curtis Granderson had two hits last night and has reached base safely in 15 of his last 16 games with seven RBI over his last eight contests. He is hitting .314 (11-35) with seven RBI this month and has four multi-hit games in his last nine games. He’ll be on the bench today.

Chris Young, who had the bat taken out of his hands on Saturday by Terry Collins, is now batting cleanup for this game.

Eric Campbell, who was supposed to make his debut yesterday but was yanked from the lineup an hour prior to the game, is staring at first base today.

Here is your starting lineup

Eric Young, Jr. – LF
Daniel Murphy – 2B
David Wright – 3B
Chris Young – RF
Eric Campbell – 1B
Juan Lagares – CF
Anthony Recker – C
Ruben Tejada – SS
Jon Niese – LHP

Game Preview

The Mets try to put the pieces back together and get on the winning path today by attempting to avoid the sweep from Phillies. Today Jon Niese gets the start, he is 2-2 over 6 starts over 39.2 innings with a 1.82 ERA. In his last four starts he has allowed 3 runs in 26.2 innings with a 1.01 ERA. One of those starts was against Philly where he allowed one earned run and four hits over 7.0 innings while striking out 5. The Phillies have the following numbers against Niese:

Rollins 9-43, 2 2B
Mayberry 9-34, 2 2B, 3 HR
Utley 3-25
Howard 2-18
Nix 4-10
Byrd 4-8, HR

Hamels is struggling this season over his first three starts. He is 0-2 over 16.2 innings with a 7.02 ERA. One of his three starts was against the Mets where he allowed 8 hits and 6 earned runs, 5 walks over 4.2 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Hamels: