LHP Josh Outman (2-1, 3.14) vs. RHP Dillon Gee (7-0, 2.86)
Starting Line-up
Justin Turner, 3b
Carlos Beltran, rf
Daniel Murphy, 1b
Angel Pagan, cf
Jason Bay, lf
Ronny Paulino, c
Ruben Tejada, 2b
Dillon Gee, rhp
Pre-Game Notes
Offense: Since May 22, the Mets are batting .280 (260-927), the third-highest mark in the majors…The team’s .340 on-base percentage during this stretch is the fourth-highest in the majors …The club’s 12 triples lead the majors and nine home runs over that span are the fewest in the majors.
Rookie Wins: Dillon Gee has won seven straight decisions equaling the club’s record for rookies…The last Mets rookie to accomplish that feat was Octavio Dotel who won seven straight decisions in 1999 (tying a club record set by Ron Darling in 1984, and matched by Dwight Gooden later in 1984 and Jason Isringhausen in 1995)…According to Elias Sports, Gee is the second rookie in the majors since 2000 with a season-opening winning streak of seven or more games…Jered Weaver started 9-0 for the Angels in 2006.
Undefeated: Among all pitchers who have had at least five decisions this year, Gee is the only one who is undeated and whose team is undefeated when he takes the mound (10-0)…Gee is the 24th pitcher since 1919 to have his team win at least each of his first 10 starts to a season…The Red Sox went 10-0 in Daisuke Matsuzaka’s first 10 starts in 2008.
Stolen Bases: New York leads the National League and is third in the majors with 72 stolen bases…The Mets lead the majors with 22 stolen bases in June…Jose Reyes is second in the majors with 26 stolen bases.
Reyes Rolling: Jose Reyes leads the major leagues with 35 multi-hit games and 12 triples…Reyes ranks second in the majors with 103 hits, a .343 batting average and 26 stolen bases and is tied for fourth in the National League with 35 extra-base hits and 20
doubles…He also leads the majors with a .375 (51-136) batting average at home…Reyes leads the NL and is second in the majors with a .349 (81-232) batting average vs. right-handed pitching.
Apple Turner: Justin Turner drove in a run on Sunday vs. Los Angeles (AL)…Turner has 27 RBI in his last 31 games…Turner leads all rookies with a .347 on-base percentage and is third with a .277 batting average…He ranks second among rookies in the National
League and tied for fourth in the majors with 30 RBI.
Game 1 Preview
The Mets and Athletics start a series tonight in New York as the Mets look to bounce back from their first losing series since the 29th of May. Tonight the Mets will look to Dillon Gee to continue to be himself as he takes on Josh Outman. For the record, Josh Outman has one of my favorite names for a pitcher of all time.
Dillon Gee is 7-0 this season with a 2.86 ERA. In his last start he pitched 4.0 innings of shutout ball as the rain pushed him out of the game. He is 3-0 in his last four starts as he has logged 26.0 innings with a 1.38 ERA. In those 26 innings, he has only walked 4 batters, while striking out 20, which has a lot to do with the success he has found this season. As you would imagine, since Gee is a rookie, and the Athletics are in the American league, he has never faced Oakland nor has he faced any batters that currently play for Oakland.
The Mets will try to get men on base and not record a lot of outs against Outman tonight (terrible attempt at an unfunny pun, I’m so sorry) who is 2-1 this season with a 3.14 ERA. His last two starts have been good as he has allowed only 3 ER in 13 innings of work including a 7 inning shutout his last time out. In his limited time in 2008, 2009 and this season, Outman has not faced the New York Mets. In addition to that, he has never faced anyone on the Mets.
Another game of mystery tonight for the Mets. Let’s Go!
