Tonight, the Mets begin their three-game series in Houston against the Astros.
The Mets are coming into this series after taking two of three in Colorado. They were embarrassed in the first game when the Rockies scored 11 runs in the fifth inning alone and won by a score of 18-9. However, they bounced back, winning the next two games 7-5 and 6-5. Friday night’s bullpen blow-up is hopefully a one-time thing.
The Astros, 8-14, have only shown slight improvement from their dreadful season last year. However, one major bright spot has been Wandy Rodriguez. Wandy, 33, is 2-2 this season with a 1.72 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. The Mets will face him in game three.
Here are the pitching matchups…
Game 1- Tonight 8:05
R.A. Dickey- The 3-1 Dickey bounced back from an awful start aginst the Braves on April 18 with a stellar outing against the MArlins. He surrendered only three hits over seven innings, allowing one run and striking out seven.
Bud Norris- Norris hasn’t pitched very well in either of his last two starts. In the first start, in Washington, he allowed ten hits and four earned in six innings. It got worse in his last start, allowing seven runs in 5.2 against the Brewers.
Game 2- Tuesday 8:05
Jon Niese- Niese is still on a roll. In his last start, he allowed two runs over seven innings. He hasn’t failed to go at least six innings so far this season.
J.A. Happ- Happ is 1-1 on the season with a 4.70 ERA. In his last start against the Brewers, he allowed four earned on seven hits over five innings.
Game 3- Wednesday 2:05
Chris Schwinden- Schwinden was part of that awful 18-9 loss to the Rockies on Friday, getting the ball rolling in the fifth inning. He was only charged with six runs, but he couldn’t get an out in the fifth inning.
Wandy Rodriguez- As I mentioned earlier, Wandy is dominating. His worst start this season came on April 11, when he allowed three runs in five innings against the Braves. He is really pitching well.
More notes…
– The Mets flew down to Houston last night in cowboy outfits and there are pictures to prove it.
–Andres Torres will lead off and play center field tonight, coming off the DL to play for the first time since Opening Day. Zach Lutz, who was 1 for 8 this season, was sent back down to the minors.
–According to Adam rubin, Terry Collins may still be thinking about keeping Kirk Nieuwenhuis in center field, even though Torres will return.
–Ruben Tejada had a nice weekend in Colorado. He went 10-17, raising his batting average 105 points.
–Ike Davis had the game-winning RBI-single in yesterday’s 6-5, eleven inning win. Ike has shown flashes of breaking out and finally starting to hit, but it hasn’t quite happened yet.
–Lastly, I just wanted to point out this hilarious article on the Astros from The Onion.
10 comments
Prismo
4/30/2012-12:19pm at 12:19 pm (UTC -4)
This is the type of series the Mets need to take advantage of all season long, even if it’s on the road. Good teams beat bad teams, and the Mets can’t do their usual ‘playing to the level of the opposition’ thing. Taking 2/3 games here should be the minimum, the Astros stink. I could forgive a loss in game 3 given the pitching matchup.
kingman 26
4/30/2012-1:20pm at 1:20 pm (UTC -4)
Not playing to the level this year–winning records against everyone but WASH and SF–they beat ATL and PHI when they were down, won 2 of 3 on the road against a so-so Rockies team, and smashed the mediocre Marlins.
I see them winning the first two and Schwinden getting blasted Weds.
Stick
4/30/2012-4:43pm at 4:43 pm (UTC -4)
so in classic Met fashion, they will get blasted the first 2 days, then the mets will blow out the stros in game 3, with Schwinden pitching a shutout.
Stick
4/30/2012-12:19pm at 12:19 pm (UTC -4)
Just keep winning series. A sweep of course is a wonderful dream, but can’t get too greedy, even with the Astros!
So take the first 2 to lock it up, since the matchup in game 3 doesn’t give you a warm and fuzzy.
srt
4/30/2012-12:35pm at 12:35 pm (UTC -4)
Just looking at the pitching match-ups, I’m thinking we’ve got a good shot to take the first 2 and the series.
Unless Schwinden looks like a completely different pitcher than we saw last time out, have to give the nod to Wandy there.
Torres should not be leading off. Don’t like this decision at all. Just leave Kirk there.
I’d leave Kirk in CF as well but am less concerned about a temporary move to LF as I am about moving him out of the lead off spot.
Here’s hoping Ike is about to break out.
Prismo
4/30/2012-4:17pm at 4:17 pm (UTC -4)
Why does Torres and his lifetime .318 OBP make sense for the leadoff spot? Because he steals a few bases? Because he plays CF?
Stick
4/30/2012-4:41pm at 4:41 pm (UTC -4)
speed that he will not be able to use having A) bad wheels and B) a serious lack of times on base?
7th is fine, let him try to get on there and scoot home when Thole hits a double.
gategem
4/30/2012-5:20pm at 5:20 pm (UTC -4)
Mets all-time record against Houston Astros: 256 wins, 304 losses, 1 tie.
In 1969 the Mets were 2W, 10L against the Astros.
ConnorUAF
4/30/2012-5:25pm at 5:25 pm (UTC -4)
One tie?
Prismo
4/30/2012-5:32pm at 5:32 pm (UTC -4)
So you’re saying to make history repeat itself the Mets should lost at least 2 out of 3 games this series on purpose?