Game Preview (8/26): Mets @ Phillies

eteich — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:55:41 -0000

The Mets start an important two game set tonight in Philly. Winner tonight takes the lead in the East. Both teams are playing hard right now in a race that will most likely go to the end of the season. This is where the Mets started to falter last year, against their division rivals. Tonight the Mets will send up Pedro to take on a tough Jamie Moyer.

Moyer is having one of his best years in a while. Right now he is 11-7 with a 3.54 ERA. This is his best ERA since 2003. He has really turned it on this month, to make things even tougher. In four games in August he is 1-1 over 24.2 innings pitched with a dazzling 2.19 ERA. He has brought out his best stuff against the Mets this year as well. He has faced the Mets 4 times already this year with a 1-1 record over 25.2 innings pitched with a stunning 2.81 ERA. (Last year over the same amount of games, he pitched 26 innings with a 3.12 ERA. Some Mets have hit him hard, some Mets have not:
    Delgado 30-77, 7 2B, 8 HR, .390 BA
    Beltran 10-49, 2 2B, .204 BA
    Reyes 10-32, 2 2B, 3B
    Wright 13-30, 4 2B, 2 HR
Delgado had an amazing night last night, and Beltran had an amazing afternoon the day before. Delgado knows how to hit Moyer, and has seen him a lot over his career, Beltran gets fooled a lot by him. Wright will be going for his 100th RBI again tonight. What is key for the Mets offense tonight is to strike first, strike often, and don't give up opportunities. The Phillies have won their last two games by shutting down the Dodgers once the Dodgers got people on base. The Phillies did not allow those players for second base and third base cross the plate. The Mets cannot let that be them tonight.

Pedro will try to light it up for the Mets tonight. On the season he is 4-3 with a 4.97 ERA. Here are his stats against the Phillies over the last couple of years:
    08: 1-0, 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
    07: ND, 6 IP, ER, 0 BB, 9 K
    06: 2 G, 0-1, 8 IP, 9 ER, 3 BB, 11 K
He was effective the last time he faced him. In 2007, he was brilliant (the Mets bullpen then let it go). In 2006, not so effective. Pedro is going have to reach down tonight in the part of him that is sending him to the Hall of Fame and pitch amazingly in this big game. Earlier this month, he put on an impressive show. He can do it again. Here are some Philly hitting stats against him:
    Rollins 9-30, 2B, HR
    Burrell 1-23, HR, 9K
    Utley 7-21, 2B, 3 HR
    Werth 2-9, 5 K
I love looking at Burrell's numbers agianst Pedro, that is owning a hitter. Utley is as dangerous as always. Rollins has been a slump for the past week or so, except he broke out of last night. Did he actually break out of it? We'll find out tonight as the Mets try to tame him.
Lets Go Mets! Beat the Phillies!

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Game Preview (8/19): Braves vs Mets

eteich — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:53:25 -0000

The Mets start a series with the Braves tonight as they try to add on to their division lead over the Phillies. The Braves will be sending starter Jo-Jo Reyes to the mound, who hasn't pitched in the majors for a good bit of time. Due to lack of command, he was sent down the minors for 8 starts where he went 1-1 and posted an ERA of 2.31, showing that he is ready to come back up. Before he left, he went 0-5 in 6 games with and ERA of 8.47. He has never pitched a game against the Mets or any current Mets batter (he was a rookie last year for the Braves). All together on the season, he is 3-9 with a 5.33 ERA but do not let those numbers fool you. His struggles have been at home and not on the road. At home, his ERA is above 7, while on the road, it is a cool 3.61. So one key for today's game is to not expect Reyes to be a pushover due to his recent problems.

The Mets will be sending Oliver Perez to the mound who has been doing well as of late. Since July 29th, he has pitched 4 games with a 3-1 record over 25.2 innings pitched, and ERA of 2.81, 9 BB and striking out 24. He has not faced the Braves this year, but last year he faced them 5 times. He went 4-1 over 32.1 innings, had a nice ERA of 3.03, walked only 4, and struck out 32. Here are some Braves hitting stats against Perez:
    Chipper 7-18, 2B, HR, .389 BA, .542 OBP
    Francoer 7-20, 2 2B, 2 HR, .350 BA
    Kelly Johnson 0-7, 6 K
    Prado 0-7
Chipper knows how to hit, and really knows how to hit Perez. Perez on the other hand, knows how to handle Johnson, who out of 7 AB, has struck out 6 times against Perez. If Perez can continue his ways from the past several starts, he really should have no problems with this lineup.

On the Mets offense side, Reyes and Beltran have both been doing really well the last ten days. Reyes, in 48 AB, has 7 runs, 15 hits (.313 BA), a HR and 3 stolen bases. Likewise, Beltran in 37 AB, has had 7 runs, 12 hits (.324 BA, incredible considering he is hitting in the .270's on the season right now), with 2 homers. They have to keep their offense going strong today to back up Perez and take down this Braves team. Lets Go Mets!

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SB Nation User Blog: eteich

Game Preview (8/26): Mets @ Phillies

Game Preview (8/19): Braves vs Mets