The Mets start their first series against Philly this season in Philly as the first place team in the National League East. The game is already starting to catch some press in New York as both the News and Post featured this game on their back pages this morning. The Mets will be sending out Niese to the mound to face Kendrick in tonight's opener.
Niese is 0-1 on the season with a 3.68 ERA over 22.0 innings pitched. This is will be an interesting game for Niese as he has never faced the Phillies in his career. Not only has he never faced the Phillies, he has never faced any batters on the Phillies. Looking back through the teams on the road he has played over his career, it looks like has not played in a hostile environment either (but lets be honest, as hostile environments go, very few places compare the Philly).
The Mets will try to contend with Kendrick tonight who has no decisions on the season yet over 4 games with a 7.71 ERA. In his four starts this year, he had one gem where he went 8.0 innings and allowed 0 runs (against Atlanta) but he didn't build off of that start as in his next start he allowed 5 ER over 5 innings pitched. In 2009 he faced the Mets once and picked up the win in 7 innings of work allowing only 2 runs. Anyway the Mets have these stats against Kendrick over his career:
Wright 2-13
Reyes 5-11, 2B
Bay 1-7
Pagan 2-6, 2B
Lets Go Mets! Beat the Phils!
