The Mets and Pirates finish up their four game set this afternoon, as the Mets look to split the series. Yesterday was a now familiar story for the Mets where a late inning meltdown costs the Mets the win. As typical in (Mets) baseball, when one gear starts to work (here: starting pitching) another gear that was working well (here: bullpen) starts to fail. Anyway, this afternoon Pelfrey gets the nod against Maholm.
Pelfrey responded nicely from his previous meltdown with a great start his last time out where he pitched 7.2 innings allowing only 2 ER. It should have been a win but the pen fell apart behind him. In five games, his ERA in the month of May has been 3.09, and would probably be a lot lower without that destruction in the Bronx. Last season he was 2-0 in as many starts against the Pirates over 15.0 innings with a 1.80 ERA. The Pirates have the following numbers against Pelfrey:
McCutchen 4-9
Snyder 3-8
Diaz 2-8
Tabata 0-7
Walkder 1-8, 2B
The Mets yesterday faced the league leader in wins, today they face the league leader in losses, who has a better ERA. Maholm is 2-7 this season with a 3.18 ERA. In five starts in May, he has pitched 33.2 innings with a 2.14 ERA. Last season he picked up the loss in one start against the Mets where he allowed 7 runs, 2 earned, over 3.2 innings of work. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
Beltran 6-14, 2B, HR
Pagan 5-12, 2B, HR
Evans 4-7, 2 2B
Paulino 3-6
Let's Go Mets!
