The Mets will look to put all the pieces back together in their playing puzzle today as they play the Cardinals. On Friday night, after lead off homer by Grandy, the Mets bats couldn’t scratch anything out until the 9th inning, so 3 runs given up by Mets pitching became insurmountable. Last night Colon just exploded, which is similar to what he did vs the Cardinals earlier this season (although Terry says the long All-Star break could have played a roll) while the Mets lumber acted like twigs.
Jon Niese 5-8 over 17 starts and 104.2 innings with a 3.61 ERA this season. Since the start of June, however, he has tossed 7 games with a 2-3 record over 47.2 innings with a 2.64 ERA while striking out 33 batters against 16 walks. Like Colon yesterday, one of his worst starts of the season came against the Cardinals where he allowed 8 earned runs over 5.0 innings and 11 hits. The Cardinals have the following numbers against Niese:
- Heyward 9-28, 2 2B, 2 HR
- Molina 7-19, 2B, HR
- Holliday 3-17, 2B
- Reynolds 6-12, 2 HR
- Bourjos 4-12
- Peralta 5-11
- Carpenter 4-7, 2 2B
The Mets bats will draw rookie Tim Cooney who is making his 5th major league start. On the season he has a 4.34 ERA over 4 games and 18.2 innings with 17 strikeouts. Since returning to the Majors in July, Cooney has logged 16.1 innings with a 3.31 ERA. In the minors this year the 24 year old is 6-4 over 14 games with a 2.74 ERA over 88.2 innings. This will be his first time facing the Mets.
Lets Go Mets!
