Game Preview: Mets @ Phillies

The Mets look to complete a 4 game sweep and extend their winning streak to 7 games tonight as Jon Niese take on Aaron Harang. Last night the Mets jumped out to a 3-0 lead early batting a round in the first inning, then they didn’t do much until late in the game where Cuddyer added what seemed like at the time two throw-away runs with a 2-run shot. Colon did exactly what the Mets needed him today shutting down the Phillies for 7 innings, giving the bullpen a break but the Mets allowed 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th before Clippard had to come into shut the door (then the Mets added runs in the top of the 9th to make the lead safe again).

Jon Niese is 8-9 over 146.2 innings with a 3.80 ERA this season. He’s coming off his first rough start in a while where he allowed 11 hits and 7 earned runs over 5.1 innings, and 10 ER in his last 11.1 innings. His two starts against the Phillies this year have been good. In April he held them to 1 ER over 6.1 innings despite allowing 9 hits and in May he allowed 2 runs, none earned, over 7.0 innings. The Phillies have the following numbers against him:

Ruiz 11-32, 3 2B, HR
Howard 4-26, HR
Glavis 2-13, HR
Ruf 2-11, HR
Brown 2-11, 2B
Asche 5-9, 2 2B
Blanco 3-9, 2B
Herrera 3-7, 2 2B

The Mets bats will get a look at the one-time Met Aaron Harang who is 5-14 (league leader in losses) over 22 starts and 133.0 innings with a 4.67 ERA. He started August off on a rough foot allowing 18 ER over 15.0 innings over 3 starts but in his last start against Miami he allowed only 2 ER over 7.0 innings. He is generally good against the Mets. He lost both starts against the Amazin’s this year but it wasn’t his fault. His first start of the season the Phillies lost 2-0 and Harang allowed only 1 ER over 6.0 innings. In his second start against the Mets this season, the final score was 3-2 and he allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, over 7.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Harang: