The Mets lost a tough one last night, but so did the Nationals, so we start today just where we started yesterday with the Mets having a 4.5 game lead in the East. J.A. Happ provided a strong start for the Pirates and although the Mets were able to push it to extras, Parnell struggled in the top of the 10th, and the Mets little comeback in the bottom of the 10th wasn’t enough.
Jon Niese looks to put the Mets back on the right track tonight. On the season he is 7-9 over 22 starts and 135.1 innings with a 3.46 ERA. In his last three starts he has pitched 20.0 innings with a 1.80 ERA while striking out 17. His start against the Pirates earlier this year was a forgettable one as it came in the midst of that stretch of really ugly starts for Jon. He allowed 4 ER over 4.2 innings. The Pirates have the following numbers against Jon:
- Ramirez 6-21, 2B, 2 HR
- Morse 4-22, 3 2B
- McCutchen 7-15, 3 2B, HR
- Walker 2-10
- Marte 2-10
- Stewart 1-5
The Mets bats draw Charlie Morton who is 7-4 over 14 starts and 82.1 innings with a 4.48 ERA. Morton is coming off a rough start where he allowed 5 ER over 5.0 innings agianst hte Dodgers and only has one good start (7.0 shutout innings) in his last 5 games, all the games he has pitched since the All-Star break. In that stretch he has tossed 30.1 innings but with a 5.04 ERA. He missed the Mets earlier this year but last year he picked up the loss after pitching 5.1 innings allowing 3 runs, 2 earned. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
- Murphy 3-16
- Uribe 3-13
- Duda 3-8, 2B
- Tejada 4-7
- K Johnson 2-8, 2B
- Cuddyer 1-3
- Granderson 0-3
- Cespedes 1-2, 2B
Lets Go Mets!
