The Mets will try to hold onto first place today as they take on the Braves for the second game in a three game set. The Mets will be sending out the popular, but struggling, Pedro, while the Braves will be sending out the surprising, but recently struggling, Campillo to the mound today. Did you wake up with that good feeling your stomach today? I know I did, its that feeling after a big win, lets hope that feeling comes back with a win tonight.
Pedro, 5-5, has pitched 97 innings this season, so hopefully he breaks the 100 inning plane today. His season ERA is 5.47 and that really shows his struggles this year. He either struggles early or late, more Early than anything else, but beneath that it seems liek he's ready to shed all of this off (and he has had games where he has done that this year). In his last five games he is 1-2 with 28 innings ptiched, 9 walks, 22 K's and has an ERA of 6.75. His one game against ATL this year led to a No Decision after 7 innings pitched and 4 Earned Runs, backed with a walk and 6 K's. The Braves have done this against Pedro:
Jones 9-47, 2B, 3 HR, 10 K, .191 BA
Francoeur 3-22, 2 2B, HR, .136 BA
McCann 4-18, 2 2B, HR
Johnson 1-8
Escobar 3-4, 2B, HR
The numbers are pretty self explanatory. He has had a lot of past success agianst this lineup, but their young guys like Escobar really know how to see and hit the ball from Pedro. With Pedro, the key is to not allow hits. I know that sounds obvious, but if people are not on base, there is no damage control. He's a hall of famer, so he knows how to do this.
On the pitching mound for the Braves today is Campillo who is 7-7 this seaso with a 3.79 ERA. In his last five games he is 0-1 with 23.2 innings pitched and a 6.46 ERA. Against the Mets this year he has pitched 3 games, 2 starts, to the tune of a 1-1 reocrd 11.2 innings pitched, 2 walks, 13 K's and a 2.31 ERA. The Mets scored all the runs this year against him in his last start where he lasted 3.2 innings, allowed 4 runs, 3 earned and 8 hits. If the Mets can do that again, they should be fine. They have to attack early, attack often, and most importantly, attack late:
Reyes 2-6
Beltran 0-4
Church 2-5
Delgado 1-5, 2B
Wright 3-5, 2 HR
Wright was dialed in against him in his last start. He had two AB against him and watched both of his hits leave Shea Stadium for his 30th and 31st homers of the season. If he can lead an offensive charge today that would be great, if not as long as someone leads the charge, and as long as they score runs, things are going to go well. Lets Go Mets! Beat the Braves!
