The Mets and Phillies open a big three game set tonight in Flushing. This series could make or break the Phillies season, if they lose 2/3, or get swept. Both the Phillies and Mets will throw their aces, and their veteran anchors.
Game 1 will feature Brett Myers against Mike Pelfrey. Myers has been sparkling since his return from the minors in late July. He is 5-1 and has not allowed more than three earned runs in any start since returning. In every game Pelfrey has pitched since July 13, the Mets have won all but the three games against the Fish. Something about that scrappy bunch that gets Pelfrey. The good news is Pelfrey has not faced the Phils since August 20th, so they have not seen the evolution of Pelf yet. I believe this will be a low scoring game, and each starter will go deep into the game.
Game 2 will feature Jamie Moyer against Pedro Martinez. The forecast for Saturday is bad. Very bad, actually. I say 99 percent this game gets rained out, but let’s go on with the preview anyway. The Mets touched up Moyer the last time they faced him, for seven runs. Martinez got roughed up as well, allowing five runs, after the Mets handed him a seven run lead. No advantage in this game, as you really don’t know what you’ll get from either pitcher.
Game three will be the pitching matchup all fans have been waiting for all year. Johan Santana against Cole Hamels. Hamels has not faced the Mets since April 18th, when he allowed five runs, four earned, in seven innings. Santana last faced the Phils a little over a week ago, allowing two homers to Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth. Luckily, the Mets picked up Santana and came back against the suddenly hittable Phillies pen.
Let’s face it. Ryan Madson is overworked, Chad Durbin is overworked. Durbin’s unhittable two seamer/slider is hittable now, and if Madson keeps keeping his changeups up, there is going to be trouble. The one guy who has been a constant has been J.C. Romero. Imagine, Romero was on waivers, and could have been picked up by any team. Nice work, Mr. Gillick. Oh, by the way, Brad Lidge is still perfect in save opportunities.
The Mets pen is riding high right now, with 15 scoreless innings heading into tonight’s game. Brian Stokes has been a gift from heaven, Joe Smith is getting righties out, Pedro dos is getting lefties out, and although they are shaky, Luis Ayala is getting it doen at the back end. Advantage Mets pen, they have just been better lately.
Pete Lappin (3)
