The Mets travel to Citizens Bank Park to open a three-game series with the Phillies on Friday. Here’s what I’m looking for tonight…
Here is tonight’s starting lineup for New York:
1) Curtis Granderson – RF
2) Juan Lagares – CF
3) John Mayberry Jr. – LF
4) Michael Cuddyer – 1B
5) Daniel Murphy – 3B
6) Wilmer Flores – SS
7) Kevin Plawecki – C
8) Dilson Herrera – 2B
9) Matt Harvey – RHP
Matt Harvey (5-0, 2.41 ERA) will start for the Mets.
Key matchups vs. Harvey:
Ryan Howard: 1-for-10, RBI, 7 K
Chase Utley: 6-for-15, HR, 2 RBI, 0 K
Ben Revere: 1-for-7
Cole Hamels (1-3, 4.14 ERA) will start for the Phillies
Key matchups vs. Hamels:
Michael Cuddyer: 1-for-15, 2B, 2 K
Curtis Granderson: 5-for-11, RBI
Juan Lagares: 11-for-25, 4 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K
Daniel Murphy: 17-for-51, 4 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 9 K
Here are three things I’m looking for tonight:
It’s that day again.
Five starts, five wins, and a sub-3 ERA. If you showed me Matt Harvey’s statistics and told me these were from a pitcher coming off of Tommy John surgery, I wouldn’t believe you. But Harvey is a different animal. He’s been the stopper the Mets need (3-0 when the Mets are coming off a loss) and today he’ll look to keep the good times rolling as the team is looking to win their 3rd consecutive game. Harvey has dominated the Phillies in the past, going 5-0 with a 1.60 ERA, 0.712 WHIP and 10.5 K/9 in six career starts. Let’s hope that stretch of brilliance continues tonight. Happy Harvey Day!
“Hello, Newman.”
The Mets matchup with their former nemesis once again tonight, Cole Hamels. The Newman to their Seinfield, if you fancy that reference. New York has had their share of success vs. Hamels in the past. In fact, ever since the Phillies left-hander referred to the Mets as “choke artists” after the 2008 season, Hamels is 7-11 vs. New York with a 4.18 ERA in 25 starts. We’ll see what the Mets bats can do against Hamels tonight, and hopefully they do well because not only is it good to win, but it’s always nice to beat an old foe.
Can Granderson continue to improve?
In recent weeks we’ve seen improvement from Curtis Granderson in the power department, as six of his seven extra-base hits and both of his home runs this season have come in the last 14 days. After nearly taking one out in his first at-bat and following up with a ball that did clear the fences in the team’s last game on Wednesday, Granderson has a chance to continue finding his power stroke. Playing in the friendly confines of Citizens Bank Park can only help with that.
Just Mets 