The Mets will look to take the rubber game of their three-game series against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park today at 1:35 PM.
Here is the starting lineup for New York:
Curtis Granderson – RF
Juan Lagares – CF
Daniel Murphy – 3B
Lucas Duda – 1B
Wilmer Flores – SS
Kirk Nieuwenhuis – LF
Anthony Recker – C
Ruben Tejada – 2B
Bartolo Colon – RHP
Here are today’s pitching matchups:
Bartolo Colon (5-1, 2.90 ERA) will start for the Mets.
Ryan Howard: 3-for-14, 2 HR
Ben Revere: 6-for-15
Chase Utley: 4-for-11, 2B
Chad Billingsley (0-1, 9.00 ERA) will start for the Phillies.
Key matchups vs. Billingsley:
Michael Cuddyer: 0-for-3, 2 BB
Daniel Murphy: 1-for-2, BB
Here are three things to look for today:
Colon’s zone.
It’s warm in Philadlephia today, which means the ball could have a little extra carry inside Citizens Bank Park during today’s game, Colon is a fly ball pitcher, so it’s going to be extra important for him to stay on the corners this afternoon to keep the Philadelphia hitters from getting good wood on the bat. Mistakes are not easily forgiven in that ballpark, especially when conditions are conducive for scoring as they should be today. Colon has done a good job with his location throughout the year, and that will have to continue this afternoon.
More offense please?
It seems like we are asking for this daily, and not getting it. But today would be a good day to get the bats going considering the conditions and the venue, plus they’re facing a guy who, while has has experience, is trying to re-establish his footing in the game. It would be nice to see the a Mets break out today and give Colon some breathing room during his outing today.
A series win.
It’s the most obvious, but it’s always extra important for the better teams to win their series against second division clubs. Once upon a time, these roles were reversed, and the a Phillies would too often take care of business at the expense of the Mets. but now it’s New York’s turn to take care of business, and take advantage of the opportunity to rack up a series win.
Just Mets 