The Mets will look to win their 4th straight in game two of their four-game series vs. the Cardinals at Citi Field tonight at 7:10 PM ET.
Here is today’s starting lineup for New York:
Curtis Granderson – RF
Eric Campbell – 3B
Lucas Duda – 1B
Michael Cuddyer – LF
Daniel Murphy – 2B
Wilmer Flores – SS
Anthony Recker – C
Jon Niese – LHP
Juan Lagares – CF
Here is today’s pitching matchup:
Jon Niese (3-3, 2.49 ERA) will start for the Mets.
Key matchups vs. Niese:
Jason Heyward: 9-for-28, 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 7 K
Matt Holliday: 3-for-15, 2B, RBI, BB, 3 K
Yadier Molina: 6-for-16, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K
Michael Wacha (5-0, 2.06 ERA) will start for the Cardinals.
Key matchups vs. Wacha:
Curtis Granderson: 2-for-6, 2B, 2 K
Lucas Duda: 1-for-5, 2B, 3 BB, K
Daniel Murphy: 2-for-8, 2 K
Here’s what I’m looking for from the Mets today:
Get to Wacha early.
The Mets didn’t exactly get to Cardinals starter John Lackey in last night’s win, as the veteran threw just 76 pitches in seven innings. Lackey’s performance last night marked just the 6th time in 23 games since Adam Wainwright went down for the season that a St. Louis starter went more than six innings in a start. Still, the Mets were able to get deep into the Cardinals bullpen, as the game went 14 innings. The St. Louis bullpen has the lowest ERA in the NL since Wainwright went down, but they’ve also pitched the most innings in that time. They’ve been overworked, and after last night, the Mets can help themselves by getting to them again. They’ll face a tough task in doing so with Michael Wacha on the mound.
Stay hot, Curtis.
A lot was made over Curtis Granderson’s slow start, as there came a point where a few weeks into the season that he was hitting well below .200 and had zero extra-base hits or RBI. The work has turned for Curtis lately, though. Over the last few weeks, Granderson has quietly raised his season average to .252, all while hitting for more power as he’s 2nd on the team in home runs. After doubling in last night’s game and homering in each of the two games prior, I look to Granderson to continue with his hot hitting tonight.
Just Mets 