Mets Look For Cushion
The NL East-leading New York Mets are looking to create some breathing
room atop the crowded division. A three-game set against the
third-place Florida Marlins could help them accomplish that goal.
The East rivals open the key series Monday at Dolphin Stadium.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global
have made New York -110 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has
been set at 9 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 90% of bets for this game have been placed on New York -110 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
The
Mets (57-48) are one game ahead of the second-place Philadelphia
Phillies, who are idle Monday, and two in front of the Marlins (55-50).
New
York, which has won 15 of its last 19 overall, is 12-2 in its last 14
visits to Miami, taking two of three there to open the season from
March 31-April 2. The Mets replicated that feat at home from May 26-28.
They’re
coming off a 4-2 homestand, capped by a 9-1 win over St. Louis on
Sunday as Johan Santana scattered six hits in New York’s first complete
game of the season.
"We needed that big," Mets manager Jerry
Manuel said. "He was very adamant about going back out. He really
wanted the complete game."
The Mets now begin a six-game road
trip. They’re 25-28 away from home, but have won five of their last
seven road games, hitting .316 with eight homers and 44 runs over that
span.
David Wright, who went 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs
Sunday, enters the trip looking to build on an impressive homestand.
The All-Star third baseman went 11-for-27 (.407) with one homer and six
RBIs in the last six games.
Wright is hitting .408 (40-for-98)
with four homers, 18 RBIs and 18 walks in his last 24 games against the
Marlins. In 32 games at Miami, he’s batting .355 with one homer, 22
RBIs and 20 walks.
The Mets give the ball to John Maine (9-7,
4.20 ERA), who went 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 25 2-3
innings over four starts against Florida last year.
He’ll try to
continue that success this season after a solid effort in a 6-3 win
over Philadelphia on Wednesday, allowing three runs and six hits with
five strikeouts over seven innings. That performance came after he went
0-2 with a 6.63 ERA over his four previous starts – three on the road.
"I just needed a good game," said Maine, who is 0-2 with a 6.91 ERA in his last three road starts.
The
Marlins, 29-23 at home, are struggling at the plate, hitting .190 over
the last eight games. However, they’ve hit 11 homers and scored 26 runs
in that span to win four of those contests.
That formula didn’t help them much at Chicago on Sunday, as three of their nine hits were homers in a 9-6 loss to the Cubs.
"We
have a big series coming up so we have to put this behind us," said
Marlins first baseman Mike Jacobs, who went 3-for-4 with two homers and
three RBIs Sunday. "We have the Mets coming in and that’s who we’re
chasing. Hopefully we can have a good series at home."
The Marlins hope Ricky Nolasco (10-6, 3.99), the team’s leader in wins, can avoid losing a third consecutive start.
The
right-hander has dropped his last two games by giving up nine runs and
15 hits, including two homers, in 12 innings. He lasted five innings
Wednesday, yielding five runs and eight hits in a 9-4 loss to Atlanta.
It was his shortest outing since he allowed three runs and nine hits –
two homers – in five innings of a 7-3 win over the Mets on May 26.
Nolasco
is 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA in his last three games against New York.
However, he’s 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in four outings – two starts – at
home.
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