Need For Some Relief
The New York Mets seem to be getting their starting pitching in order lately. Their bullpen, however, is only getting worse.
With a relief corps that can’t seem to get anyone out, the Mets will try to avoid their seventh loss in eight games on Friday when they welcome the Texas Rangers to Shea Stadium for the first time.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made New York -148 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 9.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 96% of bets for this game have been placed on New York -148 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
New York (31-34) was two games above .500 on June 5 when it traveled to San Diego, but a four-game sweep at the hands of one of baseball’s worst offenses could hardly be blamed on the Mets’ pitching. New York allowed just two runs in each of the first three losses, but each time could only put up one run itself.
Lately, however, the Mets’ struggles haven’t started until their closer has entered. Billy Wagner has blown three straight save chances, the latest coming on Thursday against Arizona. New York began the ninth at Shea Stadium up 4-2, but left with a 5-4 loss in 10 innings, its sixth in seventh games.
"It’s frustrating," said Wagner, third among active relievers with 371 career saves. "I stink right now.”
Wagner’s last two blown saves – the Mets rebounded to win 5-3 after he allowed two ninth-inning runs on Wednesday – have come following excellent starting efforts.
Mike Pelfrey allowed just a run and pitched into the ninth on Wednesday before Wagner entered. On Thursday, it was ace Johan Santana pitching seven shutout innings while striking out 10.
The Mets’ 4.14 bullpen ERA is 13th in the NL. In losing six of their last seven, the relievers have a 7.43 ERA, and Wagner is 0-1 with a 23.14 ERA in his last three appearances.
"We’re in one of those bad ruts where the baseball gods are not good to you,” manager Willie Randolph said. "We’ve got to find a way.”
New York will turn to perhaps its most inconsistent pitcher on Friday.
Oliver Perez (4-4, 5.37 ERA) has allowed the second-most walks in the majors (45) and has given up 11 homers in his last seven starts. He gave up six runs while lasting just one-third of an inning on June 2, but pitched better in his last outing. Perez allowed only a run and four hits in 5 1-3 innings at San Diego on Saturday in the Mets’ 2-1 loss.
Texas (34-34) will make its first-ever trip to Shea Stadium in the venue’s final season, and – just like New York – is coming off a blown lead late in its most recent game.
The Rangers led Kansas City 5-4 on Thursday as they looked to complete a three-game sweep and win their fourth straight overall, but Frank Francisco gave up two in the eighth and Texas lost 6-5.
The loss ruined the Rangers’ chance to climb a season-high two games above .500.
"It is hard," manager Ron Washington told the team’s official Web site, "but we’ve been in position, and I certainly feel like we’re going to get over that hump."
The Rangers are baseball’s highest scoring team, averaging 5.6 runs, and they should get Milton Bradley – the AL’s leading hitter – back in the lineup on Friday.
Bradley, who’s hitting .444 with five homers and 11 RBIs in his last eight games, was given the day off Thursday, one day after he stormed up four flights of stairs looking for a Royals’ broadcaster who had made some negative comments about him.
Texas will counter Perez with Scott Feldman (1-2, 4.31), who has won only once in eight starts. But he’s coming off an impressive outing, limiting Tampa Bay to just two runs on five hits over seven innings on Saturday.
He didn’t factor in the decision in the Rangers’ 5-4 loss.
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