Playing Like Champs
The New York Mets are playing like they’re ready to take complete control of the NL East.
The
first-place Mets try for a fourth consecutive victory as they continue
their home series against the struggling St. Louis Cardinals on
Saturday night.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global
have made New York -130 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 63% of bets for this game have been placed on New York -130 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
One day after regaining sole possession of the
top spot in the division for the first time since April, New York
(56-47) extended its East lead to two games over Florida and
Philadelphia with a 7-2 victory over St. Louis on Friday.
Endy
Chavez had four hits while Carlos Delgado homered for the second time
in four games for the Mets, who have won 14 of their last 17 and
improved to 3-1 on their six-game homestand.
"Now, we’re starting
to play consistent baseball,” New York shortstop Jose Reyes said.
"That’s what we didn’t do in the first half.”
Delgado has eight
RBIs in his last five games, is batting .409 (9-for-22) in his last six
and is 6-for-16 with two home runs and six RBIs in five games versus
St. Louis this season.
"I never really doubted myself, that I
couldn’t hit anymore,” said Delgado, who was batting .228 entering
July, during which he’s hitting .390.
As New York tries to
maintain its run of success, 32-year-old Brandon Knight makes his first
major league start. Knight replaces Pedro Martinez, who returned to his
native Dominican Republic after the death of his father.
Knight,
who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2002 – his second year with the
New York Yankees – went 5-1 with a 1.60 ERA for Triple-A New Orleans
this season.
"If he performs well and we like what we see, he
might be a guy that we consider keeping in some form or fashion," said
manager Jerry Manuel of Knight, who will represent Team USA in next
month’s Olympic Games in Beijing.
The right-hander faces a St. Louis (57-48) team that looks to avoid extending its season-high losing streak to six games.
Ryan
Ludwick and Troy Glaus each drove in a run Friday while Albert Pujols
went hitless for a third straight game for the Cardinals, who have been
outscored 24-11 during their skid.
"There’s nothing wrong with the way we competed,” manager Tony La Russa said.
While
Ludwick is batting .357 (15-for-42) with five homers and 11 RBIs in his
last 11 games, Pujols is 2-for-19 in his last five contests.
The
Cardinals turn to Joel Pineiro (3-4, 4.52 ERA) to help them end their
skid. He allowed three runs and 10 hits in six innings of a 6-3 loss to
Milwaukee on Monday while failing to earn a decision in his second
straight start.
The right-hander is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two career starts versus the Mets.
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