Glavine Goes For 300
Ned Yost saw Tom Glavine win in the minors and the World Series, and watched him pick up his 100th and 200th major league victories. He may witness Glavine’s biggest milestone win Tuesday night.
Glavine looks to become just the 11th pitcher in the last 60 years to reach 300 victories as the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers open a three-game series.
The 41-year-old Glavine (9-6, 4.51 ERA) is poised to become baseball’s 23rd 300-game winner, although he’s facing a solid Milwaukee team managed by Yost, the left-hander’s former teammate and coach.
"It’s hard not to step back when you’ve been in this pursuit and the small list of pitchers who have accomplished it," Glavine, who has been with New York (59-46) for the last five of his 20 major league seasons, said of reaching the 300 mark. "The names on that list are pretty special. To look at myself and to think I have an opportunity to join that company, it’s very humbling, very exciting, very cool."
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made New York -110 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for todays game, the over/under has been set at 9 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 68% of bets for this game have been placed on New York -110 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Since 1990, Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens and Maddux are the only pitchers to reach 300 wins. The last pitcher to hit the 300 plateau was Greg Maddux, Glavine’s longtime teammate in Atlanta, who did so in 2004.
Yost was Glavine’s catcher in the Braves’ minor-league system in 1986, the bullpen coach for Atlanta from 1991-98 and third-base coach there from 1999-2002. He was with the Braves for 209 of Glavine’s wins.
"Tommy was always a real polished kid," Yost told the Brewers’ official Web site.
Glavine, though, has only four wins in 12 starts since May 24, posting a 5.43 ERA during that stretch. He has struggled in his last five road outings, going 0-3 with an 11.96 ERA.
A matchup with weak-hitting Pittsburgh helped Glavine pull within one victory of 300 on Wednesday, as he allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings of a 6-3 victory.
Glavine is 6-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 starts against Milwaukee.
Paul Lo Duca may catch Glavine on Tuesday after missing Sunday’s game with a strained hamstring. Lo Duca, hitting .270 with five homers and 31 RBIs, said he tore scar tissue and that he isn’t concerned.
Ramon Castro, who has been productive during his limited playing time, will start behind the plate if Lo Duca can’t go. Castro went 2-for-2 with a home run, a double and two RBIs in the Mets’ 5-0 rain-shortened win over Washington on Sunday.
New York has won two of its last three and has the NL’s best record, and bolstered its lineup Monday with the acquisition of veteran second baseman Luis Castillo from Minnesota. Castillo, a three-time Gold Glove winner, will help solidify the infield defense and adds speed to a lineup that includes major league stolen base leader Jose Reyes.
Milwaukee (57-49), meanwhile, has seen its lead in the NL Central dwindle away after another terrible week on the road. The Brewers led the division by 8 1/2 games before play June 24, but are now only up one game on the Chicago Cubs.
The Brewers dropped their third straight game – all on the road – 9-5 to St. Louis on Sunday. Milwaukee completed a 2-6 road trip, and has lost 14 of its last 19 away from home.
The Brewers hope a return to Miller Park will help them get back on track, as they own the NL’s best home record at 36-17.
"We’re going home and it’s a good chance to get on a roll again," Brewers reliever Derrick Turnbow said.
Jeff Suppan (8-9, 5.08 ERA), who’s 1-4 with a 7.13 ERA in his last 10 starts, will take the ball for Milwaukee. The right-hander gave up five runs and 10 hits in five innings as Milwaukee lost 7-3 to Cincinnati on Wednesday night.
Suppan lost to the Mets 5-4 on May 11, surrendering four runs and six hits in six innings. He’s 3-2 with a 2.81 ERA in seven starts against New York.
by: Dave Michaels – thespread.com – Email Us
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