Mets Looking for Life
The New York Mets struggled for most of June before finishing the month strong. They hope their winless start to July isn’t the beginning of another prolonged slump.
The Mets look to avoid their third sweep in the past four weeks as they complete a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.
Oddsmakers have made New York -140 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for todays game, the over/under has been set at 10ev total runs (Matchup). Our public betting information shows that 61% of bets for this game have been placed on New York -140 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
New York (46-36) was 16 games over .500 before it lost 14 of 18 games June 1-20. The Mets won eight of their next nine, but have dropped three straight to open July.
They have been outscored 22-8, their pitchers have a 7.88 ERA and hitters are batting just .212 in the new month. New York allowed 18 hits in its 11-3 loss to the Rockies on Tuesday.
"After we went through that tough two weeks, to be where we’re at, I’ll take it, but I think there’s room for improvement," third baseman David Wright told the Mets’ official Web site. "We haven’t played consistently the type of baseball we’re capable of."
The Mets, who were swept in three-game series against Philadelphia June 5-7 and the Los Angeles Dodgers June 11-13, haven’t been swept more than twice in a one-month span since Aug. 15-Sept. 15, 2004, when they went 7-24 while suffering two three-game sweeps and two four-game sweeps.
Colorado (41-43) has bounced back from a dreadful road trip with two solid performances at Coors Field. The Rockies lost nine of 10 on the road before returning home, where they have won five in a row and nine of 10.
"Those things run in cycles against teams and we just hope it continues,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
After sweeping the New York Yankees in three games June 19-21, the Rockies can complete their second consecutive home sweep with a win on Wednesday. They haven’t swept back-to-back series at home since taking six in a row from the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cleveland Indians May 27-June 5, 2003.
"To be a good team, you upgrade your game against the best," said third baseman Garrett Atkins, who had a two-run home run and three RBIs on Tuesday. "The Yankees and Mets are among the best."
Second baseman Kaz Matsui, who played for the Mets for 2 1/2 seasons before being traded to the Rockies in June 2006, set a career high with five hits in Tuesday’s win, and is batting .365 in 18 home games.
Matt Holliday, meanwhile, went 2-for-4 to improve his home batting average to an NL-best .400. He has a 23-game hitting streak at Coors Field.
Holliday, though, is just 2-for-14 (.143) with seven strikeouts against Wednesday’s starter Orlando Hernandez (4-3, 2.78 ERA).
Hernandez, who had a 4.86 ERA over the last two seasons, ranks near the top of the NL this year. On Friday, he held Philadelphia to two runs and three hits in six innings to get the decision in the Mets’ 6-5 win.
The right-hander is 3-1 with a 3.14 ERA in five career starts against the Rockies, but several Colorado players have fared well against him. First baseman Todd Helton is 6-for-11 (.545) with a home run in his career against Hernandez, and outfielder Brad Hawpe is 5-for-13 with one homer.
The Rockies will counter with Josh Fogg (3-6, 5.31), who has given up 12 runs in 10 2-3 innings in his last two starts – both losses. The right-hander was tagged for seven runs in 4 2-3 innings on Friday, but didn’t factor in the decision in Colorado’s 9-8 loss at Houston.
Fogg is 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA in six career starts against the Mets.
by: Michael Cash – thespread.com – Email Us
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