The Pre-Game: Maine vs. Vasquez

Posted on May 4, 2009

Headline: Can the Mets steal a win on a rainy Monday night?

The Rundown:
New York Mets :: 10-13 (4th in NL East, 3.0 GB)
Atlanta Braves :: 11-13 (3rd in NL East, 2.5 GB)

Mets Lineup:

1. Jose Reyes, SS
2. Daniel Murphy, LF
   
3. Carlos Beltran, CF
   
4. Carlos Delgado, 1B
   
5. David Wright, 3B
   
6. Ryan Church, RF
   
7. Ramon Castro, C
   
8. Luis Castillo, 2B
   
9. John Maine, P
   

Pitching Preview:

John Maine -- Maine did his best work since last season in his most recent start, last Monday against the Marlins. He completed the sixth inning for the first time in eight starts, dating to last season, and allowed one hit and an unearned run. The rainout Sunday in Philadelphia changed his next assignment from a team that hasn't beaten him in nine starts to the Braves, against whom he has forged a 2-3 record and 5.17 ERA in four career starts. His three starts at Turner Field have produced a 1-2 record and a 5.40 ERA.

Javier Vasquez -- Vazquez impressed through most of his season-high, eight-inning outing against the Cardinals on Wednesday. But a four-run fifth inning, during which he surrendered six singles, was enough to hand him his first loss in three starts. While notching eight strikeouts, he proved to be much more efficient than he'd been in his previous four starts, during which he needed at least 98 pitches to complete six innings. This will be his first start against the Mets since 2005. In his previous three outings against them, he's 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA.

Prediction: This is a good pitching matchup, the only good one in this series. However, I see Maine continuing to be consistently good. Mets win 5-1. I'm also predicting David Wright has a huge game, if the game gets in.