Jorge Sosa vs. Jeff Suppan
Scouting Report:
Brewers: Suppan worked 5 2/3 innings against the Pirates last weekend, made a highlight-worthy defensive play and hit an RBI single to win his fifth straight start. So far the Brewers' biggest investment ever has paid off; Suppan's 2.63 ERA led Brewers starters after his most recent outing. He survived a sixth-inning scare against the Pirates when a Ryan Doumit smash ricocheted off both Suppan's ankles, but after the game the right-hander said he was feeling fine.
Mets: Sosa's Mets debut was unexpectedly effective. He commanded his slider and pitched into the seventh inning, allowing four hits, two runs -- they scored after his departure -- and two walks while striking out three. With Orlando Hernandez now not expected back from the disabled list so quickly, Sosa is in line for a second start.
Mike Pelfrey vs. Ben Sheets
Scouting Report:
Brewers: Sheets took a no-decision in his last start and continued to struggle with his usually-sharp curveball. He pitched six scoreless innings against the Pirates, then surrendered a two-run home run with one out in the seventh to Chris Duffy, who snapped an 0-for-17 slump. Strikeouts continue to be hard to come by for Sheets, who set a franchise record with 264 strikeouts in 2004, his last full, healthy season, and averaged 9.85 strikeouts per nine innings last year. He set a season high against the Pirates with five strikeouts, but in 42 1/3 innings this season, he has fanned only 21 batters.
Mets: Pelfrey endured trouble in the first inning for the fourth straight start, and, for the second straight start, he pitched effectively thereafter. Better support -- offensively and defensively -- might have spared him, but he could have done more, too. He is finding himself gradually.
Chris Capuano vs. Oliver Perez
Scouting Report:
Brewers: Capuano is the first Brewers starter to begin a year 5-0 since Bill Wegman in 1994, and Milwaukee has won all seven of his starts this season. He scattered seven hits in eight-plus innings against the Nationals on Monday and became the fourth Major Leaguer to reach five wins with no losses. Working with a good fastball and changeup but without his sharp slider, Capuano had a chance for his third career shutout before Ryan Zimmerman and Ryan Church led off the ninth inning with consecutive singles and prompted a call to the bullpen. Capuano is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in three starts against the Mets.
Mets: Perez was undone by his defense in his most recent start on Monday night against the Giants. But even if all eight of the runs he allowed had been unearned -- only six were -- some of the responsibility was his. He made Barry Bonds look bad for the last out of the fourth inning then retired only two of the next 10 batters.
