VS.
Friday, June 22 Purchase Tickets Shea Stadium | 7:10 PM ET
OAK Lenny DiNardo, LHP (2-3, 2.21)
Athletics (39-32) @ NYM Tom Glavine, LHP (5-5, 4.67)
Mets (38-32)
Scouting Report:
A's: DiNardo had been flying high after being summoned out of the bullpen to be the A's fifth starter. He had allowed one earned run in his first three starts for Oakland, but ran into his first speed bump in his fourth start on June 16 against the Cardinals. DiNardo allowed five earned runs over 3 2/3 innings and saw his ERA jump to 2.21 from 1.22. DiNardo had allowed just five earned runs all year before doubling that total after Saturday night.
Mets: Glavine's early season woes weren't too troublesome, because the veteran lefty was pitching well through all the tough-luck losses. These woes are different, and far more vexing, as Glavine has now suffered through two poor starts on his stalled quest for 300 wins. He's now allowed 16 earned runs in his past 8 1/3 innings, in what's becoming one of the worst short stretches of his career. And if he's to turn things around, he'll have to do it against an Oakland team that he's never beaten.
Saturday, June 23 Purchase Tickets Shea Stadium | 7:10 PM ET
OAK Joe Kennedy, LHP (2-4, 3.62)
Athletics (39-32) @ NYM Orlando Hernandez, RHP (3-3, 3.08)
Mets (38-32)
Scouting Report:
A's: For the second start in a row, Kennedy lasted only five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) to the Cardinals in his outing on Sunday. Kennedy has had three sub-par starts in his past five, with two terrific starts sandwiched in the middle. He has allowed three earned runs over 15 innings combined in his June 1 and June 6 starts, but has given up 14 earned runs over 14 2/3 innings in his other three starts since May 26.
Mets: Hernandez turned in two brilliant outings after his most recent assignment to the disabled list ended, but El Duque is winless with two losses in his past three starts. He has allowed 10 earned runs in his past two starts over 10 1/3 innings. He blames a lack of command and will try to turn it around against an A's team he's had success against in the past: Hernadez is 5-0 with a 2.68 ERA in his career against Oakland.
Sunday, June 24 Purchase Tickets Shea Stadium | 1:10 PM ET
OAK Joe Blanton, RHP (7-4, 3.43)
Athletics (39-32) @ NYM John Maine, RHP (7-4, 2.90)
Mets (38-32)
Scouting Report:
A's: Blanton continued to pitch well for the A's, going eight innings and allowing one run in a 6-1 win over the Reds. He didn't walk a batter and allowed only one batter to get past second base. In his last four starts, Blaton has pitched 31 1/3 innings, given up only 19 baserunners and has allowed just five earned runs. He has won three of his last four decisions and is 34-7 lifetime when the A's score more than one run in his starts.
Mets: Maine's flawless April form made a reappearance in his last start, when he tossed 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball. That one run was an inherited run, and he allowed just four singles -- two of them infield hits. It was Maine's first win in June after he went 5-0 in April. He'll look for his second against the Athletics, a team that knocked him out in the fifth inning in their only previous meeting.
Must win series to turn our season around. LETS GO METS BABY!!!
Good luck charms..
