The National League East division could look a lot clearer after this weekend. Or it could end up looking even cloudier. The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies meet four times in the next three days, and the outcome of this series will have a huge impact on the NL East.
Heading into a doubleheader Friday, the Phillies (41-37) trailed the NL East-leading Mets (43-33) by three games. The teams play the third game of the series Saturday and the fourth Sunday.
Philadelphia was the slight favorite going into the doubleheader Friday. Bet the Mets-Phillies games this weekend at Bodog.
Not only will the Mets be trying to stay atop the division, they’ll also be seeking revenge after being swept by the Phillies at Shea Stadium in early June. That sweep sent the Mets spiraling into a month that would see them at one point lose 10 of 12.
New York started hurlers Orlando Hernandez and John Maine, respectively, in the first two games on Friday, while Philadelphia countered with J.D. Durbin and Cole Hamels.
On Saturday, the Mets will have RHP Jorge Sosa (ERA: 3.79, W-L: 6-3) on the hill, while the Phillies will start Lefthander J.A. Happ (ERA: 0.00, W-L: 0-0). After two consecutive subpar starts earlier in the month, Sosa limited the St. Louis Cardinals to just one run off six hits over six innings on Monday night. He’s 2-1 with a 3.03 ERA in nine career outings against Philadelphia, including three starts.
Happ will be making his first Major League start. The 24-year-old is 1-2 with a 4.02 ERA after 13 starts with Triple-A Ottawa. The 6-foot-6 left-hander pitched five innings last Sunday for the Lynx and allowed three runs on eight hits.
On Sunday, New York will start LHP Oliver Perez (ERA: 3.14, W-L: 7-6) and Philadelphia will have righthander Kyle Kendrick (ERA: 5.00, W-L: 2-0). Perez recorded a no-decision on Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals, giving up two runs off of five hits. He’ll look for his second win in June on Saturday against the Phillies, who he lost to earlier this season.
Kendrick won his second consecutive start his last time out, against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. He allowed four runs over six innings, but got plenty of run support in the 11-4 win. The Phillies have piled up a combined 28 runs in Kendrick’s three starts since being called up from Double-A Reading. He has lasted six innings each outing, all Phillies wins. Manager Charlie Manuel said after Kendrick’s win against the Reds that the young pitcher was in position to earn a permanent spot in the rotation.
You can bet MLB action this weekend at Pinnacle.
Nick Bailey