Atlanta @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 10, 2010 ) Atlanta 4, NY Mets 0
When their key weekend series began Friday at Citi Field, it seemingly represented an opportunity for the New York Mets to use their home-field advantage to close the gap in the National League East standings.
Now the Mets are scrambling to keep the Atlanta Braves from pulling even farther away.
The surging Braves take a four-game winning streak and a five-game lead into Sunday's series finale, and regardless of today's outcome, the Braves will hold the National League's best record at the All-Star break.
The Mets have lost three straight and their stagnant offense has been a big part of the problem. New York has scored only three runs in the past three games, including a four-hit shutout at the hands of Tim Hudson and a pair of relievers Saturday.
That doesn't bode well for ace left-hander Johan Santana (6-5, 3.15 ERA), who has been the victim of poor run support all season.
The Mets have averaged less than three runs per game in Santana's 18 starts, and the numbers have been even worse lately. In his last eight outings, New York has scored a total of 14 runs - and seven of them came in one game.
Santana hasn't needed much help lately, though. He has allowed only one run in 16 innings over his last two starts, including a three-hitter in a 3-0 win over Cincinnati on Tuesday, his first shutout since 2008.
The Mets' offense didn't give Santana much support in his first meeting with the Braves this season, a 3-2 loss May 18 in Atlanta. In that one, he allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings but didn't factor in the decision.
Tough luck has been the norm for Santana when he faces the Braves. In nine career starts against Atlanta, he has a solid 2.25 ERA but a nasty 1-5 record.
The tough luck has occasionally gone the other way, though. That was the case when Derek Lowe faced the Mets on May 17 at Turner Field and took the loss in New York's 3-2 victory despite allowing three runs and four hits over seven solid innings.
Lowe (9-7, 4.40 ERA) has lost his last two starts, though he pitched well in a 3-1 loss at Philadelphia on Monday, allowing two runs on six hits over seven innings.
The Mets have been a tough opponent for Lowe over the years. He's 3-4 with a 7.01 ERA in 14 games (eight starts) against them.
Lowe won't have to worry about facing Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, who left in the seventh inning of Saturday's game after re-aggravating the strained oblique muscle that recently kept him out of action for six games.
Despite the Mets' recent offensive woes, center fielder Angel Pagan continues to swing a hot bat. Pagan is 12-for-26 with two homers in the past five games.
All-star utility player Omar Infante has been the Braves' hottest hitter during their four-game winning streak. Infante is 11-for-20 with a homer over that span.
First baseman Troy Glaus and outfielder Matt Diaz have the Braves' best track records against Santana. Glaus is 9-for-26 (.346) with two homers and six RBIs against him and Diaz is 12-for-23 (.522) with a homer at his expense.