Chicago @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 27, 2012 ) NY Mets 17, Chi. Cubs 1
Johan Santana has enjoyed a sizzling summer. The New York Mets left-hander has won five of his last seven starts and, oh yeah, there was that little matter of tossing the first no-hitter in franchise history on June 1. Santana will look to keep the good times rolling on Friday when he opens a three-game series versus the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field.
Santana's club has also been singing a pretty tune after posting its sixth win in eight games. David Wright, who had four RBIs, capped a ninth-inning uprising with a walk-off single to shallow right field as New York rallied for a 6-5 victory over Philadelphia on Thursday. After the Mets took two of three from the Phillies, they'll face another last-place team in the Cubs. Chicago dropped a 7-3 decision to Atlanta on Thursday to settle for a split in its four-game series.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Travis Wood (3-3, 3.05 ERA) vs. Mets LH Johan Santana (6-4, 2.76 ERA)
Woods has been downright dominant as of late. The 25-year-old did not allow a run in his last two starts while scattering just eight hits over 14 2/3 innings. Wood has won his last three starts to even his record, but has yet to face the Mets in his career.
Santana scattered three hits over eight stellar innings in a 5-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. The 33-year-old Venezuelan fell to 3-1 in his career versus Chicago despite pitching well in a June 25 outing. Santana permitted two runs on five hits and struck out six in the 6-1 loss.
WALK-OFFS
1. Scott Hairston has been torching the competition - and most notably left-handers. He homered for the second straight game on Thursday to take the team lead with 12. Nine of those blasts have come at the expense of southpaws.
2. Chicago fell to 6-18 against left-handed starters after suffering Thursday's setback versus Mike Minor. The Cubs will face southpaws Santana (Friday) and Jonathon Niese (Sunday).
3. With his walk-off hit on Thursday, Wright became the first player to accomplish the feat against both Mariano Rivera and Jonathan Papelbon.