Arizona Diamondbacks (38-64) @ New York Mets (52-51)
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Weather Forecast

Pitching Match-Up

Diamonbacks Lineup

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Mets Lineup

Team Leaders

Diamondbacks Injury Report

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Mets Injury Report

Tidbits of Interest

• Recent – New York is 4-11 in its last 15 games and 5-15 over its last 20 contests…New York is 11-21 over its last 32 games…The Mets have lost four straight to the Diamondbacks…After June 27, when the Mets were a season-best 11 games over .500, they have gone 9-19 and have been shut out five times this month.
• Home Cooking – The Mets are 4-6 in their last 10 home games…New York is 18-9 in its last 27 home games and 28-13 in its last 41 games at Citi Field…Overall, the Mets are 32-18 and have the seventh-best winning percentage (.640) in the majors at home.
• Series Notes – The Mets are 9-7 in the second game of a series after losing the first game, including 4-2 in such contests at home…The Mets are 8-17 in July, after going 18-8 in June, 12-17 in May and 14-9 in April.
• Offense – The Mets are hitting .209 (112-535) with 48 runs scored, 20 doubles, two triples and 15 home runs in 15 games since the All-Star break…The Mets are 4-11 in these games…New York is batting .227 (199-875) with 83 runs scored and 20 home runs in 25 games this month…New York has scored four or more runs in each of its four games during this homestand after plating four or more runs three times during its 11-game road trip from July 15-25…The Mets are hitting .245 (36-147) with seven home runs and 25 RBI in four games this homestand…New York batted .196 (76-388) with eight home runs and 22 RBI in 11 games during the road trip…The Mets have hit seven home runs over their last four games…New York has hit a home run in a season high-tying four straight games…The Mets also hit a home run in four consecutive games from June 11-15 and May 4-8…The Mets are 32-22 when they go deep, including 20-8 at Citi Field…The Mets are 11-11 overall and 5-2 at home when they hit two or more home runs in a game this season
• RISP – New York was 2-8 with runners in scoring position last night…The Mets are hitting. .278 (10-36) during this homestand with runners in scoring position after batting .154 (10-65) with RISP during their 11-game road trip, July 15-25…New York is batting .212 (41-193) in July with runners in scoring position, ranking 27th in the majors…The Mets finished June with a .324 (70-216) batting average with RISP, the fourth-best mark in the majors during the month…Overall, the Mets are 12th in the majors with a .266 (235-883) batting average with runners in scoring position…New York is batting .220 (92-418) with runners in scoring position and two outs, ranking 26th in the majors…The Mets are hitting .183 (21-115) with runners in scoring position after the seventh inning, ranking 28th in the majors…
• Pitching – The Mets allowed four earned runs and five unearned runs last night…Over the last 11 games, New York’s pitching staff has posted a 2.55 ERA (28 earned runs/98.2 innings)…The Mets are 3-8 in those games …Since July 6, Mets pitchers have recorded a 3.15 ERA (65 earned runs/185.2 innings) the second-best mark in the majors over that span…New York is 6-14 in these games.
• Bullpen – New York’s pen allowed four unearned runs last night…Over the last 10 games, New York’s bullpen has posted a 1.23 ERA (five earned runs/36.1 innings) but is 0-5…Since July 7, the Mets pen has pitched to a 2.43 ERA (17 earned runs/63.0 innings)….New York ranks eighth in the majors with a 3.42 bullpen ERA (123 earned runs/324.0 innings).

This Date in Mets History

Darryl Strawberry hit a two-run first inning home run as the Mets defeat Pittsburgh, 2-1, on July 31, 1988.

It's Billy Wynne birthday, who was born in 1843.

Toronto Blue Jays claimed Lee Mazzilli of the New York Mets on waivers on July 31, 1989…New York Mets traded Rick Aguilera, Dave West, Kevin Tapani, Tim Drummond and Jack Savage to the Minnesota Twins for Frank Viola on July 31, 1989…New York Mets traded Bret Saberhagen and David Swanson to the Colorado Rockies for Juan Acevedo and Arnold Gooch on July 31, 1995…New York Mets traded Leo Estrella to the Toronto Blue Jays for Tony Phillips on July 31, 1998…New York Mets traded Bernard Gilkey and Nelson Figueroa to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Willie Blair and Jorge Fabregas on July 31, 1998…New York Mets traded Bill Pulsipher to the Milwaukee Brewers for Mike Kinkade on July 31, 1998…New York Mets traded Craig Paquette to the St. Louis Cardinals for Shawon Dunston on July 31, 1999…New York Mets traded Brian McRae, Rigo Beltran and Tom Johnson to the Colorado Rockies for Darryl Hamilton and Chuck McElroy on July 31, 1999…New York Mets traded Jason Isringhausen and Greg McMichael to the Oakland Athletics for Billy Taylor on July 31, 1999…New York Mets traded Bobby Jones, Jason Bay and Josh Reynolds to the San Diego Padres for Jason Middlebrook and Steve Reed on July 31, 2002…New York Mets traded Jay Payton, Mark Corey and Robert Stratton to the Colorado Rockies for John Thomson and Mark Little on July 31, 2002…New York Mets traded Scott Erickson to the Texas Rangers for Josh Hoffpauir on July 31, 2004…New York Mets traded Xavier Nady to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Oliver Perez and Roberto Hernandez on July 31, 2006.

Discuss the Game Live at Mets Paradise Forum!

Like always,

Here were all the trade around baseball. Today, before 3:00 PM was the last day teams could trade players without them having to go through waivers:

• Jayson Stark reports that the Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot from the Chicago Cubs for Blake DeWitt, Brett Wallach, and Kyle Smit. The Cubs wanted Josh Thole from the Mets for Lilly and the Mets didn't want to part with him… can't blame them.
• Jon Heyman reports that the Mets offer the Cubs Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo for Carlos Zambrano, but the Cubs turned it down because they didn't want Castillo. Does that mean they wanted Perez? Because they can have him.
• The St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians pulled off a three-way deal today. Jake Westbrook (CLE) and Nick Greenwood (SAN) go to the Cardinals, the Padres get Ryan Ludwick (STL), and the Indians get prospect Corey Kluber (SAN). The Indians send cash to the Cardinals and some cash to the Padres, but they still save money in the deal.
• FOX Sports reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Arizona Diamondbacks completed a five players deal. Arizona sends catcher Chris Snyder, minor league prospect Pedro Ciriaco, and $3MM to the Pirates for reliever D.J. Carrasco, Bobby Crosby, and ex-Met Ryan Church.
• Buster Olney reports that the New York Yankees acquired Kerry Wood from the Indians for a player to be named later or cash. The Yankees are picking up $1.5M of the $3.71M left on Wood's contract. The Yankees will also pay Wood $200K if he can stay healthy. To make room for Wood the Yankees designated Chan Ho Park for assignment.
• Dan Connolly reports that the Florida Marlins have acquired Will Ohman from the Baltimore Orioles for Nick VandenHurk.
• Brian McTaggart reports that the Houston Astros are close to a multi-year deal with Brett Myers. The Astros wanted Josh Thole and Bobby Parnell from the Mets for Myers.
• The Atlanta Braves acquired outfielder Wilkin Ramirez from the Detroit Tigers for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
• Jayson Stark reports the Dodgers have acquired Octavio Dotel from the Pirates for Andrew Lambo. The Pirates wanted Robert Carson from the Mets for Dotel.
• Rob Bradford reports that the Boston Red Sox trade Ramon Ramirez to the San Francisco Giants for Daniel Turpen.
• Ed Price reports that the Braves have acquired Rick Ankiel and Kyle Farnsworth from the Kansas City Royals for Jesse Chavez, Gregor Blanco, and Tim Collins.
• Andrew Baggarly reports that the Giants have acquired Javier Lopez from the Pirates for Joe Martinez and John Bowker.
• Dan Roche reports that the Red Sox was acquired Jarrod Saltalamacchia for the Rangers for Roman Mendez, Chris McGuinness, a player to be named later and cash.
• The White Sox, Rays and Angels all asked about Manny Ramirez. But Bob Nightengale reports that the Ramirez will stay with the team for the rest of the year.
  
• Brett Myers, Jose Bautista, Adam Dunn, Corey Hart, Luke Scott, Brandon League, Chone Figgins, and Manny Ramirez were all not traded. 

Ken Rosenthal reports that the Tampa Bay Rays have acquired Chad Qualls from the Arizona Diamondbacks for a player to be named later.

The Rays will pay all the money remaining on Qualls contract, which is $1.48M.

The Mets were interested in Qualls, but I'm guessing they didn't want to pay for his contract or the just didn't want him because he's bad.

I feel like if the Mets wanted to get him, they could have made an offer.

Saturday, July 31st:

8:43 AM:

Rosenthal reports that the Cubs have multiple offers on the table for Lilly. The Dodgers are still actively talking, but they are far apart on money and players.

Friday, July 30th:

3:18 PM:

Rosenthal adds that the Dodgers are more interesting in trading just for Lilly, rather than Lilly and Theriot.

3:13 PM:

Dylan Hernandez reports that the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs talks for Ted Lilly are heating up. It was reported that Ryan Theriot could be in the deal as well, but Hernandez says that they are talking about another position player instead of Theriot.

Ken Davidoff reports that the Mets are still in contact with the Cubs for Lilly, but a deal at this point does not look likely.

Yesterday Jon Heyman reported that the Cubs wanted Josh Thole for Lilly. I'm sure the Mets turned that deal down. They also asked about Tom Gorzellany but the Cubs do not want to trade him.

Ken Rosenthal reports that the Minnesota Twins also have interest in acquiring Lilly.

Jayson Stark adds that the Detroit Tigers are interested in Lilly as well as another mystery team.

Listen to Audio Commentary HERE

The New York Mets (52-51) lost to the Arizona Diamondback (38-64) tonight by the final score of 9-6.

Here are the highlights from the game:

• Mike Pelfrey gave up three runs in the first inning on four hits and one walk.
• The Mets came right back in the bottom of the inning with a three run bomb by David Wright, to make it 3-3. It was Wright's 16th home run of the year.
• Pelfrey gave up another run in the top of the third on a Stephan Drew double, to make it 4-3.
• Wright struck again in the bottom of the third, crushing a two run home to center field to make it 5-4.
• The DBacks then busted the game open in the top of the sixth inning. With one out the pitcher Ian Kennedy hit a ground ball to Jose Reyes and the ball went between his legs for an error. Pelfrey got the next batter to fly out, which would have ended the inning if Reyes didn't make that error. Jerry Manuel then pulled Pelfrey out of the game and replaced him with Raul Valdes. He didn't have anything, and gave up a two-run home run to Kelly Johnson, the first batter he faced, to make it 6-4. He then gave up back-to-back singles and then a long three-run home run to Miguel Montero to make it 9-5.
• In the bottom of the seventh inning Angel Pagan singled, to score Jose Reyes from third, who doubled. The RBI single cut the DBacks lead to 9-6.
• With Reyes on second and Wright on deck, Pagan had a long at-bat, but lined out to to right field to end the game, giving the DBacks a 9-6 victory.
• The DBacks are 4-9 in their last 13 games, all their wins coming against the Mets.

To view the full box score, click here. To discuss the game in our forum, click here.

W: Kennedy (6-8)   L: Valdes (2-3)   S: Heilman (4)

Next Game:

• The Mets will look to even up the series against the Diamondbacks, taking them on in game two of this three game series. The Mets will send Hisanori Takahashi to the mound to take on Barry Enright. Game time is set for 7:10 PM and the game will be aired on WPIX.