Atlanta Braves (50-35) @ New York Mets (47-38)
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Weather Forecast

Pitching Match-Up

Braves Lineup

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Mets Lineup

Team Leaders

Braves Injury Report

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Mets Injury Report

Tidbits of Interest

• YEAR	RECORD	PLACE	GB/GA
  2010	47-38	2nd	-3.0
  2009	42-45	4th	-6.5
  2008	51-44	2nd	-0.5
  2007	48-39	1st	+2.0
  2006	53-36	1st	+12.0

  Into the Break – With three games remaining right the All-Star break, below is a chart of the Mets record during the first half.

• Recent – The Mets are 6-8 over their last 14 games…The Mets are 27-15 (.643) in their last 42 contests, dating back to May 22, tied for the fourth-best winning percentage in the majors…The Mets are tied for the fourth-most wins (47) in the NL with the Rockies and Dodgers….The Braves and Padres are tied for first (50) and the Reds are second (49).
• At Home & Road – The Mets are 6-8 over their last 14 games…The Mets are 27-15 (.643) in their last 42 contests, dating back to May 22, tied for the fourth-best winning percentage in the majors…The Mets are tied for the fourth-most wins (47) in the NL with the Rockies and Dodgers….The Braves and Padres are tied for first (50) and the Reds are second (49).
• Series Notes – The Mets are 16-12 in the first game of a series, including 11-3 in the first game of a series at home…That mark is tied for the best record in the majors in home series opener with San Francisco (11-3)…New York lost its last series to the Reds – it was the first series the Mets lost at home since May 10-12 when they lost two of three vs. the Nationals.
• RISP – Over their last 14 games, the Mets are hitting .318 (35-110) with runners in scoring position, the second-best mark in the majors during this span…Since May 22, the Mets lead the majors with a .323 (123-381) batting average with runners in scoring position…Over those 40 games, the club has hit eight home runs and driven in 160 runs with runners in scoring position…Texas ranks second (.320) during that span…From the start of the year through May 20, the Mets hit .239 (88-368) with runners in scoring position, ranking 25th in the majors…The team also had five home runs and 130 RBI over those 42 games…Overall, the Mets are fourth in the majors with a .282 batting average with RISP…Angel Pagan is sixth in the majors with a .391 (25-64) batting average with runners in scoring position…Mets pitchers have held the opposition to a .231 (175-757) batting average with runners in scoring position, the third-lowest mark in the majors…The Mets are hitting .200 (20-100) with runners in scoing position after the seventh inning which is the fourth-worst mark in the majors behind Arizona (.196), Colorado (.194) and Philadelphia (.134) …Mets pitchers have posted the third-lowest batting average (.197, 27-137) with runners in scoring after the seventh inning.
• Pen Notes – The Mets pen is 10th in the majors with a 3.64 ERA…Also is 18th in the majors with a .254 batting average against…Is tied for eighth in the majors with 14 wins and is tied for fourth in the majors with 17 losses…The pen is seventh in the major leagues with 262.1 innings pitched…New York relievers have fanned 245 batters, fifth most in the majors…They have also walked 127 batters, tied for third most in the majors.
• R. A. Dickey – Became the first pitcher in team history to go 6-0 in his first seven starts…He is 2-0 following a Mets loss this year…Has faced the Braves twice in relief, compiling 3.0 total innings and allowing five runs, earned (15.00
  ERA)…Last faced the Braves in June of 2008 while with Seattle.

This Date in Mets History

Stan Musial hits three home runs as St. Louis beats the Mets, 15-1, at the Polo Grounds on July 8, 1962…Cleon Jones’ strokes a two-run double and Jerry Koosman beats the Cubs, 4-3, at Shea on July 8, 1969 as the Mets pull within four games of first place…Hank Aaron belts his 695th and 696th career home runs as Atlanta tops the Mets, 4-2, on July 8, 1973.

It's George Stone birthdays, both born in 1946.

New York Mets signed free agent Jerrod Riggan on July 9, 1998…Released Darryl Hamilton on July 9, 2001.

Discuss The Game Live at the Mets Paradise Forum!!

Like always,

Atlanta Braves @ New York Mets
	Citi Field

Scouting Report:

BRAVES: After recent forgettable starts against the White Sox and Tigers in which Hanson surrendered 15 total runs, the right-hander was dynamite in his latest outing against the Marlins. In 6 2/3 innings, the 23-year-old allowed just one earned run and five hits.

METS: Allowing just two unearned runs, Dickey outpitched Stephen Strasburg on Saturday in Washington, rebounding from his first loss of the season, but was left with a no-decision. Dickey will look for win No. 7 against the Braves, the lone division foe he hasn't seen.

Scouting Report:

BRAVES: Hudson was recently selected to his third All-Star team and is highly deserving after his successful start in '10. The 34-year-old has allowed just three earned runs in his past two starts combined while completing 15 innings. During that span, he has struck out 13.

METS: Since a perceived snub from the NL All-Star team, Pelfrey has allowed 11 runs in 9 1/3 innings while striking out just four over that stretch. Yet Pelfrey is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA against the Braves this season.

Scouting Report:

BRAVES: Arroyo found himself in an odd situation Saturday at Wrigley Field, as he was pulled after tossing six scoreless innings and 89 pitches. But he wasn't complaining, as he got some rest after a nine-run, 35-minute top of the seventh propelled the Reds to a victory.

METS: Santana went the distance in his last start, striking out five on his way to shutting out the potent Reds offense. He is 1-5 with a 2.25 ERA in nine career starts against the Braves and took a tough loss against them earlier in the year, giving up just two runs in seven IP.

Team Leaders

Braves Injury Report

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Mets Injury Report

Discuss the Game Live at Mets Paradise Forum!

Like always,

This is a big series coming up for the Mets for a couple of reasons. First, the obvious reason, the Mets are playing the Atlanta Braves, the team which they are trailing three games for the division lead. If the Mets manage to win two out of three while they will only gain one game in the standings, they will be two out going into the All Star break, something a lot of Baseball people wouldn’t have predicted. Secondly, it is always good to go into the break on a high note. The Mets are 4-6 in their last 10, and winning 2 out of 3, would be ending the first half on a high note, being 10 games over .500 at 49-39, one game less of 50, with 74 games remaining.  In the remaining 74 games the Mets will be playing,  six games against the Arizona Diamondbacks, seven games against the Houston Astros, 7 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, three against the Chicago Cubs, and four against the Milwaukee Brewers that’s a total of 27 very winnable games, against teams that are at least 10 games under .500.  The Mets also have six more games against the Washington Nationals, and 5 more with the Florida Marlins, two more teams under .500, but two teams who seem to always play well against the Mets.

All that being said, maybe this isn’t such a big series. As mentioned above, the Mets are playing 38 of their 74 remaining games against sub .500 teams, and another 10 against Atlanta, while only three of those 10 are at home.  That’s why there’s the all important second reason. It’s always good to go into the All Star break on a high note, with some momentum, and something to look forward to. So although the Mets will have plenty of opportunity to catch up to the Atlanta Braves in the second half, it is important to go into the second half with that momentum, being only two games back, and will be that much closer to taking over the NL East in the second half. Although the difference between winning two out of three, and losing two out of three, is only two games, us Mets fans certainly know the difference two games makes.

If anyone can explain why the New York Mets can't hit Bronson Arroyo, I'd love to hear it. He always has an ERA in the mid-4's/ low -5's, but he pitches like Cy Young when he faces the Mets. The Mets (47-38) lost 3-1 to the Cincinnati Reds (49-37) and dropped to 3-9 in rubber games this season. Jon Niese was fantastic again, and didn't deserve to get the loss. He went 7.2 innings, giving up three runs on six hits, one walk and eight strike outs. He threw a great game, and got some good defense behind him, but the offense didn't show up for the game. 

Things got off to a good start for the Mets, as Angel Pagan homered to right-center field, his sixth of the year, to give the Mets a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the second, Alex Cora made a great diving catch on a line drive from Chris Heisey, for the second out of the inning. 

The Reds answered back in the top of the third when Brandon Phillips crushed a solo home run to left, to tie the game at 1-1. Ike Davis made a great catch in foul territory earlier in the inning, to get Corky Miller to get the first out of the inning. 

In the bottom of the fifth the Mets got back-to-back singles by Josh Thole and Jesus Feliciano to start the inning. Cora grounded out to first, moving the runners over to second and third. Niese struck out on a high fastball, and Jose Reyes grounded back to Arroyo to end the threat and the inning. 

In the bottom of the sixth David Wright singled with one out, and moved to second base on a ground out by Ike Davis. Jason Bay then came up and crushed a ball to deep right field, but Heisey made a great running catch to steal an RBI double away from Bay. 

How often do you read about a guy making a great catch in the field and hitting a home run the next inning? Whenever we write it that way. Heisey came up in the top of the seventh with one out, and hit a solo home run to left field, giving the Reds a 2-1 lead. Drew Stubbs then trickled a ball down the third base line that stayed fair for an infield hit. With two outs, Arroyo bunted the ball over the Niese's head for an infield hit. Phillips then placed a 3-2 pitch on the right field line for a ground rule double to bring in another run to make it 3-1. 

Francisco Cordero came on for the save in the ninth and Davis greeted him with a hard double to deep right-center field. Bay then popped-up to the first baseman (he heard some boo's from the crowd), and Thole drew a walk. So the Mets had runners at first and second with one out,, Feliciano ripped a ball to center, but he hit it too hard and it stayed up for the out. Cora was left in the game to hit with two outs, instead of bringing in Jeff Francoeur or Rod Barajas who were both on the bench. Jerry Manual felt that Cora was hot and he was getting some key hits for the club. Cora let him down, flying out to the right fielder to end the game, giving the Reds a 3-1 win. 

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

• Bronson Arroyo continues to dominate the Mets, moving to 7-2 all time against them.
• Jon Niese pitched great again, but his team didn't back him up. 

Next Game:

• The Mets will take on their divisional rivals, the Atlanta Braves, as they come to Citi Field for three games before the All-Star game. R.A. Dickey will take on Tommy Hanson in game one of this series. Game time is set for 7:10 PM and will be aired on SNY. The Braves currently have a three game lead on the Mets for first place for the NL East. 

Ken Davidoff reports that the Mets are most interested in Cliff Lee and Ted Lilly. They also like Roy Oswalt, but they don't like how much they'll have to give up, or how much they'll have to pay him. The Mets could also be interested in Brett Myers, but they see him more as a number four in their rotation, and he would be a back-up option if they fail to get Lilly. 

The Mets number one priority is Lee, but the Seattle Mariners are asking for a “mammoth return” for him according to FOX Sports News. The Minnesotta Twins are believed to be frontrunners with their offer of Wilson Ramos and Aaron Hicks, but Joe Christensen reports that the Twins have never made that offer. 

Davidoff also reports that the Chicago Cubs look like they are going to start getting serious in trade talks, and look like they will be sellers rather than buyers at the deadline. Lilly could prove to be their most valuable trade chip, and they could also look to deal Carlos Zambrano. However, due to Zambrano's huge contract, his clubhouse problems, as well having an off year, they won't get a lot in return for the fiery right hander. 

Oswalt is a very interesting story. He has a big contract and he is owed a lot of money so that is scaring some teams away. The Mets, being a big market team, can afford to add a guy like Oswalt, unlike other teams. The Houston Astros are also asking for a lot in return for their ace, so that has also driven a lot of teams away. Oswalt's price might fall lower, and the Mets would have serious interest in him. 

Myers is another pitcher that could help the Mets. He is having a solid year for the Astros with a 6-5 record, 3.57 ERA, 38 walks and 84 strike outs. He signed a one year deal worth $5.1M with a mutual option for $8M in 2011 with a $2M buyout. I feel like he would be more of a last resort option for the Mets, as they have more interest in Lee and Lilly.