The New York Mets tonight open a four-game series against the Phillies as Steve Trachsel goes for his fourth straight win.
The Mets are in last place in the NL East at 39-50 (.438) but we're expecting another strong outing from Trachsel and will go with them to win at Shea Stadium tonight or at least lose by just one run.
Trachsel (8-5, 4.10 ERA) has won his last three starts beating the Marlins, Expos and Reds. The 32-year-old right-hander has allowed just four earned runs in his last 20 innings of work and is 4-1 with a 1.50 ERA over his last five starts. In 18 career games against the Phillies he is 7-5 with a 3.24 ERA and since signing with the Mets in 2001 that record improves to 5-2 which includes a 5-0 road win earlier this season.
The Phillies 49-39 (.557) record places them second in the NL East but 8 1/2 games behind the Braves. They had lost four straight before winning the final two games of their series against the Expos.
Vicente Padilla (7-8, 3.93 ERA) counters for the Phillies tonight and looks to bounce back from his poor last start when he allowed five runs and six hits over five innings Saturday in a 5-4 loss to the Florida Marlins. The 25-year-old right-hander is 5-1 with a 3.08 ERA in 14 career games against the Mets.
The Mets are 4-2 against the Phillies this season and while it's tempting to play them tonight as the underdog we will take the security of the +1.5 runs.
Recommended Play: Mets +1.5 -136
The Mets are in last place in the NL East at 39-50 (.438) but we're expecting another strong outing from Trachsel and will go with them to win at Shea Stadium tonight or at least lose by just one run.
Trachsel (8-5, 4.10 ERA) has won his last three starts beating the Marlins, Expos and Reds. The 32-year-old right-hander has allowed just four earned runs in his last 20 innings of work and is 4-1 with a 1.50 ERA over his last five starts. In 18 career games against the Phillies he is 7-5 with a 3.24 ERA and since signing with the Mets in 2001 that record improves to 5-2 which includes a 5-0 road win earlier this season.
The Phillies 49-39 (.557) record places them second in the NL East but 8 1/2 games behind the Braves. They had lost four straight before winning the final two games of their series against the Expos.
Vicente Padilla (7-8, 3.93 ERA) counters for the Phillies tonight and looks to bounce back from his poor last start when he allowed five runs and six hits over five innings Saturday in a 5-4 loss to the Florida Marlins. The 25-year-old right-hander is 5-1 with a 3.08 ERA in 14 career games against the Mets.
The Mets are 4-2 against the Phillies this season and while it's tempting to play them tonight as the underdog we will take the security of the +1.5 runs.
Recommended Play: Mets +1.5 -136