Coming Up Next For The New York Mets: 5—1 Against The Phillies And Yankees

Three games against the Phillies start tonight. It’s actually a big New York baseball week with the Yankees are playing the Red Sox this week as well. Then the Mets meet in the Bronx for the first Subway Series at the new Yankee Stadium.

It’s a shame Delgado’s going to miss it. He had nine RBI at the place last year.This year with the rate balls fly out of right field, I figured he’d be able to double his home run total for the year this weekend.

We’ll have to settle for Ryan Church and Daniel Murphy knocking a couple out. Fernando Martinez, if he doesn’t connect with one off the crappy Phillies pitching, will have a good shot there. But before the Mets get to the Bronx, they host the defending champs (who the Mets are 3—1 against so far).

Metsblog ran a poll and the pessimists got their voice heard. The poll results showed 2—4 was the expected outcome over the next six, with 4—2 the runner up.

Personally, I’m thinking 5—1.

I know this is overly optimistic given the injuries, but I really think the Mets match up well against these two teams. All four times they’ve faced the Phillies, the Mets have looked liked the better team. Everyone knows that the Phillies strength is offense. Good pitching generally beats good hitting, and I’m confident in Santana and in Pelfrey having a bounce back start. Pelfrey is also more of a ground ball pitcher, which should help against the power numbers of Philadelphia, as will Citi Field.

The big question mark is Redding, who has had both good and bad starts. Supposedly he pitches pretty well against the Phillies, but I don’t know how much stock to take in that. Maybe pitching in Citi Field will help him.

On the other hand, the Phillies aren’t good at pitching. The Mets have hit Happ well, have hit Hamels, and everyone seems to have hit Moyer this year. Their bullpen has been better, but it’s still not great and Lidge has looked awful.

It’s hard to predict a sweep, because anything can happen in baseball. I’d be shocked if the Phillies were to win this series.