Why the Rays Will Sweep the Mets

Nice picture huh? I thought Met fans would love this one.

Too bad he is injured during this series or this would be creating story lines left and right. Maybe they will call him up from Single-A just for this game.

Regardless, here are the pitching matchups for this weekend. 

 

Game One: Sonnanstine (5-6, 6.65 ERA) vs. Nieve (1-0, 2.08 ERA)

Andy Sonnanstine has a terrible ERA this year. However, his last three outings have been very solid, allowing only 10 runs in his last 21 1/3 innings (and one of his starts was in the New Yankee Stadium).

Pitching in the wide open spaces of Citi Field should help Sonnanstine, who is a fly ball pitcher. However, his road ERA is 8.55. 

Fernando Nieve, claimed off waiver wires from the Houtson Astros, will be making his third start with the Mets. His first two have been incredibly productive, as his 2.08 ERA shows.

He has only walked two, and given up just five hits in his 8 2/3 innings of work.

 

Game Two: Shields (5-5, 3.52 ERA) vs. Santana (8-4, 3.29 ERA)

Despite James Shields's 5-5 record, he has pitched consistently well all year, only giving up four or more earned runs in two of his last seven outings.

This is the one Rays pitcher they know will give them six or seven innings, so the Mets will need to jump on him early.

Coming off the worst start of his career, Johan Santana will look to rebound. Besides this one blemish, he has looked outstanding this season and will almost definitely be a candidate for the NL Cy Young Award.

The Rays' 10-14 record against lefties won't hurt Santana either, even though Tampa did beat C.C. Sabathia in the New Yankee Stadium.

This is easily the best pitching matchup of the series. 

 

Game Three: Niemann (6-4, 4.21 ERA) vs. Perez (1-2, 9.97 ERA)

This matchup features two pitchers headed in two completely different directions.

Jeff Niemann has been perhaps the Rays best pitcher of late, allowing only nine earned runs in his last five starts. After a rocky start, the rookie has showed signs of progress—he throws hard, is a heady pitcher, and will look to keep up his impressive streak.

Oliver Perez, on the other hand, is making his first start since coming off the DL, and the Mets are hoping he can give them some quality innings. He hasn't lasted five innings in his past three starts. 

 

The Rays' bullpen continues to improve, allowing only one run over the three-game series with the Rockies. The Rays are favored in two of the pitching matchups (Niemann over Perez, Sonnanstine over Nieve).

Despite Nieve's hot start with the Mets, he was pretty terrible with the Astros, and hadn't started a Major League game since 2006.

The Mets are lacking any consistent scoring, and if they don't score early against the Rays, it should be game over.

Not to mention, the Mets have been slumping—losing four of their last 10—and have been inconsistent at the end of the games, outside of K-Rod.

The Rays will probably get to the New York bullpen early and often, with the exception of the Santana game. Even in that contest, no one knows how he will bounce back from getting pummeled by the Yanks. 

Some of the slumping Rays bats are starting to come around, especially B.J. Upton. Jason Bartlett is back in the lineup and extended his hitting streak to 13 games in Colorado.

With all these factors, and the opposing directions these two clubs are going (Rays have won 12 of their last 18), the Rays should carry this momentum into the weekend.