Mets Go For Series Sweep Of Giants Against Lincecum

NEW YORK-- The Mets, who own a Major League-best 13-5 home record, will shoot for their third straight series sweep at Citi Field and 10th consecutive home win when they face two-time defending NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum today.

It won't be an easy task, but the Mets are full of confidence in their own yard, and surprisingly won the series from the Giants. The Giants entered the series with an NL-best 17-10 record, now both teams have 17 wins.

The Mets will counter with Oliver Perez, who had a decent start his last time out and will try to at least do his part by limiting the Giants.

The question is, can the Mets do anything offensively against Lincecum, and they may want to get to him early, just like any other pitcher of his caliber.

If Perez can pitch six decent innings, and if the Mets can scratch out a run or two against Lincecum, they may have a chance. The key will be for the Mets to run up Lincecum's pitch count to try to get in to the Giants bullpen before the eighth.

Or maybe the Mets shouldn't care about trailing in their final at-bat. Heck, they just had two different catchers hit walk-off home runs in two consecutive games.

The Mets are still not getting much production from their lineup, besides the eight spot. Angel Pagan, with the exception of some two-run triples, hasn't really done anything as a leadoff hitter. Jose Reyes is still not producing as a three hitter, and the middle of the order is not getting the clutch hits. Those guys must come through on Sunday if they have plans of an impressive sweep.

The Mets will be without their second baseman Luis Castillo presumably, as he bruised his heel on a play at first base in Saturday's win. Alex Cora would be his replacement. The Mets though will get back their home leader Rod Barajas, barring any prolonged bruise to his hand.

This would be a huge statement win if the Mets can pull off a sweep of a red-hot team, capping it off by beating the best pitcher in baseball.

The Mets' bullpen, which had been the team's biggest asset, has begun to show a little wear and tare. Both Fernando Nieve and Pedro Feliciano have come in an given up crucial hits the last couple of games, and Francisco Rodriguez has thrown a lot as well. He came in for two innings on Saturday.

The Mets will enter the game trailing the Phillies by one game in the NL East and the Giants by one-half game in the NL Wild Card race.

Oliver Perez vs. San Francisco (career)

0-5, 7.07 ERA, 42 IP, 45 hits, 26 BB, 27 SO

Tim Lincecum vs. New York (career)

0-1, 5.68 ERA, 19 IP, 22 hits, 8 BB, 20 SO

2010 season series (New York vs. San Francisco)

May 7: New York 6, San Francisco 4

May 8: New York 5, San Francisco 4 (11)

Mets lead series 2-0