Baseball Guru
05-25-2004, 10:11 PM
Philadelphia (24-18) at NY Mets (22-22)
Game Info: 7:10 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2004
TV: CSN, MSG
Starting Pitchers
E. Miltonhttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/mlb/players/4/15/5944.jpg
Phi
5-0/ 4.47-era
vs.
S. Trachselhttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/mlb/players/4/15/5172.jpg
NYM
4-3/ 3.16-era
Two days after Tom Glavine pitched a one-hitter, the New York Mets send a man to the mound who threw two of them last season as Steve Trachsel faces the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a two-game set.
Though Trachsel has pitched well this season, it would seem unlikely he could match Glavine's most recent performance because he's facing a red-hot Phillies offense.
Glavine came within four outs of pitching the first no-hitter in Mets' history, settling for a one-hitter in a 4-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
While Glavine has clearly been New York's best starting pitcher this season, Trachsel, who one-hit both Anaheim and Colorado last summer, has quietly done a solid job in 2004.
Since a poor season debut, Trachsel has a 2.00 ERA in his last eight starts. He's lasted at least six innings in each of those outings, including seven scoreless frames in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to St. Louis.
``Trachs gave us seven zeros -- that's all you can do,'' Mets manager Art Howe said.
Now Trachsel hopes to help lift the Mets above .500 for the first time since they were 5-4 on April 15. They've won eight of 11, and now begin a stretch of 12 consecutive games against the teams they're chasing in the NL East -- Philadelphia and Florida.
``While we were under .500, we were able to stay within striking distance. Now that we're here, there's a sigh of relief and we can get past it,'' Glavine said. ``We have an opportunity to play head to head with these teams and not rely on anyone else for help. It's an important stretch.''
The Phillies have been even hotter than the Mets, winning 12 of 16 to grab first place. They've averaged 7.2 runs over their last 10 games.
Philadelphia hopes to continue getting a lift from a pair of replacements on the right side of the infield.
Chase Utley, called up from the minors when second baseman Placido Polanco went on the disabled list, is batting .304 with four homers and 16 RBIs in 12 games with the Phillies. Tomas Perez has gone 3-for-6 with a two-run homer and a walk in two games starting at first base for injured All-Star Jim Thome.
``We expect that of (ourselves),'' said shortstop Jimmy Rollins, hitting .333 (14-for-42) with 14 runs scored and six steals in the last 10 games.
``You're impressed when you do something above and beyond. We've been getting (production) from our bench, but I'm not impressed. That's what we're supposed to do.''
Game Info: 7:10 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2004
TV: CSN, MSG
Starting Pitchers
E. Miltonhttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/mlb/players/4/15/5944.jpg
Phi
5-0/ 4.47-era
vs.
S. Trachselhttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/mlb/players/4/15/5172.jpg
NYM
4-3/ 3.16-era
Two days after Tom Glavine pitched a one-hitter, the New York Mets send a man to the mound who threw two of them last season as Steve Trachsel faces the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a two-game set.
Though Trachsel has pitched well this season, it would seem unlikely he could match Glavine's most recent performance because he's facing a red-hot Phillies offense.
Glavine came within four outs of pitching the first no-hitter in Mets' history, settling for a one-hitter in a 4-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
While Glavine has clearly been New York's best starting pitcher this season, Trachsel, who one-hit both Anaheim and Colorado last summer, has quietly done a solid job in 2004.
Since a poor season debut, Trachsel has a 2.00 ERA in his last eight starts. He's lasted at least six innings in each of those outings, including seven scoreless frames in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to St. Louis.
``Trachs gave us seven zeros -- that's all you can do,'' Mets manager Art Howe said.
Now Trachsel hopes to help lift the Mets above .500 for the first time since they were 5-4 on April 15. They've won eight of 11, and now begin a stretch of 12 consecutive games against the teams they're chasing in the NL East -- Philadelphia and Florida.
``While we were under .500, we were able to stay within striking distance. Now that we're here, there's a sigh of relief and we can get past it,'' Glavine said. ``We have an opportunity to play head to head with these teams and not rely on anyone else for help. It's an important stretch.''
The Phillies have been even hotter than the Mets, winning 12 of 16 to grab first place. They've averaged 7.2 runs over their last 10 games.
Philadelphia hopes to continue getting a lift from a pair of replacements on the right side of the infield.
Chase Utley, called up from the minors when second baseman Placido Polanco went on the disabled list, is batting .304 with four homers and 16 RBIs in 12 games with the Phillies. Tomas Perez has gone 3-for-6 with a two-run homer and a walk in two games starting at first base for injured All-Star Jim Thome.
``We expect that of (ourselves),'' said shortstop Jimmy Rollins, hitting .333 (14-for-42) with 14 runs scored and six steals in the last 10 games.
``You're impressed when you do something above and beyond. We've been getting (production) from our bench, but I'm not impressed. That's what we're supposed to do.''