New York Mets will face the Philadelphia Phillies, WATCH FREE: Major League Baseball Live Streaming Online from Citizens Bank Park at 7:05 PM ET
The Mets and Phillies have each won six of eight ahead of Tuesday night's tilt at Citizens Bank Park. But New York may have the edge if Jonathan Niese can continue the Mets' run of strong pitching.
The Mets (14-11) have posted a 2.19 ERA over their last eight contests, including seven quality starts. Only once in the past 12 games has a starter surrendered more than three runs after Dillon Gee gave up three singles over eight innings in a 4-0 home win over Miami on Sunday.
The rotation was also a strong point in 2013 with 94 quality starts, which tied Cincinnati for second-most in the NL.
"I said it in spring training -- that we were going to have to lean on our starting pitching, and they haven't disappointed, that's for sure," David Wright told the team's website. "We are where we are right now because of them."
Niese (1-2, 2.45 ERA) has been one of New York's most reliable arms. His record doesn't necessarily show it, largely because of a 2.81 run-support average. The left-hander comes off his first victory, yielding one run over 6 2/3 innings in a 3-2 win over St. Louis on Wednesday.
He has a 1.52 ERA in his last four starts versus Philadelphia but is 1-4 with a 5.91 ERA in his last six at Citizens Bank.
Niese might be able to look to Wright for some run support despite the third baseman's recent struggles. Wright is 3 for 22 over his last six after a 12-game hitting streak, but he's 13 for 25 in his last six matchups with the Phillies with five homers and nine RBIs. He is batting .383 with 15 extra-base hits in 25 games at Philadelphia since the start of 2011, and the Mets have won 14 of 19 there.
Wright has hit .349 lifetime off Tuesday's starter, Cole Hamels and three of his five homers against him have come in the past two seasons as he's gone 10 for 24.
The Phillies (13-12) will enter Tuesday having played an NL-low nine home games, going 4-5. They are coming off a season high-tying 10-game trip, winning six of the final eight while hitting .281 with 19 doubles.
The game will live stream online at gofirstrowus.eu/sport/baseball.html
