New York @ St. Louis preview
Busch Stadium
Last Meeting ( Mar 30, 2010 ) St. Louis 9, NY Mets 4
Looking for ways to make the middle of the offense more productive, the New York Mets might unveil a new No. 3 hitter for Friday night’s game in St. Louis – shortstop Jose Reyes.
Reyes has typically batted in the leadoff spot when healthy over the past five seasons. Now shortly after returning to action following a thyroid condition, Reyes is about to find himself in a new role.
Mets manager Jerry Manuel has thought about making the move in the past but never acted on it. The timing appears right to give it a shot with outfielder Carlos Beltran (knee) sidelined into May and nobody happy with the Mets offense.
Reyes had his second two-hit game in the last three games in Thursday’s victory over the Colorado Rockies and looks like he’s close to finding his groove.
The two-time All-Star showed more pop than what a typical leadoff man provides from 2005-08 before a hamstring injury ended his 2009 campaign after 36 games.
Reyes had 60 or more extra-base hits in three consecutive seasons, including a career-high 72 in 2008 when he batted .297 with 16 homers and 68 RBIs.
The flip side is what the Mets lose at the top of the order. Reyes stole a career-best 78 bases in 2007 and averaged 113 runs scored from 2005-08.
New York’s leadoff options will come from the center field platoon of Gary Matthews Jr. and Angel Pagan. Matthews is hitting .176 and Pagan is batting .208.
St. Louis starter Chris Carpenter probably wouldn’t mind seeing someone other than Reyes as the first hitter tonight when the three-game series begins.
Carpenter has won 15 or more games four times since coming over to the National League in 2004 but has only beaten the Mets once in five career starts against them.
After going 17-4 with a 2.24 earned-run average last season, Carpenter (1-0) is making his third start of the season. He has allowed five homers over his first two starts after giving up just seven in 192 2/3innings in 2009.
Carpenter gave up two solo homers in his season-opening victory over Cincinnati and yielded three more against Milwaukee on Sunday. Carpenter allowed seven runs (five earned) in five innings while getting a no-decision against the Brewers.
As usual, first baseman Albert Pujols is leading the St. Louis attack. Pujols is batting .400 through nine games with five homers and 15 RBIs.
New York will send left-hander Oliver Perez to the mound to oppose Carpenter. Perez is making his second start of the season after allowing four runs in 5 2/3 innings in a loss to the Washington Nationals on Saturday.
Perez is 2-5 with a 4.84 ERA in 13 career starts against St. Louis.