Colorado @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Apr 15, 2010 ) NY Mets 5, Colorado 0
The Colorado Rockies and New York Mets are in the unenviable position of needing to hit a hot streak to avoid fading out of the playoff picture.
One of them is likely to see its status as a contender slipping away by the end of their three-game series, which begins on Tuesday at Citi Field.
The Rockies had pulled within two games of the NL West lead before the All-Star break, but they've posted a 9-14 mark since to slip 6 1/2 games behind the San Diego Padres and 4 1/2 back of the San Francisco Giants. Colorado has turned things around recently, though, winning seven of 10.
The Mets have experienced no such luck. They're 7-16 since the break and have dropped six of their last nine to slip below .500 and fall nine games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
Even at home, where they were dominant early in the season, the Mets have struggled recently - losing three of their last four series at Citi Field.
New York desperately needs to change that to maintain any hope of getting back in the NL East race, and to do so it has to improve its recently anemic offense. The Mets have hit .237 and averaged 2.7 runs in their last seven games.
Perhaps welcoming the Rockies to town will turn things around. Colorado hasn't won a road series since June 28-30, when it took two of three at San Diego, and it's recent record at Citi Field - and for that matter, Shea Stadium - is ugly. The Rockies have lost 21 of their last 24 on the Mets' home field.
They have the right man on the mound to change those fortunes in 26-year-old right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (17-2, 2.61 ERA), who already has matched the franchise record in wins.
After a string of six starts in which he was less than stellar, going 2-1 with a 7.64 ERA, Jimenez has returned to his potential Cy Young Award winning form over his past two starts. He held the Pittsburgh Pirates to one run and four hits over seven innings on July 29, and he did the same to the Giants on Wednesday.
Jimenez is 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA in four starts against the Mets.
Mets starter Mike Pelfrey (10-6, 4.16 ERA) began the year with Cy Young Award worthy numbers, as well, but he hasn't won since June 25. In seven starts since, he is 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA.
Pelfrey might have a tough time ironing things out against a Rockies team that has hit .320 with 14 homers in its past 10 games, though he has been successful against Colorado.
The 26-year-old right-hander is 4-2 with a 3.18 ERA in six starts against the Rockies, and he threw seven scoreless innings to beat them on April 15 in Colorado, a game in which he struck out six and didn't issue a walk.
Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez has led the Rockies' recent offensive binge. In his last 13 games, Gonzalez is hitting .482 with eight homers and 15 RBIs.
Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki also has made a big contribution with his bat, hitting .396 in 12 games since coming off the disabled list July 27. Tulowitzki is 5-for-12 against Pelfrey.
Rockies first baseman Todd Helton also has hit Pelfrey exceptionally well, going 6-for-7 with a homer.