Mets 70-73 vs Cubs 62-81 Preview

Mike Pelfrey 7-11, 4.68 ERA

Casey Coleman 2-7, 6.61 ERA

Mets Friday lineup vs. the Cubs: Reyes-SS, Turner-2B, Duda-RF, Wright-3B, Pagan-CF, Bay-LF, Evans-1B, Thole-C, Pelfrey-RHPless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyNew York Mets
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Mike Pelfrey will try to help the Mets take this three-game series on a positive note, by adding to his recent success against the Cubs. The Mets had recently won 10 of their last 13 before heading back to Citi Field to play a doubleheader against the Braves, in which was rescheduled due to the threat of Hurricane Irene last month. The Mets couldn't take advantage of a 4-run first inning yesterday while dropping the opening game 6-5 and failing to put up any kind of fight in game 2, losing 5-1.

“It’s been a disappointing season,” outfielder Jason Bay said. “You can kind of let it be that way or try to use the last month as a stepping stone going into the offseason and feeling a little bit better of what you’re working on in spring training. That was kind of the focus over the last couple of weeks.”

New York will continue this 9-game homestand while they try to bounce back with their seventh win in nine home games against the struggle Chicago Cubs. The Cubs come into Citi Field having won three of four following a 5-12 stretch but have lost 6 of their last 8 on the road. In hopes of another victory for Pelfrey he will look to get the spark from his offense starting with Jose Reyes. Reyes, who leads the NL with his .335 average, is also on an 11-game hit streak since returning from the DL with his 2nd straight strained left hamstring. Jose Reyes is hitting .400 in his last 11 games against the Chicago Cubs and went 1-for-2 vs Casey Coleman during a 7-4 win at Wrigley Field on May 25th.

Jason Bay hit his second grandslam of the season and his third homerun in a week during the opener of the Mets doubleheader on Thursday. Bay went a combinded 3-for-6 in the two losses. He has a 7-game hitting streak in which he is hitting 10-for-23 (.435). During yesterday's doubleheader, Reyes extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a 1st inning single in Game 2 of the twin-bill. Reyes is currently 14-for-43 (.326) during that run. Long time Minor Leaguer Val Pascucci delievered a pinch-hit single yesterday in the eight inning of Game 2 against the Braves, his 1st hit in the major leagues since 2004 with the Expos. Pascucci hit .264 with 21 homeruns and 91 RBIs in 130 games with the Buffalo Bisons (Triple-A Affiliate) this season.

Mike Pelfrey:

• 1-1, 5.40 ERA, 16.2IP 20H 10ER 11BB 8K (Last 3 Games)
• Home (This Year) - 3-3, 3.86 ERA, 77.0IP 75H 33ER 27BB 43K 5HRs .253BAA (12 Starts)
• Career vs Cubs - 2-0, 0.60 ERA, 15.0IP 8H 1ER 4BB 11K .157BAA (2 Starts)

Casey Coleman:

• 0-2, 4.50 ERA, 18.0IP 17H 9ER 8BB 16K 2HRs (Last 3 Games)
• Away (This Year) - 2-3, 4.93 ERA, 38.1IP 44H 21ER 21BB 31K 5HRs .289BAA (8 Games, 7 Starts)
• Career vs Mets - 0-1, 40.50 ERA, 1.1IP 7H 6ER 1BB 0K .636BAA (1 Start)

In Case You Missed It:

• Chris Schwinden made his major league debut in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves and suffered a lose in a 6-5 game. He gave up 5 runs in five innings, and he also admitted his nerves got the best of him. 
• Ike Davis was examined by team doctors Thursday, and it was confirmed that he will not undergo surgery now to repair the bone bruise in his left ankle joint. Ike has been sidelined since May, and he won't play again this season. 
• Jason Bay has two grand slams this season in which he snapped the Mets' slam drought June 28 in Detroit. Bay is the 1st Mets player with 2 grand slams in a season since Fernando Tatis did it in 2009. Tatis' grand slams came in the same inning. 

Quoted by Jason Isringhausen: "It's just been festering for a while. I got it checked out. I have a herniated disk, pinch in the nerve. My foot is kind of numb. No surgery or nothing like that. I'll take a few days off, and now's the time to do it. We have extra guys." - Isringhausen on his ailing back.