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Red Sox Series Preview: At The Mets

By Brandon Nickel

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The Boston Red Sox (58-69) make their way from Chicago to play the red-hot New York Mets (71-56). The Red Sox put together a 6-4 run at the same time that the Mets won seven games in a row.

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The Mets are almost a completely different team, now that the trade deadline has come and gone. With their new additions and the stars they already had, the Mets have overtaken the Washington Nationals for the National League East division by 6.5 games. With a fan base as hungry for postseason play as the Mets, the Red Sox will be in tough to try to take a victory from them.

The Red Sox, themselves, have been playing more inspired baseball. Not as productive as say the Mets’ hitters, but Boston’s youth has shined bright in the darkest of moments. This season, the black clouds have hung over Beantown for a long time, and the end doesn’t get any easier with each division opponent on the horizon.

But first, they have to get through the Mets. Let’s look at the tale of the tape:

Pitching Matchups @ Citi Field

August 28th @ 7:10 PM

  • Henry Owens (2-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Matt Harvey (11-7, 2.57 ERA)

August 29th @ 4:05 PM

August 30th @ 1:10 PM

  • Wade Miley (10-10, 4.51 ERA) vs. Noel Syndergaard (8-6, 3.19 ERA)

Projected Lineup For Today’s Game:

Tim Britton’s Twitter says, “New Red Sox lineup v. Harvey: Betts, Sandoval, Bogaerts, Ortiz, Holt, Castillo, Swihart, Bradley, Owens.”

Hanley Ramirez was scratched for an undisclosed reason, just recently.

Series Notes:

  • It’s the first time that these two teams have met in six years. The historic franchises have big fan bases, and with the way that the Mets are playing, expect a sell-out of informed Met supporters each night.
  • After two days off, Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz will be playing as the first baseman, with the National League rules in effect at Citi Field.
  • Both Pablo Sandoval and Alejandro De Aza have never earned a hit against Harvey in a combined seven at-bats in their time in the NL. Hanley Ramirez has a home run in only two at-bats against deGrom. Nobody on the team has faced Syndergaard. Experience may be out the door as an advantage, except when it comes to pressure.
  • The same goes for the Mets, with only Michael Cuddyer and Juan Uribe having any extended experience against one of the Red Sox pitchers. Cuddyer hit .235 in 17 at-bats and Uribe hit .227 in 22 at-bats against Miley, but that’s with Miley on the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Mets lineup is much different and harder to navigate than what Miley remembers, as well.

Key Hitters:

Aug 26, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Rusney Castillo (38) at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports

Red Sox – Rusney Castillo & Travis Shaw

  • In four games, Castillo has hit .429 with two home runs and eight RBIs. He has improved greatly since wallowing in Triple-A Pawtucket, earlier this season. However, he will have to show that same success against the Mets’ righty starters, as Castillo is only hitting .267 against that type of pitching.
  • Shaw has hit terribly lately, and wouldn’t even be a consideration at the plate except for what he’s still accomplished. He has one home run and five RBIs on only five hits in the last seven games. Even though he has a .179 batting average in that span, he’s been putting the ball in play when runners were in scoring position, cashing in important runs late in games. With Ortiz moving to first base, it will be interesting how long Sandoval stays at third, with Shaw having success when he hasn’t.

Mets – Yoenis Cespedes & David Wright

Aug 27, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Mets third baseman David Wright (5) at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

  • The Red Sox will see an old friend, as Cespedes was traded to the Mets at the deadline from the Detroit Tigers. Boston traded him last season for Rick Porcello. We’ll forget how that turned out and concentrate on Cespedes. The outfielder has hit .295 with 26 homers and 84 RBIs this season. In the last three games against the Philadelphia Phillies, Cespedes hit two home runs and four RBIs, as he continues to be an RBI machine for the Mets, whom were looking for a big offensive threat down the stretch. Don’t expect him to take an off-day either, as Cespedes will be looking to punish the team that traded him so quickly, last season.
  • Wright, also known to some as Captain America, has returned from injury and has already started leading by example, once again. In the last three games, Wright has hit a home run, an RBI, while earning three walks and crossed the plate for his team five times. He’s one of the toughest players at third base and will be a tough out for the Red Sox at the dish. Wright’s been stewing at home during his injury, and he will not want to strike the iron cold for the rest of the year. Expect Wright to be on his game in this series.

Predictions:

Game One Winner – Mets

  • Owens will have a tough time in a new location, with ravenous Mets fans cheering a well-rested Harvey on the mound.

Game Two Winner – Red Sox

  • Kelly will dominate like he has the last few games, especially since he has experience playing against the Mets in his time with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Game Three Winner – Red Sox

  • It will be a close affair, but Miley’s performances up to the sixth inning have been pretty good, lately. If the bullpen can hold on, the Red Sox bats may wake up enough to pound Syndergaard out of the game early and they can keep the lead for the win.

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