The first day of summer arrived yesterday and the Mets (39-30) would have been in the playoffs had the season been over. How do they get to the final day of the regular season in the same position?
The good news for the Mets is they are returning for six games to Citi Field — where they have the major league’s best home record, 24-10. More good news is that they will continue in interleague play, in which they are an NL-best 9-3.
But there’s bad news, too: Those six games are against the class of the AL Central, the Tigers and Twins.
“As good as we’ve been at home, it’s a good chance to keep that going against two real good teams,” Jeff Francoeur said after the Mets completed a 7-2 road trip with a loss to the Yankees on Sunday.
Tonight might as well be a continuation of the Subway Series for the Mets. After facing Phil Hughes and CC Sabathia on successive days, they get another ace in Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander, who faces Jon Niese. The Mets will begin play with a half-game lead on San Francisco in the NL wild-card race and trailing Atlanta by 2½ games in the NL East.
Niese’s development is among the Mets’ most significant storylines in a season that has included Oliver Perez and John Maine disappearing into black holes. Niese (4-2, 3.64) has become the dependable third starter the Mets will need to keep their playoff push alive, as general manager Omar Minaya contemplates a trade market headlined by Cliff Lee’s availability.
Niese was almost as proud of his start in Cleveland last Wednesday — he allowed three earned runs over seven innings — as he was of his one-hit shutout against the Padres a week earlier.
“I limited the damage, not having my best stuff,” Niese said. “I kept the team in the game and fortunately we scored a lot of runs.”
The Tigers trail Minnesota by 1½ games in the AL Central and can relate to the Mets’ home-road dichotomy. Manager Jim Leyland’s crew is 25-11 at home, but only 13-19 on the road. When dissecting Detroit’s lineup, start with Miguel Cabrera’s 19 homers and 60 RBIs.
Verlander (8-4. 3.54 ERA) has won his last three starts, including last Wednesday, when he struck out a career-high 11 batters in a victory over the Nationals. The righty has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts.
For Niese, it represents a rare opportunity to face another team’s ace.
“I’m just going to do what I can do to keep the team in the game,” Niese said. “That’s all I can control. I can’t control how the other guy pitches.”
Niese relied heavily on his curveball while dominating the Padres at Citi Field 12 days ago, but that pitch wasn’t a major part of his arsenal at Cleveland last week. Niese still managed a third straight victory since leaving the disabled list.
“I did well without my best stuff,” Niese said. “If I command my pitches I have a good chance to keep the team in the game.”