Oliver Perez’s first chance to “step up” comes tonight against the hottest team in baseball, the Dodgers (10:10, SNY, WFAN).
The Mets (16-13) open a three-game series against Joe Torre’s squad (17-14), who have won eight of their past nine heading into the matchup.
Perez was ripped by teammate Billy Wagner after his prior start lasted 1-2/3 innings, allowing seven runs and five walks in a 13-1 drubbing by the Pirates at Shea.
“Perez has honestly got to step up and know that we’ve just used every guy in our bullpen the night before,” Wagner said. “He can’t come out there and decide that, gee, he hasn’t got it today, and so be it.”
Perez’s inconsistency has been frustrating. He has three starts when he has not allowed a run and three starts when he has been rocked, the past two against the light-hitting Pirates and Nationals.
“I hope he pitches better,” Willie Randolph said. “He should.”
After the 13-1 loss to the Pirates, the Mets bounced back nicely by taking two of three in Phoenix from the Diamonbacks (21-10), who own MLB’s best record.
The Dodgers got off to a slow start in Torre’s first season before this recent tear. Their winning streak reached eight games before a loss yesterday to the Rockies.
“I certainly feel much better about the team,” Torre said. “Coming to the park expecting to win is a nice way to feel, and I expect we’ll get another streak started [today].”
Randolph, who coached under Torre with the Yankees, said he looks forward to the challenge of playing a team on fire.
“You always want to test yourself against the best competition around,” Randolph said. “And I think that makes us better, too, when we have to go up against the best.”
Tonight’s Pitching Matchup:
Mets LHP Oliver Perez (2-2, 4.03 ERA) Perez’s downfall has been the base on balls. Against the Pirates, Perez allowed two hits but seven walks in the short stint. Even when he has been effective, his outings have been limited by the amount of walks he has allowed. He has not made it to the seventh inning this season.
Dodgers RHP Chad Billingsley (1-4, 5.20 ERA) Billingsley picked up his first win of the season in his previous start against the Marlins on Wednesday. After starting the year in the bullpen, Billingsley has made five starts, striking out at least eight batters in each of his previous four.
With MLB.com