Mets at Phillies
The Mets' surprising start continued when they took Cliff Lee deep twice on Friday, and they'll try to keep it up against the division rival Phillies on Saturday. New York won 5-2 in the series opener to keep pace with NL East leader Washington, which maintained its half-game lead over the Mets with a 13-inning win against Cincinnati on Friday.
The Mets already have made a statement by sweeping Atlanta in a three-game series to start the season, and now have a chance to claim a series from another division power. The Phillies have struggled to score runs with sluggers Ryan Howard and Chase Utley on the disabled list. They've scored four runs or fewer in six of their seven games and two or fewer on four occasions.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), CS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jon Niese (1-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Vance Worley (0-0, 1.50 ERA)
Niese made the Mets look good for giving him a five-year, $25.5 million extension before his last start as he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and beat the Braves despite giving up four runs (three earned) in the seventh. The left-hander struggled at Citizens Bank Park last season, going 0-3 with a 10.05 ERA in three starts.
Worley won 11 of his first 12 decisions to finish third in the Rookie of the Year voting last year and has picked up where he left off. He held the Pirates to one run on five hits over six innings but didn't get a decision in the 5-4 loss. Worley is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA in six games (four starts) against the Mets.
WALK-OFFS
1. Jason Bay's home run Friday was his first since Sept. 8, 2011. He has hit six and 12 home runs the past two seasons for the Mets; he had never hit fewer than 21 in a full major-league season before signing with New York.
2. Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins went 3-for-4 Friday to raise his average to .345. Rollins has multiple hits in three of his past four games.
3. Mets third baseman David Wright has missed three consecutive games with a fractured right pinky and might be headed for the disabled list if he can't grip a bat Saturday. The Mets might do well to sit Wright, regardless. He is 1-for-7 with two strikeouts against Worley.