Mets at Astros
The New York Mets spent the weekend in Colorado finding their bats. The Mets pounded out a total of 48 hits in taking two of three from the Rockies and have won five of their last six heading into Houston. The Astros have dropped four of six to fall into a familiar spot - the National League Central basement. The Mets’ hot streak has them closing in on first place in the East, as David Wright and Ruben Tejada pace the offense around a solid rotation.
Since starting 3-1, Houston has lost 13 of 18 to drop into a tie with the Cubs. While the offense has had some strong games, the starting pitching has put the Astros into holes too often. Houston ranks 14th in the NL with a 4.45 starters' ERA. Wright bumped his average to .397 with a big weekend, and Tejada had at least three hits in each of the three games at Colorado. The Mets had a bullpen breakdown in the series finale Sunday but rallied for an 11-inning triumph.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FSH (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH R.A. Dickey (3-1, 4.44 ERA) vs. Astros RH Bud Norris (1-1, 5.84 ERA)
Dickey has surrendered two runs or fewer in three of his four turns and is coming off a seven-inning, one-run effort in a win over the Miami Marlins last week. The veteran knuckleballer has 22 strikeouts against eight walks in 24 1/3 innings. Dickey has made six appearances - four starts - against Houston, posting a 1-2 record with a 3.82 ERA. Carlos Lee is 8-for-21 (.381) with a homer off Dickey.
Norris was knocked around for seven runs in 5 2/3 innings in a loss at Milwaukee on Tuesday and has yielded 25 hits in 17 2/3 innings over his last three starts. His best start was his only turn at home, when he went seven innings and allowed two runs on April 8. Norris is 1-1 with a 4.85 ERA in four starts against the Mets and has limited Wright to 0-for-8 with four strikeouts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets CF Andres Torres (calf) will come off the disabled list Monday and is expected to bat leadoff.
2. The Astros optioned RH Jordan Lyles back to Class AAA after his start Sunday. Infielder Marwin Gonzalez was reinstated from the paternity list to take the roster spot.
3. The teams split six games in 2011.