Pitching Matchups For The First Ten Games

by James Kannengieser on Apr 2, 2009 1:30 PM EDT

With some help from mlb.com's depth charts and inquiry of fellow SB Nation writers, I compiled the projected starting pitching matchups for the first ten games of the Mets season. I think the listed Mets rotation is fairly accurate, and it doesn't seem likely that Johan Santana will be held back a day to make the first start in Citi Field history. Having home-grown Mike Pelfrey make the start is fine by me. Here it is, subject to change obviously:

Date	Mets Pitcher	Opponent Pitcher	Opponent
April 6	Johan Santana	Aaron Harang	Reds
April 8	Mike Pelfrey	Edinson Volquez
April 9	Oliver Perez	Bronson Arroyo
April 10	John Maine	Anibal Sanchez	Marlins
April 11	Livan Hernandez	Andrew Miller
April 12	Johan Santana	Ricky Nolasco
April 13	Mike Pelfrey	Walter Silva	Padres
April 15	Oliver Perez	Kevin Correia
April 16	John Maine	Shawn Hill
April 17	Livan Hernandez	Dave Bush	Brewers

The good news is that the Padres' Jake Peavy and Chris Young are projected to miss the Mets during their second starts. The bad news is Harang, Volquez, and Nolasco are top-notch, but it's the first week of the season so facing pitchers of their caliber is to be expected. The Harangatang has struggled in 20 career innings against the Mets, posting a 5.85 ERA. Santana vs. Nolasco on the first Sunday of the season is a rematch of the Sept. 27, 2008 classic, which resulted in a 2-0 Mets win behind Santana's 3-hit shutout. The rest of the names here aren't terribly frightening, although Hill has been effective when healthy, Sanchez threw a no-hitter in 2006, and Arroyo owned the Mets in 2008 (1.69 ERA, 4.33 K/BB in 16 IP). Bush posted a 4.18 ERA in 2008, but that's deceptive because of an excessively low .245 BABIP. Predictions for the Mets record after ten games? I'll go with 7-3.

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Comments

Correction for the Fish series

Marlins will skip the 5th starter Miller, at least the first time around. That means Sanchez, Nolasco, Johnson vs the Mets.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090331&content_id=4099364&vkey=news_fla&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla&partnerId=rss_fla

by OlStubbleBeard on Apr 2, 2009 1:45 PM EDT reply actions

The article has Sanchez and Miller fighting for the #4 spot but Sanchez was declared the winner today.

by OlStubbleBeard on Apr 2, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the heads up

by James Kannengieser on Apr 2, 2009 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Finally

Good to see regular season pitching matchups….finally!

by metsman07 on Apr 2, 2009 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

I'll go 6-4

The first six should be toss-ups.. a good day for one and a bad for another makes those game go either way. The pads series should be a nice sweep, and April 17th is boooooooring…

Who's world is it? It's yours.

by BlackOps on Apr 2, 2009 3:10 PM EDT reply actions

Ditto for me.

"But it's not over yet, everybody thinks it over, but if we can just get the Earth to reverse rotation...this thing can be played again. So there you go, New York Mets......motherf*ckers." - Jon Stewart

by pingel on Apr 2, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Optimistic 7-3

Objective 6-4

Cynical 4-6

by James Kannengieser on Apr 2, 2009 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I can't believe Livan is actually our fifth starter

and Santana Nolasco is going to be EPIC.

King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president

by Sam Page on Apr 2, 2009 3:13 PM EDT reply actions

pelfrey's #2 in the rotation?

did i miss this discussion? im not opposed or anything and i know the distinction is nominal, i just missed it all being decided. good for pelf – he’s got a tough opponent for his first test of the season.

and yeah, seeing livan hernandez’s name up there twice. yeeeeech.

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON. WE WANT THE MANSION NOT THE CONDO.

by kendynamo on Apr 2, 2009 3:47 PM EDT reply actions

I think

They announced it early on in camp when Warthen scheduled the starters out. I think its less of: “Mike Pelfrey is our #2 starter” as it is “We don’t want our lefties on back to back days.”

by mets81 on Apr 2, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions