A tremendous pitching matchup is set for Sunday’s contest, with both teams looking to capture the series.
New York Yankees at New York Mets
The New York Yankees look to capture the series on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, with the team coming in with a 10-3-1 series record during the season. The Yankees have compiled a 7-7 series finale mark in 14 opportunities in 2010. Offensively, New York left 13 runners on base in its fourth loss in five games and the first three hitters in the lineup were 0-for-13 on Saturday. Facing a left-handed pitcher will cause little concern for the Bronx Bombers, producing a 9-6 record against them this year (+110) and have gone a dominating 74-48 over the last three years (+480). Betting the Yankees in May has been a losing proposition, with the team just a game over .500 (-320).
Yankees SP C.C. Sabathia is set to make his 10th start of the season, posting a 4-2 overall record and 3.43 ERA (-80). The left-hander has been bitten by the long ball over his last six starts, allowing eight home runs, after not allowing one in his first three outings. Sabathia has a perfect 2-0 record and 1.20 ERA in two starts against the Mets, allowing just 10 base runners in 15 innings of work. The Yankees have dropped two straight with their ace on the mound, but have never lost three in a row since he was signed before the 2009 season. It’s also important to point out that he is the only pitcher ever to beat Mets SP Johan Santana three times in a season (2007).
Saturdays’ winning pitcher, Mike Pelfrey, has both wins earned by Mets’ starters this month. This falls right in line with New York’s 7-14 record during the month of May (-760). The team is looking to capture its first series win since taking two-of-three at home against the San Francisco Giants on 5/7-5/9. OF Jason Bay extended his home hitting streak to 14 games on Saturday, going 22-for-52 during that stretch and has absolutely crushed Yankees’ pitching in his career with a .345 average (38-for-110). The Mets have produced an even 5-5 record against left-handed starters this season (-20) and a 55-52 mark over the last three years (-510).
Mets SP Johan Santana is 11-4 with a 2.62 ERA in 19 career starts at Citi Field, including a 2-0 record and 2.25 ERA in three starts this season (+150). The left-hander has failed to pick up a victory since pitching six scoreless innings against the Dodgers on April 27. It’s important to highlight the fact that the Mets have played in three straight one-run games with him on the mound, which makes the run-line playable. Santana will make his 12th career appearance (ninth start) against the Pinstripes tonight, going 4-2 with a 4.40 ERA in 57.1 innings of work.
All signs point to a Yankees’ victory, especially considering the Mets have not won back-to-back games since the aforementioned Giants’ series. Bettors will be drawn to playing Santana as a home underdog, but it’s important to note that the Mets are 1-5 in his last six interleague starts overall.
