Kuzul

SAN FRANCISCO—What the Mets wanted to do in the first half was hang around until they got Carlos Beltran back.

But unlike last season, the Mets didn’t wait for their reinforcements to return, they treated them as a bonus. They did a good job of playing without their star center fielder, going 48-40, and being only one game behind of a playoff spot.

Tonight, almost exactly six months to the day of announcing knee surgery on January 16, Carlos Beltran returns to the Mets lineup, batting cleanup in center field.

What kind of Beltran are the Mets getting? He told reporters on Sunday that he’s about 80 percent healthy. Well, 80 percent of Carlos Beltran is still better than 100 percent of Jeff Francoeur, who will be the man to lose playing time in his return.

If Beltran can hit the way we’re accustomed to seeing, and the way he did in his rehab games, batting .367, then the Mets lineup becomes one of the best in the entire National League.

It’ll lengthen the lineup as tonight’s order will look as follows: Jose Reyes, Angel Pagan (RF), David Wright, Carlos Beltran (CF), Ike Davis, Jason Bay, Josh Thole, Ruben Tejada (2B), and R.A. Dickey.

As you can see, Davis will move down one spot, pushing first-half bust Jason Bay down to sixth. There could be up to three switches in this order before game time.

Jose Reyes will be a game-time decision, as he’s still battling a sore right oblique. Although Josh Thole has been catching the knuckleballer Dickey, it’s not guaranteed he’ll play tonight. Alex Cora, the lefty, may replace the righy Ruben Tejada at second base against the tough Tim Lincecum.

With all that being said, the Mets are happy to have Beltran back, especially against the two-time defending NL Cy Young Award winner Lincecum.

It hasn’t been a Tim Lincecum-type season so far for the pitcher known as “The Freak.” After winning a questionable Cy Young Award last season, Lincecum has a higher ERA than normal.

What really raised his ERA this season were two starts in May. He combined to allow 11 runs in 9.2 innings after getting off to another phenomenal start. He started 5-0 with an ERA of 1.76. Now he’s 9-4 with an ERA of 3.16.

For the Mets, it’ll be knuckleballer R.A. Dickey kicking off the second half of the season, as manager Jerry Manuel set his rotation in reverse order.

The Mets have lost each of Dickey’s last three starts after winning six straight. Dickey has lost two of them, falling to 6-2 on the season.

In his last start against the Braves, he was cruising for 6.2 innings in a 2-2 game, before giving up back-to-back home runs, putting the Mets in a 4-2 hole they wouldn’t get out of.

He has still pitched reasonably well for the most part, but the question is, will he ever be as consistent as he was during his six-game winning streak? The Mets hope so, with an eye towards the trading deadline in 16 days, where they’ll probably trade for a starting pitcher, if anything.

Maybe the best part about getting three days off for the Mets is resting their overworked bullpen, and most importantly, giving Jose Reyes three days to try and recover from his oblique injury.

This is only the beginning of the most crucial stretch of games of the Mets’ season. It’s the start of an 11-game west coast trip that can’t put the Mets in the playoffs, but can certainly bury them with a bad record.

They need to at least go 6-5, and no worse than 5-6. If they can do that, they’ll come home at the end of the month, ready to enter the pennant race in August and September, with an eye on October.

R.A. Dickey this season (10 starts)
6-2, 2.77 ERA, 65 IP, 66 hits, 19 BB, 48 SO

Tim Lincecum vs. New York (May 9)
ND, 6 IP, 2 ER, 7 hits, 2 BB, 8 SO

2010 season series (New York vs. San Francisco)
May 7: New York 6, San Francisco 4
May 8: New York 5, San Francisco 4 (11)
May 9: San Francisco 6, New York 5
Mets lead series 2-1

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

With the All-Star Game now over with, it’s time to look ahead to the second half of the season.

The National League finally ended its string of losing at the Midsummer Classic, beating the American League, 3-1.

Does that mean the NL has the advantage in this year’s World Series? Or, can the Yankees create another dynasty and win their second consecutive Fall Classic?

Plus, what other teams will surprise and which current surprises will flop? Here are all of the bold predictions for what to look forward to during the stretch run of 2010.

Begin Slideshow

We are now at the All-Star break and it’s time to take a look at how the Mets can make the playoffs.

Right now, they are four games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place in the NL East, but they’re only one game behind in the NL Wild Card race.

It’s probably the easier route to the playoffs for the Mets, especially seeing how the Braves are capable of playing over the weekend, and how deep their starting rotation is.

Looking at the Wild Card race, there are five teams other than the Mets who will be competing for the spot.

Which teams are a huge threat heading into August, and which are going to fade? Where do the Mets themselves stand in the race? Find out here in a six-team breakdown.

Begin Slideshow

With the exception of tonight’s Cubs-Dodgers game, the first half of the baseball season is over. That means it’s time to hand out awards and look ahead to the second half.

Who are the MVPs, Cy Youngs, Rookies of the Year, and Silver Sluggers in each league? Which teams are the favorites to win their divisions and wild card races, and which teams will offer the biggest competition to the favorites?

Check it all out here in a Major League Baseball first half review/second half preview.

American League MVP:

Favorite: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (.346 AVG, 22 HR, 76 RBI, .423 OBP)              

Runner-up: Vladimir Guerrero, Texas Rangers (.323 AVG, 20 HR, 75 RBI, .369 OBP)

National League MVP:

Favorite: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (.314 AVG, 22 HR, 60 RBI, .421 OBP)

Runner-up: David Wright, New York Mets (.314 AVG, 14 HR, 65 RBI, 25 2B)

American League Cy Young:

Favorite: David Price, Tampa Bay Rays (12-4, 2.42 ERA, 100 K, 1.20 WHIP)

Runner-up: Andy Pettitte, New York Yankees (11-2, 2.70 ERA, 87 K, 1.15 WHIP)

National League Cy Young:

Favorite: Ubaldo Jimenez, Colorado Rockies (15-1, 2.20 ERA, 127 IP, 87 hits)

Runner-up: Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals (13-5, 2.11 ERA, 127 K, 1.01 WHIP)

American League Rookie of the Year:

Austin Jackson, Detroit Tigers (.304 AVG, 94 hits, 52 runs scored, 21 2B)

National League Rookie of the Year:

Favorite: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals (2.32 ERA, 61 K, 1.01 WHIP)

Runner-up: Ike Davis, New York Mets (11 HR, 40 RBI, 16 2B)

American League Silver Sluggers:

1st base: Miguel Cabrera (.346 AVG, 22 HR, 76 RBI, .423 OBP)

2nd base: Robinson Cano (.337 AVG, 16 HR, 57 RBI, .391 OBP)

Shortstop: Derek Jeter (.275 AVG, 8 HR, 41 RBI, .342 OBP)

Third base: Alex Rodriguez (.274 AVG, 14 HR, 70 RBI, 20 2B)

Left field: Josh Hamilton (.345 AVG, 22 HR, 64 RBI, 25 2B)

Center field: Torii Hunter (.300 AVG, 15 HR, 62 RBI, 24 2B)

Right field: Nick Swisher (.303 AVG, 15 HR, 49 RBI, .532 SLG)

Catcher: Mike Napoli (14 HR, .473 SLG, 13 2B)

National League Silver Sluggers:

1st base: Joey Votto (.314 AVG, 22 HR, 60 RBI, .421 OBP)

2nd base: Dan Uggla (.281 AVG, 16 HR, 51 RBI, .481 SLG)

Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez (.298 AVG, 13 HR, 53 RBI, .484 SLG)

Third base: David Wright (.314 AVG, 14 HR, 65 RBI, .534 SLG)

Left field: Carlos Gonzalez (.312 AVG, 17 HR, 58 RBI, .533 SLG)

Center Field: Colby Rasmus (.281 AVG, 16 HR, 41 RBI, .544 SLG)

Right field: Andre Ethier (.324 AVG, 14 HR, 54 RBI, .555 SLG)

Catcher: Brian McCann (.270 AVG, 10 HR, 37 RBI, 16 2B)

AL East:

Favorite: New York Yankees (56-32, 1st place)

Biggest competition: Tampa Bay Rays (54-34, 2 GB)

AL Central:

Favorite: Minnesota Twins (46-42, 3.5 GB)

Biggest competition: Chicago White Sox (49-38, 1st place)

AL West:

Favorite: Texas Rangers (50-38, 1st place)

Biggest competition: Los Angeles Angels (47-44, 4.5 GB)

AL Wild Card:

Favorite: Tampa Bay Rays (54-34, lead)

Biggest competition: Boston Red Sox (51-37, 3 GB)

NL East:

Favorite: Atlanta Braves (52-36, 1st place)

Biggest competition: New York Mets (48-40, 4 GB)

NL Central:

Favorite: Cincinnati Reds (49-41, 1st place)

Biggest competition: St. Louis Cardinals (47-41, 1 GB)

NL West:

Favorite: San Diego Padres (51-37, 1st place)

Biggest competition: San Francisco Giants (47-41, 4 GB)

NL Wild Card:

Favorite: New York Mets (48-40, 1 GB)

Biggest competition: Colorado Rockies (49-39, lead)

World Series prediction:

New York Yankees defeat Atlanta Braves

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

NEW YORK: No, the headline is not an exaggeration; the Mets are “in desperate need of a win.” With yesterday’s 4-0 loss to the Braves, the Mets now find themselves five games back in the NL East.

And with the Phillies victory and recent extra-inning magic, they only trail the Mets by one-half game. Meaning if the Mets were to lose today, and the Phillies win, the Mets would enter the All-Star break six games behind, in third place.

Even if they are in second place, six games behind is not ideal when fashioning yourself as a contender.

With all of that being said, proving why the Mets are indeed “desperate” for a win, they will have their best chance to get one with Johan Santana on the mound today.

The Mets are 1-4 so far on their current home stand, and the one win came courtesy of Santana.

It came on Tuesday night against the Reds, a game in which Santana became the second-ever Mets starting pitcher to throw a complete game and hit a home run.

He was as dominant as he’s ever been in a Mets uniform, and it was probably the best game of his career.

He only allowed three hits, and the only other game he’s thrown of more importance was on Sept. 27, 2008, when he pitched a complete-game against the Marlins to keep the Mets alive on the final Saturday of the season.

His last start was followed by the one before, where he righted the ship against the Nationals. So it’s been going up for Santana recently, and the Mets hope it doesn’t sour this afternoon, when they need him the most.

The Mets will be facing sinkerballer Derek Lowe, who’s been as average as can be so far this season, his second with the Braves.

After signing a big four-year contract with Atlanta two offseasons ago, Lowe has been consistently inconsistent. He had an average season in 2009, going 15-10 with a 4.67 ERA, and is having a similar season in 2010, as he’s 9-7 with a 4.40 ERA.

He is coming off a good start, though, against the Phillies on Monday, despite a loss, going seven and giving up two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out six.

He has had some clunkers this season, so the Mets would like to run into the “bad” Derek Lowe to end their three-game losing streak. It’s the first time this season that the Mets have lost three in a row at Citi Field.

One guy the Mets won’t have in the lineup to try and help is Jose Reyes. Perhaps the Mets waited a little bit too long to remove Reyes from the lineup, not doing so until they pulled him yesterday when David Wright noticed him wincing after fielding a grounder.

Reyes is battling a nagging sore right oblique, and will also not participate in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, being replaced by the Dodgers’ Rafael Furcal.

Today would also be a bad day for Reyes to try to bat righty-on-righty, as Lowe is extremely tough against right-handed hitters.

The Mets, though, are also battling through some other player issues. The $66 million man, Jason Bay, is still not producing, grounding into way too many double plays and popping up, so much that he’s starting to hear boos from the Citi Field faithful.

Ike Davis has been in a huge slump, seeing his batting average dip from .272 on June 23 to .254 today.

Coupled with Mike Pelfrey’s struggles and the lineup’s recent inconsistency, the Mets are in danger of heading on a brutal 11-game West Coast trip, far behind the Braves, and losing a grip on a once-promising season.

If there’s ever a must-win game in July, today’s game is it, as the Mets want to ride into the second half feeling good, with Carlos Beltran on the horizon.

Johan Santana vs. Atlanta (May 18)
ND, 7 IP, 2 ER, 5 hits, 2 BB, 4 SO

Derek Lowe vs. New York (May 17)
Loss, 7 IP, 3 ER, 4 hits, 3 BB, 3 SO

2010 season series (New York vs. Atlanta)

April 23: New York 5, Atlanta 2
April 24: New York 3, Atlanta 1
*April 25: New York 1, Atlanta 0

May 17: New York 3, Atlanta 2
May 18: Atlanta 3, New York 2

July 9: Atlanta 4, New York 2
July 10: Atlanta 4, New York 0
Mets lead series 4-3

*Rain-shortened, five-inning game

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

NEW YORK — The performance that Mike Pelfrey gave the Mets this afternoon was the exact opposite of what they were looking for.

Trying to rebound from a bad recent stretch of games, Pelfrey gave up four runs on 12 hits for the second time in his last three starts.

He scattered singles all over the field, and it took the Braves until their 10th hit to record a run. He walked the first man to face him to start the game, but Martin Prado was left stranded.

The Mets were flat offensively for a second straight game, getting shut down by Tim Hudson. Just like last night, Angel Pagan singled and stole second with one out in the first, but wasn’t driven in.

In the second, the Braves loaded the bases with two outs, when Melky Cabrera grounded out to end that threat.

In the third, Angel Pagan doubled with one out, but once again didn’t score. Pelfrey got out of huge trouble in the fourth.

After the Braves stringed together three hits to start the inning, loading the bases with none out, Pelfrey induced a comebacker for a double play. Melky Cabrera then grounded out, as the Braves didn’t come through.

The Mets got a leadoff walk from Ike Davis in the fourth, but the potential rally was killed when Jason Bay hit a double play grounder.

Finally, in the fifth, the Braves made some use of their hits. The Braves first five hitters all singled off Pelfrey, producing three runs, and knocking him out after four-plus inning pitched. Elmer Dessens came in and allowed another run on a double play, extending the Braves lead to 4-0.

Pelfrey was awful, allowing four runs on 12 hits, he struck out two and walked three.It was only a matter of time before the Braves put together run-producing hits.

Pelfrey has now pitched less than five innings in each of his last three starts.

The Mets tried coming back in the fifth, but after a Rod Barajas single, Alex Cora lined into a double play.

The Mets bullpen performed well, as the Braves didn’t score against Hisanori Takahashi and Fernando Nieve.

Takahashi made his first relief appearance since May 16, and pitched three shutout innings, allowing one hit. Fernando Nieve pitched a scoreless ninth.

In the sixth, it was more of the same for Angel Pagan. He led off with a single and stole second, but three batters later, Ike Davis hit a double play.

The Mets got an injury concern in the seventh. After Jose Reyes fielded a ground ball at short, David Wright noticed Reyes wince. Wright and Reyes got together, and Wright called Jerry Manuel out of the dugout. Reyes would come out of the game, and it was announced he will not play tomorrow or in the All-Star Game, although there is no major setback.

The Mets would go on to lose the game, 4-0, as they are now 1-4 on the home stand, falling five games out of first place in the NL East behind the Braves.

The Mets will hope to avoid getting swept tomorrow afternoon, with Johan Santana on the mound against Derek Lowe. It’s the final game before the All-Star Break.

*NL East standings (top 3 teams)
Atlanta 52-35
NY Mets 47-40 (5)
Philadelphia 45-40 (6)
*Does not include PHI result

Series probable pitchers:
July 11
New York: Johan Santana (2010: 6-5, 3.15 ERA) vs. Atlanta: Derek Lowe (2010: 9-7, 4.40 ERA)

*Upcoming schedule:
New York Mets:
July 11 vs. Atlanta Braves
July 15-18 @ San Francisco Giants

Atlanta Braves:
July 11 @ New York Mets
July 15-18 vs. Milwaukee Brewers

*All-Star break is July 12-14

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

NEW YORK — There are just two games left in the first half of the baseball season. For the Mets, the first half was as much a roller coaster ride as they’ve had in their history.

One of the worst starts ever, to a possible managerial firing, to being in or around first place with an amazing surge, the Mets have been through everything in 2010.

A big reason for the Mets first-half success was Mike Pelfrey. Last season, Pelfrey won 10 games, he has already won that amount this season. If it weren’t for those 10 wins, the Mets would be sitting on only 37 wins and last place in the NL East. The problem is his recent regression.

Since his June 8 start against the Padres when he went nine innings, leaving to a tie score, allowing one run on five hits, Pelfrey has gone 2-2 with a 6.67 ERA. In 28.1 innings pitched, he’s given up 43 hits, and has walked 11, striking out only nine, while allowing four home runs.

Pelfrey must revert to his form before this bad five-game stretch. Even more so now with the news that Cliff Lee has been traded to the Texas Rangers. If the Mets had gotten Lee, maybe Pelfrey would have less pressure on him, but that’s not the case.

Unless the Mets get Roy Oswalt, no other is better than Pelfrey. The Mets are going to have to ride the current horses they have to the finish line. However, it seems one of their horses is getting left behind.

With the recent struggles of Hisanori Takahashi in the rotation, the Mets can’t be serious contenders if Pelfrey remains mediocre.

Four games behind the first-place Braves and facing them today, Pelfrey has a chance against a not-so-powerful hitting lineup to get his game back together. It’s obviously his last start before the break, so this would be the perfect game to get it going, to give him the momentum he and his team needs.

Even if he pitches a gem, standing in the Mets way will be Tim Hudson. After a dominant six seasons with the Oakland Athletics, Hudson has been almost as good in his now six seasons with the Braves.

Hudson, who turns 35 on Wednesday, has had a renaissance season after missing virtually all of 2009 with elbow issues. He’s 8-4 with a 2.44 ERA in 17 starts, having made every one. He’s part of a fantastic Braves starting rotation, and he will be the Mets toughest challenge this weekend.

The Mets don’t want to lose this game and run into the “good” Derek Lowe tomorrow, and get swept. This may be the biggest game of the year for the Mets, with a loss pushing them five games out of first place.

The Mets are still having issues with shortstop Jose Reyes, who looked uncomfortable again last night, batting right-handed against a right-hander. On a dive back into second on a pickoff attempt, Reyes got up and started stretching his side, where he has his sour oblique .

If the Mets were just to sit Reyes the final two games, he’d have a whole five days to rest. Not only are the Mets still insisting on playing him this weekend, they are still allowing him to participate in the All-Star game on Tuesday, which doesn’t make much sense.

The good news is, they get Carlos Beltran back on Thursday to kick off the second half in San Francisco for a grueling 11-game west coast trip.

Manager Jerry Manuel announced last night, how the rotation will set up after the All-Star break. It’ll be a backwards five-through-one order. Dickey, Niese, Pelfrey, Santana, with Takahashi returning after that, unless the Mets make a move for a starting pitcher.

Today’s game is huge, and the Mets hope Pelfrey rebounds and the offense can click against Hudson.

Mike Pelfrey vs. Atlanta this season (2 starts)
2-0, 1.42 ERA, 12.2 IP, 12 hits, 7 BB, 6 SO

Tim Hudson vs. New York (career)
10-5, 3.77 ERA, 105 IP, 105 hits, 26 BB, 43 SO

2010 season series (New York vs. Atlanta)
April 23: New York 5, Atlanta 2
April 24: New York 3, Atlanta 1
*April 25: New York 1, Atlanta 0

May 17: New York 3, Atlanta 2
May 18: Atlanta 3, New York 2

July 9: Atlanta 4, New York 2
Mets lead series 4-2

*Rain-shortened, five-inning game

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

NEW YORK— This had the makings of a big series between two teams atop the NL East. The Braves facing the Mets at Citi Field, having been swept there in late April.

The Braves got the upper hand in the weekend series, widening their NL East lead over the Mets to four games, in a 4-2 win.

Jerry Manuel decided to bat Jose Reyes second in the lineup, since he could only bat right-handed, going with the switch-hitter Angel Pagan in the leadoff spot.

Reyes has been battling a sore left oblique, and that may have led to his big first-inning error.

Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey was on the mound, and he put two men on with two outs in the opening inning. With runners on the corners for Atlanta, Troy Glaus hit a routine grounder to Reyes at short, but Reyes couldn’t field the ball cleanly, allowing the run to score.

In the Mets first, Pagan led off with a single to left field. With Reyes up, he stole second, but after several bunt attempts, Reyes struck out against Tommy Hanson. David Wright would strike out looking, followed by Ike Davis hitting an inning-ending comebacker, stranding Pagan at second base.

In the third, the Mets tied the game at 1-1. Pitcher R.A. Dickey led off with a single , Pagan beat out a bunt hit, and Reyes bunted the runners over to second and third. Wright hit a sacrifice fly to right, bringing Dickey in for the tying run.

The Braves put together a two-out rally in the fifth against Dickey. Omar Infante, who got four hits, singled. Brian McCann walked, and Troy Glaus singled in a run, giving the Braves a 2-1 lead.

The Mets came right back in the fifth. Dickey singled again and scored his second run on a Reyes double, tying the game at 2-2.

Dickey was throwing a pretty decent game, until it fell apart on him with two outs in the seventh. With the game still tied, 2-2, Melky Cabrera and Infante hit back-to-back home runs, giving the Braves a shocking 4-2 lead.

Those home runs knocked Dickey out of the game. Dickey did well for the most part, but his pitching line shows otherwise: 6.2 IP, 4 ER, 9 hits, 2 HR.

Trying to mount a comeback, the Mets entered the game 1-28 this season when trailing after seven innings, David Wright led off with a single in the eighth. After a fielder’s choice and strike out, Josh Thole walked after two wild pitches were thrown during his at-bat. With runners on the corners, Jeff Francoeur lined out to second on the first pitch he saw, ending the threat.

The Mets went down quietly in the ninth against former mate Billy Wagner, losing the first game of the series.

With the loss, the Mets are now 1-3 on the current home stand, and R.A. Dickey suffers his first home loss of the season.

The Mets have seemed to be flat this week, other than a five-run fifth on Monday night against the Reds.

They will try to even the series tomorrow afternoon, with Mike Pelfrey going up against Tim Hudson.

NL East standings (top 3 teams)
Atlanta 51-35
NY Mets 47-39 (4)
Philadelphia 45-40 (5 1/2)

Series probable pitchers:
July 10
New York: Mike Pelfrey (2010: 10-3, 3.39 ERA) vs. Atlanta: Tim Hudson (2010: 8-4, 2.44 ERA)
July 11
New York: Johan Santana (2010: 6-5, 3.15 ERA) vs. Atlanta: Derek Lowe (2010: 9-7, 4.40 ERA)

*Upcoming schedule:
New York Mets:
July 10-11 vs. Atlanta Braves
July 15-18 @ San Francisco Giants

Atlanta Braves:
July 10-11 @ New York Mets
July 15-18 vs. Milwaukee Brewers

*All-Star break is July 12-14

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

NEW YORK—This weekend’s series with the Atlanta Braves for the Mets is, by far, the biggest to date. Of course being only three games out means this series won’t cost you a season, but it could take a bite out of your hopes.

With that in mind, coming off a series loss to the Cincinnati Reds, the Mets first home-series loss since May, the Mets will hope for more good things from their knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.

After his first rough start as a Met on June 28 in Puerto Rico against the Marlins, Dickey knuckled down against the Nationals on Saturday, allowing two unearned runs thanks to a Ruben Tejada error, in seven innings.

The Mets would lose that game, 6-5, when Francisco Rodriguez blew a two-run, ninth inning lead. In that game, the Mets got to phenom Stephen Strasburg but it was all for naught. Without allowing an earned run in that outing, Dickey lowered his ERA from 2.98 to 2.62, he’s 6-1.

Opposing Dickey will be 23-year-old right-hander Tommy Hanson. Last season, Hanson had a fabulous rookie season with Atlanta, going 11-4 with a 2.89 ERA in 21 starts.

This season, it’s been a little different for Hanson, as he’s pitched to a much higher ERA of 4.19, it was actually as high as 4.50 before his last start.

Things started to get shaky for Hanson in mid-May, as he had a weird game against the Diamondbacks on May 15. In that game, he went seven innings, he struck out 10 without walking a batter, but gave up five runs on seven hits in an 11-1 loss.

In his next start against the powerful Reds, he was involved in another strange game, but on the positive end. He gave up eight runs on eight hits in only 1.2 innings pitched, but the Braves rallied with a seven-run ninth to beat Cincinnati, 10-9.

On June 22 against the White Sox, he allowed nine runs on 13 hits in 3.2 innings pitched. Think about that: 3.2 innings, 13 hits. That’s not good. He followed that up with a bad performance as well.

The bottom line of all this is, the Mets have a shot. He’s hasn’t been the Tommy Hanson of his 2009 rookie season, and is capable of blowing up any start.

After plenty of speculation about a possible weekend return for Carlos Beltran, it isn’t happening. The Mets will, barring a setback, bring him back on Thursday against the Giants to open the second half of the season.

Jose Reyes didn’t look comfortable batting from the right side against a right-handed pitcher on Wednesday, so it’s not a given, if he still can’t bat from the left, that he’ll be in there tonight against the righty Hanson.

The Braves have had an unbelievably shocking campaign thus far, being the first team in the National League to 50 wins, and holding a three-game lead in the division this late into the season.

Their hitting isn’t really what carries them, it’s their spectacular one-through-five starting rotation which got Jair Jurrjens back last week.

The only thing the Mets or either team wants to guard against in this series is a sweep. All a series-loss would do is set you back one game. The Mets hope they can gain the one game if not more, and it begins tonight.

R.A. Dickey vs. Atlanta (career- 2 games, 0 starts)
0-0, 15.00 ERA, 3 IP, 5 hits, 3 BB, 4 SO

Tommy Hanson vs. New York (April 25)*
Loss, 5 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 5 hits, 2 BB, 8 SO

*Pitched five-inning complete game (game called due to rain)

2010 season series (New York vs. Atlanta)
April 23: New York 5, Atlanta 2
April 24: New York 3, Atlanta 1
*April 25: New York 1, Atlanta 0

May 17: New York 3, Atlanta 2
May 18: Atlanta 3, New York 2
Mets lead series 4-1

*Rain-shortened, five-inning game

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

NEW YORK—After losing the opening game of the series to the first-place Reds, the Mets tonight have a shot at a series victory, as Jon Niese will look to continue his impressive run. Niese has won each of his last five decisions, and during that stretch, the Mets are 6-0.

In his last start against the Nationals, Niese went seven innings, allowing one run on six hits. He struck out eight without walking a batter. Since coming off the disabled list on June 5, Niese hasn’t lost a game, improving from 1-2 to 6-2, and has been the Mets most reliable starting pitcher.

Unlike his teammate Johan Santana, Niese has gotten tons of run support, with the Mets scoring five or more runs in five of his last six starts. After scoring six runs in Monday night’s opener, the Mets position players only scored two runs for Santana last night, coming on a Jason Bay two-run single.

That was with the return of Jose Reyes, who only batted from the right side of the plate, even once against a right-hander. The Mets had scored in the first inning in seven consecutive games before last night, all without Jose Reyes. How ironic is it that the man that’s known to produce “Reyes runs” in the first, returns, and that’s when the Mets don’t score a first inning run? That’s just baseball.

Maybe Reyes can produce one of those runs tonight against Bronson Arroyo. Perhaps, Reyes and company can work out some walks, as Arroyo has walked 41 batters in 112.1 innings, one walk every 2.7 inning pitched.

Arroyo this season has been erratic despite a winning record of 8-4. His ERA is a little high for the National League (4.25), and he’s given up 12 home runs. Arroyo though, has had great success in his career against the Mets in 10 starts.

The key for the Mets will be patience, trying to get as many men on to perhaps hit some long balls with their middle of the order. Josh Thole will be catching Jon Niese according to Jerry Manuel, and Thole has been hitting since his callup.

The Mets will go for the rubber-match victory, before taking tomorrow off. They will have a huge weekend series to follow against the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves.

There are some thoughts that the Mets may activate Carlos Beltran for the weekend series to use him as a pinch-hitter, but in all likelyhood, he will return after the All-Star break in San Francisco.

Jon Niese vs. Cincinnati (May 5)
ND, 6 IP, 4 ER, 12 hits, 0 BB, 4 SO, 2 HR

Bronson Arroyo vs. New York (May 4)
ND, 7 IP, 4 ER, 7 hits, 2 BB, 3 SO, 1 HR

2010 season series (New York vs. Cincinnati)
May 3: Cincinnati 3, New York 2 (11)
May 4: New York 5, Cincinnati 4
May 5: Cincinnti 5, New York 4 (10)

July 5: Cincinnati 8, New York 6
July 6: New York 3, Cincinnati 0
Reds lead series 3-2

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com