The New York Mets losing two of three from the Los Angeles Angels was the first series they lost since the end of May when they were bested by the Philadelphia Phillies. Since reaching the .500 mark this past Wednesday against the Braves, the Mets have lost three of four, and currently have a 35-37 record.
Tuesday the Mets will begin a three-game set with the Oakland A's, another team with a very poor offense, but one that has won five straight games. Oakland currently ranks 25th in the major leagues in runs scored, 25th in batting average, 24th in on-base percentage and 28th in slugging percentage. Power is not at all their game -- and especially in a National League park because it's very likely Hideki Matsui doesn't get much playing time, if any at all, because he's such a defensive liability. The A's need to be aggressive on the basepaths to win -- similar to the Mets -- and one of their catalysts of their success lately has been rookie second baseman Jemile Weeks, Rickie Weeks' brother, who is more a gap hitter with speed than a power one like his brother.
Josh Outman takes the hill for the A's in this one, and Citi Field should be very friendly to him because he's largely a flyball pitcher, and not one who will strikeout many batters (12 in 28 2/3 innings). He's 2-1 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in his five game started this year. The 26-year-old is coming off his best start of the year against the Kansas City Royals when he gave up no runs in seven innings.
Outman will be opposed by Dillon Gee, who is 7-0 on the year with a 2.86 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. His streak of five straight wins was snapped in his last start against the Atlanta Braves (four innings, one hit, five strikeouts, no runs) because of a long rain delay, but the Mets have won all 10 games that he's started this year.