With losses in 10 of their last 11 games (seven in a row) and Chris Young placed on the disabled list yesterday, the New York Mets will turn to Dillon Gee this afternoon (1:35 p.m. EST, PIX 11) and his five major-league starts to try to get the Mets back to winning again. It won't be easy for Gee, as the Atlanta Braves will send out talented right-hander Tommy Hanson.
Just 15 games into the season and the Mets are already in a deep losing funk. The starting pitching has been bad, for a while, the relief efforts were destroying hopes of keeping the game close -- and now, the hitting has been MIA. Just when one thing seems resolved, another rears its ugly head.
Gee has started two games for Triple-A this season, and is 1-1 with a 4.63 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. He's not an overpowering pitching by any means but gave the Mets decent innings at the end of last season upon his callup (2-2 in five starts with a 2.18 ERA and 1.21 WHIP). Hanson had a rocky start to the year but his latest start against the Marlins resembled the Hanson of old as he tossed seven innings, didn't allow a run and struckout five. He's 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA and 1.31 WHIP on the year -- and he's 3-1 with a 1.76 ERA against the Mets in his career.
Terry Collins has decided to shake up the lineup today, and will bat Josh Thole second. Angel Pagan will bat sixth.