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The New York Mets open a four-game series against the first place Los Angeles Dodgers Thursday night, hoping to carry over some of the offensive firepower they showed Wednesday afternoon against the Chicago Cubs in their 17-1 victory.
In the Dodgers, the Mets will be facing a lineup without arguably the league's best player in Matt Kemp as well as Andre Ethier. But offensive might not be an issue for Los Angeles, who will be sending former Met Chris Capuano to the hill, one of the biggest surprises of the 2012 season.
The lefty is 9-2 with a 2.60 ERA just a year after he resurrected his career in Queens. He was open to staying in New York, but the Mets refused to give him a second year, something the Dodgers had no issues with and because of that are reaping the benefits.
Terry Collins will send the other Mets reclamation project from 2011, Chris Young, to the hill to take on Capuano. The two veterans were both coming off injuries last season when the Mets took a couple fliers, but Young never made it through the summer, falling to another injury, while Capuano went on to a solid season posting an 11-12 record.
Young (1-1, 3.42 ERA) didn't earn a decision last time out, tossing six innings of three-run ball in a 4-3 loss to the New York Yankees.
This series will see the Mets hand the ball to both their aces -- Johan Santana and R.A. Dickey -- while the Dodgers have the star of their staff -- Clayton Kershaw -- taking the mound Sunday night. No matter who is pitching, though, these teams are both trying to finish the first half strong.
Los Angeles is reeling without Kemp and are fresh off a brutal 1-8 road trip, including a sweep at the hands of the San Francisco Giants in which they were unable to score a single run. New York, meanwhile, beat up on the Cubs Wednesday, but dropped four straight before that win.
If the Mets can hold their own against the Dodgers, their final six games are at home before the All Star break.
You can catch all the action locally on SNY or WFAN 660 with first pitch schedule for 10:10 p.m.