The New York Mets have been showing some sluggishness lately that caused them to be the victims of a three-game sweep over the weekend. The team's ace pitching staff is showing some wear and tear that is causing things to slump. Now they return home in hopes of regaining some momentum as they face off against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.
The Mets started hot going 20-11 and kept the flame during the first few months, but they have dropped to 4-10 while hitting a seven-game road losing streak. They have been failing in all areas of the game, giving just 1.83 runs for game while hitting just .207 during that streak. New York is hopeful a return home gives them the power they need to get back to early form.
Bartolo Colon will get the start in New York for the Mets. He is 6-3 with a 4.85 ERA on the season, but is coming off two straight losses that produced a 12.54 ERA while opponents were hitting .383 off him. The 42-year-old gave up nine runs and 11 hits in just four innings of play in his last start to St. Louis while giving up another six runs off seven hits to Milwaukee. Colon has looked decent against Philly going 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA in five starts.
The Phillies have lost four of their last six games as they too try and get back on track. They will be putting their faith in a pitcher with very little experience so far in the MLB. Severino Gonzalez is filling in for the injured Chad Billingsley as the 22-year-old is 21 with a 7.11 ERA. He is coming off his best start of the season, giving up just one run and five hits in five innings of play. He has won two of his last three starts in the big leagues after a rough debut with the team. Billingsley will be out for the next four weeks and Gonzalez is expected to remain the starter until then.
