By SBRForum.com

The Mets may have spared their blushes a little bit by winning their final game in Cincinnati, but now they have to head to the nation’s capital to play one of baseball’s hottest teams in the Washington Nationals.

What was a great start to the season for New Yorkhas quickly turned into another forgettable campaign. The Mets currently sit at 56-62 on the season and are miles behind in the NL East.

The good news? New York will begin a seven-game home stand against Colorado and Houston starting on August 20.

The bad news? The Mets will have to battle it out with the Nationals first and the MLB odds aren’t going to be in their favor.

In the first game of the series, Johan Santana gets the call and he goes up against Ross Detweiler.   Santanta, in his first start in close to two weeks, got absolutely shelled against Atlanta, surrendering eight hits and eight runs while not even getting out of the second inning.

Obviously the Mets will be hoping to get a little more out of their former ace.

Photo by Michael G. Baron

On Saturday it’s Jonathon Niese against Edwin Jackson and this game will be one of New York’s best chances to grab a win in this series.  Niese has been solid as a rock this season, while Jackson has looked a little shaky here over his last few starts.

It gets miles tougher on Sunday though as the Mets have to cope with Gio Gonzalez, who’s 15-6 with a 3.29 ERA this season.

They themselves have to rely on Jeremy Hefner, who’s 2-4 with a 4.76 ERA on the year.  He had been pitching in relief until recently getting the call back into the starting rotation. It could be a long day for Hefner against a surging Nationals ballclub.

This could be a season-defining series for New York.  A win or two could boost morale and set them up nicely for the rest of the year, but getting swept could spell the end.

Today R.A. Dickey will look to get things back on track as the knuckleballer takes the hill for the Mets, who square off against long time Marlin Ricky Nolasco.

Dickey has been tremendous for the Mets all year and is coming off pitching an absolute gem against the D-Backs (8 IP, 4 H, 1 ER).  R.A. also had Miami figured out in his first start against them this season, earning a ‘W’ after going 7 innings and giving up only 1 ER.  It’s all just another day at the office for one of the more underrated pitchers in the league.  If the team had any visions of being down on themselves after a tough loss, there’s no better pitcher to pick them up than Dickey (don’t worry they won’t be wearing the road black jerseys, this was just the only pic I could dig up).

#Mets – Outside of his start against the Braves at Turner Field, Dickey has pitched to a 2.12 ERA in his other starts.

May 12, 2012 9:50 am via EchofonReplyRetweetFavorite

@michaelgbaron

Michael Baron

Line-ups:

Notes:

Game Day stat: David Wright leads the NL with a .459 road batting average. #Mets

May 12, 2012 8:59 am via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@Mets

New York Mets

Santana picked up his victory of the season in his last outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks and dominated Miami hitters in his start against Miami back on April 24 in Citi Field (6 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 11K).   Buehrle took a loss the first time he faced New York but the blame could hardly be put on his shoulders as the lefty battled for 7 innings giving up just 2 ER in an eventual 5-1 defeat.

Line-up:

#Mets Friday lineup at Miami: Torres-CF, Murphy-2B, Wright-3B, Duda-RF, Hairston-LF, Davis-1B, Cedeno-SS, Nickeas-C, Santana-LHP

May 11, 2012 3:51 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@Mets

New York Mets

Notes:

With Ruben Tejada on the disabled list…..

Terry reiterates Ronny Cedeno will be regular SS. With Mets playing 20 straight days, Cedeno cannot play every day, so Jordany limited time.

May 11, 2012 4:09 pm via EchofonReplyRetweetFavorite

@AdamRubinESPN

Adam Rubin

As for a corresponding move, it looks like Vinny Rottino is getting sent back down:

And it looks like Rottino is the man heading out. Valdespin lives!

May 11, 2012 3:49 pm via Twitter for BlackBerry®ReplyRetweetFavorite

@McCulloughSL

Andy McCullough

With regards to the Marlins closer situation…………

Ozzie said he’s ready to give Heath bell closer’s job #Marlins

May 11, 2012 4:26 pm via EchofonReplyRetweetFavorite

@joecapMARLINS

joe capozzi

Some must see T.V. for ya….

This young Mets clubhouse has David Wright feeling great. His 1 on 1 with me tonight at 630 on SNY.

May 11, 2012 5:23 pm via WhoSayReplyRetweetFavorite

@KBurkhardtSNY

Kevin Burkhardt

Line-up:

The Dude is back!

#Mets Friday lineup vs. Arizona: Tejada-SS, Murphy-2B, Wright-3B, Duda-RF, Hairston-LF, Davis-1B, Torres-CF, Thole-C, Gee-RHP

May 4, 2012 2:59 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@Mets

New York Mets

Notes:

Mets select outfielder Vinny Rottino from Buffalo. Option RHP Chris Schwinden to the Bisons. Transfer RHP Mike Pelfrey to 60-Day DL.

May 4, 2012 2:17 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@Mets

New York Mets

Tonight the team will try to rebound and even the series up as 25-year-old Jonathon Niese squares off against fellow lefty J.A. Happ:

As always, SBR Forum is offering a great coverage on the main MLB Picks and of course the New York Mets are included on these series of articles.  Here’s some insight and betting angles from  our friends at SBR about New York’s final two games of the series in Houston.  Be sure to check out SBR Forum for more great coverage on the MLB Picks!

Tuesday 5/1 @ 8:05 p.m. (ET):  Niese (2-0, 2.81 ERA) vs Happ (1-1, 4.70 ERA)

Photo by Michael G. Baron

Tuesday’s matchup has both teams turning to left-handed starters, with Houston’s J.A. Happ facing New York’s Jon Niese.  The Astros went 1-1 in Happ’s pair of starts against New York last year, with the OVER going 2-0.  Niese faced Houston once last April, giving up two runs in six frames en route to a 6-1 loss for New York as a 138 home favorite.

Happ logged a no-decision in Wednesday’s 7-5 victory for Houston as a 176 road dog in Milwaukee, with the battle seeing both squads unite for 24 hits.  The 29-year-old gave up four runs over five innings, while tossing eight strikeouts.

Niese picked up his second straight no-decision in Thursday’s 3-2 triumph for New York as a 109 home favorite against Miami.  The fifth-year hurler allowed four hits, including a homer to Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez.

Wednesday 5/2 @ 2:05 p.m. (ET):  Schwinden (0-0, 11.25 ERA) vs Rodriguez (2-2, 1.72 ERA)

The series finale has Mets right-hander Chris Schwinden slated to make his second start of the year, opposing Astros southpaw Wandy Rodriguez.  Schwinden has had the OVER cash at 5-0 in his stretch of five career outings, while not facing Houston as part of that span.  Rodriguez faced New York last April, giving up just three hits over seven frames, cashing as a 130 road dog in a 6-1 victory.

Schwinden was rocked for six runs over four frames in Friday’s 18-9 defeat for New York as a 145 road dog in Colorado.  The 25-year-old allowed seven hits in the short stint, including a pair of homers.

Rodriguez notched a second straight win in Friday’s 6-4 victory for Houston, who cashed as a 128 road dog at Cincinnati.  The Dominican Republic native held the Reds to two runs in six innings, while recording six strikeouts.  The surroundings of an afternoon affair went well for Rodriguez on April 22, shutting out the Los Angeles Dodgers for seven innings.  Houston cruised in a 12-0 victory that day, cashing wire-to-wire as a 118 home dog.

Monday 4/30 @ 8:05 p.m. (ET):  Dickey (3-1, 4.44 ERA) vs Norris (1-1, 5.84 ERA)

Photo by Michael G. Baron

The series opens with a battle of right-handed hurlers slated, with Houston’s Bud Norris opposing New York’s R.A. Dickey.  Norris opened as a 115 favorite, while early betting action on Dickey shifted the line to a pick’em.  Oddsmakers first set the ‘total’ at eight, with an initial lean to the UNDER of minus 115.

Norris picked up his first loss in Tuesday’s 9-6 defeat for Houston as a 136 road dog against the Milwaukee Brewers.  The 27-year-old was shelled for seven runs in 5 2/3 innings, giving up three homers.

Dickey comes in off a stingy victory in Wednesday’s 5-1 triumph for New York, cashing as a 124 home dog against the Miami Marlins.  The nine-year veteran went seven frames, holding Miami to three hits.

Both squads’ lineups have had respectable numbers against right-handed pitching, with New York and Houston notching a .271 BA and .334 OBP, respectively.  Dickey and Norris squared off in April last season, with Houston recording a 4-3 victory as a 138 road dog.     

Tuesday 5/1 @ 8:05 p.m. (ET):  Niese (2-0, 2.81 ERA) vs Happ (1-1, 4.70 ERA)

Photo by Michael G. Baron

Tuesday’s matchup has both teams turning to left-handed starters, with Houston’s J.A. Happ facing New York’s Jon Niese.  The Astros went 1-1 in Happ’s pair of starts against New York last year, with the OVER going 2-0.  Niese faced Houston once last April, giving up two runs in six frames en route to a 6-1 loss for New York as a 138 home favorite.

Happ logged a no-decision in Wednesday’s 7-5 victory for Houston as a 176 road dog in Milwaukee, with the battle seeing both squads unite for 24 hits.  The 29-year-old gave up four runs over five innings, while tossing eight strikeouts.

Niese picked up his second straight no-decision in Thursday’s 3-2 triumph for New York as a 109 home favorite against Miami.  The fifth-year hurler allowed four hits, including a homer to Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez.

Wednesday 5/2 @ 2:05 p.m. (ET):  Schwinden (0-0, 11.25 ERA) vs Rodriguez (2-2, 1.72 ERA)

The series finale has Mets right-hander Chris Schwinden slated to make his second start of the year, opposing Astros southpaw Wandy Rodriguez.  Schwinden has had the OVER cash at 5-0 in his stretch of five career outings, while not facing Houston as part of that span.  Rodriguez faced New York last April, giving up just three hits over seven frames, cashing as a 130 road dog in a 6-1 victory.

Schwinden was rocked for six runs over four frames in Friday’s 18-9 defeat for New York as a 145 road dog in Colorado.  The 25-year-old allowed seven hits in the short stint, including a pair of homers.

Rodriguez notched a second straight win in Friday’s 6-4 victory for Houston, who cashed as a 128 road dog at Cincinnati.  The Dominican Republic native held the Reds to two runs in six innings, while recording six strikeouts.  The surroundings of an afternoon affair went well for Rodriguez on April 22, shutting out the Los Angeles Dodgers for seven innings.  Houston cruised in a 12-0 victory that day, cashing wire-to-wire as a 118 home dog.