Jeff Benton
Florida +125 at N.Y. METS
We scored an easy 7♦ free-play winner with the Marlins over the Mets on Saturday, and we’ll jump right back on that horse Sunday and back the Fish in this series finale from Citi Field.
Florida sends hard-throwing right-hander Chris Volstad to the mound in this one, and before we get to Volstad’s particulars, I must note that once again a Marlins pitcher will be facing a depleted Mets lineup. Not only are Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes on the disabled list, but Carlos Beltran is dealing with a lower leg injury that has had him sidelined frequently in the last week (Beltran started yesterday’s game, but had to come out in the fifth inning after aggravating the injury).
You take the Nos. 1, 3 and 4 hitters out of any lineup, and that team is going to be hurting for offense. And if you eliminate a three-game sweep of the crappy Nationals this week in which they scored a total of 18 runs, the Mets have produced three runs or fewer in seven of their past nine games. Now they have to deal with Volstad, whom New York struggled against twice last year even with Reyes, Beltran and Delgado on the field.
Last August in Florida, Volstad gave up a run on five hits in 6 1/3 innings, but his bullpen didn’t back him up and New York prevailed 5-4. Then a month later in the final weekend at Shea Stadium and the Mets gunning for a playoff berth, Volstad again allowed just one run (unearned) and five hits in six innings en route to a 6-1 victory. That gives him a 0.73 ERA in two starts against the Mets.
Today, Volstad matches up against John Maine. Both right-handers have 4-3 records, but Volstad has the superior ERA (3.69 vs. 4.18) and WHIP (1.13 vs. 1.39). Volstad is also 2-1 with a 3.19 ERA in five road starts, four of which Florida has won. Throw in the fact that Florida has won six of Volstad’s last seven road starts dating to last season and is 4-1 in his last five outings as an underdog, I’ll take a shot with the visitor.
3♦ FLORIDA