By JUSTIN TERRANOVA
Posted: 12:28 pm
September 22, 2008
The best playoff-related news the Mets received over the weekend was that the Cubs clinched a spot in the postseason before their four-game series with the Amazin's that opens tonight at Shea Stadium (7:10, SNY, WFAN).
The Mets had little to be excited about when it came to their own play, losing two straight in Atlanta after taking Friday's series opener. The two-game slide allowed the slumping Brewers to get within 1 ½ games of the Mets for the wild card, and the Phillies went from ½ game back to 1 ½ games up on the Mets in the NL East.
Cubs manager Lou Piniella benched seven of his eight regulars yesterday against the Cardinals after the team clinched the NL Central title on Saturday. The Cubs are one win away from clinching home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs, and Piniella said he plans to get his regulars back on the field for matchups with the Mets and Brewers this week.
"If we need to rest a player here or a player there, that we can do. I just can't play the lineup like we're playing today the rest of the week," Piniella said after they beat the Cardinals 5-1 yesterday. "It just wouldn't be fair to the (contending) teams and it wouldn't be fair to us because we haven't clinched home-field advantage yet either."
That means the pressure falls on Mets rookie Jonathon Niese, whose third career start tonight comes in the middle of a pennant race against a team with a potent lineup led by Alfonso Soriano, Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. They are all right-handed power hitters, who could give the southpaw trouble.
It may be his final start of the season, too. Niese is scheduled to start Saturday, but if the Mets have not clinched a playoff spot they might consider throwing Johan Santana, tomorrow's starter, on three days' rest.
"I only have two starts in my career, so you can't really blame the Mets for whatever decision they make," Niese said. "All I can do is just, whenever they call on me, pitch to the best of my ability and hope I get a win."
If Niese comes up with a performance like his previous start, when he threw eight shutout innings against the Braves, then the Mets might be inclined to give the 21-year-old a chance in a big game.
"The way I look at it, the Mets called me up to pitch in the big leagues," Niese said. "They think I'm ready. And the circumstances just happen to be this way.
"The only thing that can put pressure on me is myself. If I can block out everything around me, I can focus on what I have to do."
Tonight's Pitching Matchup:
Mets LHP Jonathon Niese (1-0, 4.09 ERA) Niese will be pitching on eight days' rest; his sterling performance against Atlanta was last Saturday night.
Cubs RHP Jason Marquis (10-9, 4.39 ERA) The Manhasset native will be making his 14th career start against the Mets. He is 5-5 with a 4.45 ERA.
With AP and Mets.com
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