preGame: Mets vs. Nats
The Mets are scheduled to host the Nationals at 1:10 p.m. today at Tradition Field.
The game will air live on SNY, and on MLB.com.
Pedro Martinez makes his second start of the spring after holding the Detroit Tigers to four scoreless innings last Sunday. Martinez allowed just four hits and struck out four.
Brian Schneider won’t be catching for the Mets, according to The Record‘s Steve Popper, but Paul Lo Duca will be catching for the Nats, according to Newsday‘s David Lennon. Lastings Milledge is not starting.
The Mets are hoping Martinez can give them five innings in front of Pedro Feliciano, Matt Wise and Scott Schoeneweis, according to John Delcos at the Journal News.
…let’s say pedro (martinez) pitches great again, but does so without lighting up the radar gun…i have a feeling we’re still going to hear people say, ‘well, that’s good, but i still don’t know if he’ll be able to get by with a fastball like that in the regular season’…
…and let’s say pedro pitches badly today, without the good cheese…can you imagine the reaction, particularly with just one tune-up start remaining?…
…pedro won’t be able to convince everybody that he’s still capable until he’s successful in the regular season, making these games kind of a lose-lose situation…but just remember that if any pitcher deserves the benefit of the doubt, it’s pedro…
