Mets vs. Padres Series Preview

Some quick notes regarding the upcoming game and series between the Mets and Padres …

Ruben Tejada has been summoned from Buffalo to take over at shortstop while Jose Reyes rests his hamstring. Tejada takes the disabled Dan Murphy‘s spot on the 25-man roster. Tejada had hit .250 (42-168) with 19 RBI in 52 games with the Mets, but was .193 (11-57) in 15 games with the Bisons from July 21-August 6.

Jason Bay’s next home run will be the 200th of his
career. Only two other Canadians have hit 200 or more home runs in the major leagues — Larry Walker (383) and Matt Stairs (265).

David Wright — with 2,039 total bases — ranks second to Ed Kranepool (2,047) in franchise history. Wright is batting .365 (23-63) since coming off the DL, with five doubles, two home runs and 15 RBI.

The Mets have lost five of their last six games after winning five straight games from July 25-29. Although they are 51-44 since April 21, they are 10-12 since the All-Star break (i.e., the “Post K-Rod Era”). Disturbingly, the Mets are 5-14 in the first game of a series at home.

Despite rumors he would be jettisoned by the trade deadline, former Met Heath Bell is still a Padre. However, reliever Mike Adams and outfielder Ryan Ludwick are not.

Third baseman Chase Headley suffered a finger fracture on Saturday and is out. He is being replaced by 2008 second-round pick James Darnell, who may make his MLB debut in this series. The highly touted Darnell was a college teammate of Mets prospect Reese Havens. Darnell has split the season between Double-A San Antonio (.333, 17 HR, 62 RBI, 288 AB) and Triple-A Tucson (.272, 6 HR, 13 RBI, 103 AB).

Catcher Nick Hundley and pitchers Dustin Moseley and Clayton Richard are also on the DL. So you see, it isn’t only the Mets who are dealing with injuries and key players traded away.

Human solar eclipse Kyle Blanks is back in San Diego, taking over Ludwick’s void in the outfield. The 6’6″, 290+ behemoth was hitting .351 with 11 homers, .716 SLG, and a 1.137 OPS through 134 ABs and 152 plate appearances in AAA Tucson prior to his promotion; he hit a grand slam on Saturday night.

Centerfielder Cameron Maybin has stolen 20 consecutive bases without getting caught; the Padres lead the NL with 130 stolen bases.

Here are the pitching matchups for the four-game series:

Monday: RHP Mike Pelfrey (6-10, 4.48) vs. RHP Tim Stauffer (7-8, 2.96), 7:10 p.m. ET

Tuesday: LHP Chris Capuano (9-10, 4.44) vs. LHP Wade LeBlanc (0-2, 4.98), 7:10 p.m. ET

Wednesday: RHP R.A. Dickey (5-10, 3.72) vs. RHP Aaron Harang (10-3, 3.91), 7:10 p.m. ET

Thursday: LHP Jon Niese (11-8, 4.12) vs. LHP Cory Luebke (4-6, 3.06), 12:10 p.m. ET