Cardinals 6 Mets 2

Right back to .500.

The Mets go for the sweep this afternoon against the St. Louis Cardinals in a game that begins at 12:10 PM (hope you set the DVR). Here is the lineup going against Cardinals pitcher Jake Westbrook:

Jose Reyes – SS
Justin Turner – 2B
Carlos Beltran – RF
Dan Murphy -3B
Angel Pagan – CF
Lucas Duda – 1B
Ronny Paulino – C
Jason Pridie – LF
Jonathon Niese – P

As mentioned in Jessica’s news update, Jason Bay is out with a tight hamstring, and so Pridie is filling in in left field. You’ll also notice that Ronny Paulino is back behind the plate after Josh Thole had a two-hit, two-RBI day.

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN,

Jason Bay (hamstring tightness) is out of the lineup this afternoon. Manager Terry Collins had intimated Wednesday night that he was going to give Bay, who is 4 for his last 37 (.108), the day off.

Bay said he originally tweaked his hamstring Saturday, when he stepped on Ryan Howard‘s foot while running to first base during a victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Bay was lifted in the fourth inning of last night’s win.

After the game, Bay told the NY Post

“Terry was aware of it,” Bay said. “I kind of felt it was OK if I was jogging. I hit that ground ball to short and my first couple [of] steps, I could feel it. I kind of slowed down but there was something that kind of prevented me from really going and then there was a ball down the line my first couple steps again your first instinct is to go real quick, but I could feel it immediately. Not bad, but enough that I’m a little concerned that if I keep going at that pace something bad might happen.”

What else bad can happen to his season at this point?

Today is the 46th birthday of 2000 trade deadline acquisition Mike Bordick. Believe it or not, it took four players to rent the services of the gritty leader from Baltimore: Mike Kinkade, Leslie Brea, Pat Gorman and Melvin Mora were sacrificed in the deal.

In 56 games with the Mets, Bordick batted a serviceable .260, with one home run and 15 RBIs. His OBP however, was a solid .365. However, he was in worse in the postseason: he batted .167 in the NLDS, a robust .077 in the NLCS, and a smoking .125 in the World Series. After the season, he exercised his right to free agency and promptly returned to Baltimore. Bordick was always a favorite of broadcasters, coaches and teammates for being a true professional.

Others Mets celebrating their DOB today: Mike Cubbage, Brian Buchanon and Brett Hinchcliffe.