New York Mets vs. San Francisco Giants (10:15 pm ET, CSN-BA)
The New York Mets and San Francisco Giants lock horns in Game 1 (10:15pm ET, CSN-BA), on Thursday, at the AT&T Park, San Francisco, California. The Mets have a 48-40 home, 18-24 away record whereas Giants have a 47-41 away and 25-17 home record.
Carlos Beltran is back and the New York Mets are excited about it. The Mets begin a four-game road series against Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants, Beltran will make his season debut Thursday night. Against the Giants (47-41) after being out following right knee surgery, Manager Jerry Manuel said the five-time All-Star would play center field and bat cleanup Thursday.
On a rehab assignment with Class-A St. Lucie, Beltran played 14 games reuniting with his teammates Sunday. He said he is not sure how rusty he will be at the plate, although he is pain-free and ready to go. For New York (48-40) last year, Beltran was limited to 81 games due to a bone bruise. With 10 homers and 48 RBIs, he batted .325 for the Mets.
Against Lincecum (9-4, 3.16 ERA), the slugger is 4 for 7 and he has avoided losing a career-worst third straight start last Wednesday in a 15-2 win at Milwaukee. Over seven innings, he allowed one run and struck out 10.
With David Wright going 2 for 11 with eight strikeouts and Jeff Francouer 3 for 16, other key New York hitters have not fared as well as Beltran against Lincecum. With Beltran back on Thursday, Francouer’s playing time will diminish. Angel Pagan will start Thursday in right field. Four games behind Atlanta are the second-place Mets.
Buster Posey, who was 15 for 27 with five homers and 14 RBIs in that stretch and the NL player of the week, the Giants won six of seven matches behind Posey.
