Saturday, June 28, 2014, 4:05 PM on WPIX, ROOT

PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

New York Mets - Niese (4-4, 2.78 ERA) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates - Cole (6-3, 3.64 ERA)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Saturday afternoon, the New York Mets will send Jonathon Niese to the hill to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates and Gerrit Cole.  Niese makes his 16th start as Cole makes his 13th.

Jonathon Niese evened his record to 4 – 4 with a 2.78 ERA after getting the win his last time out.  In that outing, Niese gave up 3 runs on 6 hits in 6 innings of work as he walked 2 and struck out 4.  Niese is pitching better than his record indicates but his efforts haven’t always been rewarded with victories.  He seems to be on pace with last season when he went 8 - 8 with a 3.71 ERA in 24 starts.

In 2013, Niese was lit up in his only start against the Pirates.  In the loss, Niese surrendered 8 runs and 8 hits (including 2 homers) in just 4.1 innings of work.  This season, he has a no-decision against the Pirates after a 5.2 inning effort where he gave up 2 runs and 4 hits.

Gerrit Cole makes this start after returning off the disabled list with shoulder fatigue.  Cole has a record of 6 – 3 with an ERA of 3.64.  He won 3 of his last 4 outings prior to going on the DL.   In the last win, Cole allowed a run and 4 hits in 5.2 innings.  If he stays healthy, he should surpass his results from last season when he was 10 - 7 with a 3.22 ERA in 19 starts.

In 2013, Cole lost his only start against the Mets after giving up 3 runs on 6 hits in 5 innings of work.  He’s only faced 5 of the current Mets before and he has only allowed 3 hits in 12 at-bats.

New York Mets Betting Trends

New York Mets are 33-34-11 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for New York Mets is 0.1

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

Pittsburgh Pirates are 35-37-6 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Pittsburgh Pirates is -0.2

Injuries to Watch

New York Mets

06/25/14 C Taylor Teagarden Hamstring 15-day DL (6/22)
05/14/14 P Dillon Gee Side 15-day DL (5/11)
04/01/14 P Bobby Parnell Elbow 15-day DL (4/1), out for season
03/28/14 P Matt Harvey Elbow 60-day DL (3/30), out for season

Pittsburgh Pirates

06/11/14 P Francisco Liriano Side 15-day DL (6/11)

Guy's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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