Tonight at 7:10 p.m. ET the New York Mets (20-23) will welcome the National League's most star-studded team to CitiField when the Los Angeles Dodgers (23-22) come to town with their 14-9 road record. Live stream the game by clicking this link; Dodgers fans can tune in to the radio broadcast on 570 Fox Sports LA, while Mets fans may do the same on 710 WOR. Josh Beckett (1-1, 2.38 ERA) will be on the hill for L.A. while rookie Rafael Montero (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will make his second career start for the Mets.
Montero certainly hasn't been eased into the big leagues, facing the Yankees in his debut and now taking on the Dodgers. In his debut he was touched up for several home runs, but otherwise acquitted himself well in a pressure-packed situation.
"I was real proud of the way Raffy stayed in there," manager Terry Collins said. "A couple of home runs, but it should have been closer."
Tonight's counterpart, Beckett, has looked different of late thanks to catcher A.J. Ellis' suggestion to employ his curveball more often. "Instead of throttling up a fastball, I can throttle back with a curve," Beckett said.
"I've always had a good curveball, but never a good feel for it, never for strike one. But I threw it (Tuesday eight times on the first pitch). Guys don't hit it, maybe because it's dying anyway, nobody throws it, and hitters don't see them often. And A.J. said a 70-mph curve makes that 90-93-mph fastball look faster."
The Dodgers could fall to .500 for the first time this season, but outfielder Yasiel Puig can't be blamed for the somewhat underwhelming showing so far in 2014. Puig's hitting .322 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs this season, and he's even added four stolen bases.
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