Astros 3 - 1 Mets
Final
  for this game

Mets, Astros begin season-closing series at Citi Field

Sep 26, 2014 - 2:56 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Mets can't make the playoffs or finish at .500, but reaching second place in the National League's East Division remains an attainable consolation prize at the end of a long season.

The Mets return home to Citi Field to close out the schedule, beginning a three-game series Friday night with the visiting Houston Astros.

A sweep would give New York just 80 wins for 2014, but the Mets enter the final weekend tied with Atlanta for second in the division, a half-game ahead of the Miami Marlins.

They haven't finished as high as second since 2008.

Aiming for victory No. 10 tonight will be Jonathon Niese, who's reached double-digits in two of the last three seasons.

He spent time on the disabled list with a strained left shoulder earlier in the season and was just 3-6 in his initial nine post-DL starts, but he's managed a 2.14 earned run average across his last three outings.

His most recent start came Saturday against the Braves and saw him go 7 1/3 innings in a 4-2 victory.

"That's the Jon Niese we know," manager Terry Collins said. "That's the guy who pitches to contact, makes pitches, locates it, moves it around, changes speeds."

He hasn't faced the interleague Astros in more than two years, and maintains a 1-3 record and 3.60 ERA against them in five starts.

Houston has lost seven of nine games, and scored just five runs in a three- game sweep against Texas earlier in the week.

Right-hander Brad Peacock closes out his 2014 season with his final start, which comes one week after he was drubbed for seven runs in 3 1/3 innings of a 10-5 loss to Seattle.

He's allowed one run across his last 10 road innings, though, while striking out 10 batters. In three previous road appearances, his ERA had been 13.85.

Peacock was a 2-0 winner in a lone appearance at Citi Field in 2011 after throwing five innings of scoreless ball and allowing just two hits.

Houston took four of six from the Mets back in 2012, the last time these teams met.






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