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Giants-Mets Preview

Aug 16, 2009 - 1:55 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

San Francisco (62-53) at New York (54-61), 1:10 p.m. EDT

David Wright has been the one constant in the New York Mets' lineup in 2009, missing just one game while many of the Mets' other high-priced stars have spent the majority of their seasons on the disabled list.

New York has to hope Wright isn't about to join them.

Wright left in an ambulance after being hit in the head during Saturday's game, and his status is up in the air as the Mets continue their four-game set with the visiting San Francisco Giants on Sunday afternoon.

Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes have combined to miss nearly two-thirds of New York's games, and their absences have been a key factor in the inconsistent play of one of baseball's highest-paid teams.

Wright, hitting .324 and appearing in 115 of the club's 116 games, has done his best to keep the Mets (54-62) afloat, but suddenly the four-time All-Star's health is their greatest concern. San Francisco's Matt Cain drilled Wright with a pitch in the helmet in the fourth inning Saturday, and an ambulance took New York's third baseman to the Hospital for Special Surgery 50 minutes later.

Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said a CT scan was negative and that Wright had a concussion. He was expected to stay in the hospital overnight for observation.

"It will be difficult for us. He has played through a number of things - nagging injuries, fatigue," manager Jerry Manuel said of Wright. "He was going out there for us every day."

New York ace Johan Santana later threw behind Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval and subsequently hit catcher Bengie Molina, earning both benches warnings and setting up a potentially testy game Sunday. Molina got in the last word Saturday, though, hitting a homer off closer Francisco Rodriguez in the 10th inning to lift San Francisco (63-53) to a 5-4 win.

"I felt like my fastball was good enough to get by him," Rodriguez said. "Today I have to tip my cap and move on and get ready for tomorrow."

The Mets have averaged 3.3 runs in dropping six of nine, and could have an even tougher time scoring Sunday if Wright is unavailable.

They'll face Jonathan Sanchez (5-10, 4.61 ERA), who is 4-2 with a 3.63 ERA at home - where he no-hit San Diego last month - but has struggled on the road. The left-hander is 1-8 with a 5.53 ERA away from AT&T Park, though he pitched seven shutout innings at Houston on Aug. 4 in his most recent road start.

Sanchez gave up four runs in five innings Monday at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers, though, earning a 4-2 loss.

He's 2-1 with a 4.42 ERA in five games - three starts - versus New York, and gave up four runs over 5 2-3 innings May 14, leaving without a decision in the Mets' 7-4 win in San Francisco.

Mike Pelfrey (8-8, 4.88) will get the ball for New York on Sunday, making his fourth straight start against an NL West opponent. After tossing 6 1-3 scoreless innings in a win over Colorado on July 28, Pelfrey has lost consecutive outings against Arizona.

Pelfrey allowed five runs and eight hits over six innings Monday in a 7-4 road defeat.

"The inconsistency is a concern, his stuff is not," Manuel told the Mets' official Web site. "We're very confident that what he has is good enough to compete, but we need to see it on a more consistent basis than we're seeing it now."

Pelfrey is 1-1 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against the Giants.