• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Mets Pelfrey, Giants Lincecum face off in opener

Jul 8, 2008 - 12:58 PM San Francisco (39-50) at Ny Mets (45-44) 7:10 pm. EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Two of the most promising righthanders in the game face off on Tuesday as All-Star Tim Lincecum leads the San Francisco Giants against Mike Pelfrey and the New York Mets in the opener of a three-game series at Shea Stadium.

New York took the final three games of a four-game set from the Philadelphia Phillies, and is looking to win four straight for the first time since a season-best, five-game run from April 15-19. It will not be easy against Lincecum (10-1, 2.49 ERA), who leads the NL with 122 strikeouts and is second in ERA.

The 5-11, 170-pound Lincecum won his second straight start on Thursday by limiting the Chicago Cubs to three runs and seven hits in six innings.

This won't be the only July trip to New York for the 24-year-old righthander, but it may be his only start here. Lincecum is not expected start the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium next Tuesday since he is scheduled to pitch on Sunday.

The 10th overall pick of the 2006 draft, Lincecum has been brilliant. Meanwhile, his counterpart Pelfrey (6-6, 4.23) has taken a bit longer to develop. The 24-year-old Pelfrey was the ninth pick of the 2005 draft and struggled last season.

The sinkerballer, who lost six straight starts earlier this season, may be turning a corner. Pelfrey has won a career-best four straight starts. He has benefited from tremendous run support. On Thursday, Pelfrey limited St. Louis to one run and six hits in seven innings of an 11-1 victory.