It's cloudy but dry at Coca-Cola Field and everything is on target for the Bisons' homestand-closing 7 p.m. game against Charlotte. Bobby Livingston will be on the mound for the Herd and Ryota Igarashi will pitch again on rehab in relief before likely joining the Mets tomorrow. Igarashi told me after last night's game he was ready but the big club opted for one more outing to be on the safe side.
7 P.M. UPDATE: The Mets have just announced that John Maine is going on the DL with shoulder weaknesss and Buffalo closer Elmer Dessens has been called up. Dessens (5-0, 2.12) got his sixth save last night. Remains to be seen what the Mets do next time Maine's turn in the rotation comes up. Wonder if Pat Misch, who had another solid start last night, will get the call.
The Bisons should get another solid bat next week as Daniel Murphy will be reporting to play multiple roles, mostly second base and the outfield. Murphy on the road back from a knee injury, may join the team in Lehigh Valley and will certainly be here come Thursday morning, when the Herd opens an eight-game homestand in its annual 10:35 a.m. Kids Day game against Toledo.
Murphy was the Mets' regular first baseman last year but lost his job this year in the wake of the injury as Ike Davis is now entrenched in his spot. The Mets now need to find a spot for him and it's probably no coincidence there's trade rumors growing regarding second baseman Luis Castillo.
In any event, that should be another solid bat in a Buffalo lineup full of them. The Bisons enter tonight's game second in the IL in batting (.281), home runs (43) and slugging (.448) and tied for third in runs (201). Here's the Buffalo lineup:
Jesus Feliciano, rf
Russ Adams, 2b
Mike Jacobs, 1b
Mike Hessman, 3b
Valentino Pascucci, dh
Josh Thole, c
Andy Green, lf
Ruben Tejada, ss
Emmanuel Garcia, cf
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Bobby Livingston, p
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
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Bisons/Mets
