Joe Saunders LHP, 0-2, 6.32

Mike Pelfrey RHP, 0-2, 9.72

Into the Big Apple, with the road-trip already a success by my low expectations: if we can take one game from the struggling Mets, then it'll be a .500 run through the East, and we'd have settled for that before it started. But we're playing a team who has won only three of its past 15 games, so let's get greed here! Take the series! Better yet, go for a sweep! Just be sure to avoid taking part in any investment opportunities you may be offered during your stay in New York. Or, at least, consult with your financial adviser [hopefully not named Wilpon] first.

1. Chris Young CF
2. Kelly Johnson 2B
3. Justin Upton  RF
4. Stephen Drew  SS
5. Miguel Montero C
6. Ryan Roberts 3B
7. Russell Branyan 1B
8. Gerardo Parra  LF
9. Joe Saunders P 

I quite like these afternoon games. It means I can get everything taken care of nice and early, then settle down with Mrs. SnakePit in front of another episode of Forbrydelsen, which is the original Danish version of AMC show, The Killing. We're watching the latter too, which makes for an interesting contrast. The heroine in the original definitely has better woolly jumpers.

Yeah, as you can perhaps tell, this contest has really got me fired up with enthusiasm. We do get Young leading off for the first time this year, in the absence of Willie Float to occupy the role. Not sure if Melvin Mora's foot is still bothering him, but he can't shift Roberts out of the third-base spot, while Branyan is preferred over Juan Miranda. So not much new there. Pelfrey's starts have been bad enough to give Saunders the edge in the pitching match-up, based on recent form. We also ripped Pelfrey for ten earned runs in seven innings the two times we faced him last year, so we seem to have his number.

Let's win, get back up to .500, guarantee the same for the road trip, then go forward from there. Sounds like a plan to me.