Shea goodbye

The Astros were off yesterday, but tonight they'll be in action at Shea Stadium in New York against the Mets, and hopefully Craig Biggio will be in the lineup. Mike Pelfrey is starting for the Mets and he's hit a batter in each of his last 3 pitching appearances. The last time he didn't hit a batter, though, was July 6th against the Astros, which was the day before Biggio was last hit by a pitch. Pelfrey has hit 7 batters this season in just 54 and 2/3 innings - only three other pitchers have hit as many batters in fewer innings this season. Tonight will be Pelfrey's 16th pitching appearance and he's already hit 10 batters in his career. Biggio has been hit 13 times by pitchers with 16 career appearances or less.

If Biggio does get hit by a pitch tonight, it will be his 20th thrown by the Mets, on the anniversary of his 5th plunk against the Mets. John Franco became the 5th Met to plunk Biggio on September 7, 1993. Biggio was also plunked by Rod Beck of the Giants 10 years ago today.