Your lineups for tonight’s battle between the Mets and the Giants are as follows:
GIANTS
1. Denard Span (L) CF
2. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
3. Buster Posey (R) C
4. Hunter Pence (R) RF
5. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
6. Angel Pagan (S) LF
7. Joe Panik (L) 2B
8. Conor Gillaspie (L) 3B
9. Madison Bumgarner (R) P
The most notable thing being chattered about regarding the Giants this afternoon is who Bruce Bochy might use out of the bullpen. Some are saying that, if Bumgarner goes seven innings, the first reliever out after him would be . . . Johnny Cueto. Which isn’t the worst idea ever as far as overall pitching quality goes, but is weird considering he is far, far worse in the first inning than he is in any other inning. Guess we’ll see.
METS
1. Jose Reyes (S) 3B
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
4. Curtis Granderson (L) CF
5. T.J. Rivera (R) 2B
6. Jay Bruce (L) RF
7. Rene Rivera (R) C
8. James Loney (L) 1B
9. Noah Syndergaard (L) P
Yes, T.J. Rivera is hitting fifth in a do-or-die playoff game and James Loney is starting at first base. Lucas Duda isn’t even on the roster, in fact. Which is likely because he’s hurt. As for the relief corps, starters Bartolo Colon and Robert Gsellman will be available in the bullpen.