"The value here is too great too pass up on despite the fact that the Mets are hot and the Pirates are cold. Anyway, I’m not asking the Pirates to win, I’m asking them to have a lead going to the sixth and with Jonathan Niese on the hill for the Mets, that’s a distinct possibility. Niese has had his chances at this level before and did not deliver. In three career starts covering just 14 frames, he allowed 11 earned runs, 20 hits and walked eight. His major league ERA is 7.07 and his WHIP is 2.00. In five starts in the minors this season, Niese is 0-2 with a 6.55 ERA. He’ll be filling the void left by Oliver Perez and while he does have a great looking curveball and overall pretty good stuff, the pressure is too great for him. He isn’t throwing strikes and for a 22-year old that has had a couple of opportunities to remain with the major-league club, he’s going to get another one here and once again he’ll try to do too much. The price here definitely has influence on this choice, as Niese is not even close to warrant this billing. Overlay. Play: Pittsburgh +1.60 in the first 5 innings (Risking 2 units)."
