The Mets finish off their series with the Nationals tonight as they go for the series split. The ace, Johan Santana, takes the rubber for the Amazin's as the teams bats try to recapture an image of last night and hope to put up runs tonight. For the Nationals, Redding will be attempting to get his second win against the Mets this year and lead the Nationals in the role of spoiler.
Santana, 13-7, has over 210 innings pitched this year, which is already more than any pitcher the Mets had on staff last year. He has 56 BB on the season against 179 strikouts and a nice 2.70 ERA. In his last five starts, he is 2-0 over five games and 33.1 innings pitched. His ERA over the stretuch is 2.43, 10 BB, 31 K. Against Washington this year he has 2 games pitched, has gone 2-0 over 14 innings pitched, an ERA of 3.21, 3 BB, and 10 K's. The Nationals have put these numbers agaisnt him:
Belliard 4-23, 7 K
Boone 2-17
Guzman 6-10, 2B
Zimmerman 2-9
Guzman and Dukes have been all over the Mets pitching this series, so as such, they are the two players to watch out for tonight. Guzman has good numbers against Santana and Dukes has never faced him. If the Mets can keep them at Bay, they can control this game and get the win. Of course, its not always that simple. The best thing Santana can do tonight, besides win, is to eat innings as the Mets used 8 pitchers last night and the pen could use some rest going into this weekend.
Redding, 10-9, makes the start for the Nats tonight with his 4.54 ERA. In his last five games he is 2-1 over 29.2 innigns pitched, 11 BB 16 K's and an ERA of 3.94. Against the Mets this year he has pitched 2 games with a record of 1-1 over 11 innings, 5 walks and 7 strikeouts. He posted an ERA of 3.27. Here are the Mets against Redding:
Castillo 5-16
Reyes 4-13, 3B
Wright 3-10, HR, 2 BB
Beltran 4-8, 2B, HR
Delgado 0-6, BB
Santana 1-1, 2B, BB
He has had success against this Mets team, but the Mets can beat him. I was at the game when the Mets beat him and it was Santana pitching earlier in the year. Myself and my friends were the idiots chanting silver slugger after Santana ripped a double off of him, which caused a lot of Nationals fans to stare at us and say some not so nice things. Lets hope the Carlos's and crew can do damage tonight and that Wright's bats wakes up from being asleep since Sunday's game. Lets Go Mets!
