The Mets start their first road trip of the season this year as they head down to Washington. It was a successful first week for the Mets as they went 4-1, thanks in large part to their bullpen and they face a Nationals team that is now 4-2 after starting the season 4-0. With the exception of 2015, the Nationals have played well against the Mets and while I personally want to be calm, cool and collected saying “this is just another game” or “it’s barely the second week of the season, it’s too early to be scoreboard watching” – I can’t. Two of three to start the season down in DC would be great. Let’s just started with 1 though for right now. And what a good 1 it could be today as this afternoon also marks the return of Scooter! Michael Conforto returns to the Mets almost a month ahead of the original May 1st estimate.
Additional concerns: with today being the home opener for the Nationals, the Mets and Nationals have a wonky schedule this weekend including a day game today, an off day tomorrow, a day game Saturday and a night game on Sunday. Further complicating the schedule – snow may be on the way for the DC region Friday into Saturday.
Jacob deGrom makes his second start of the season for the Mets. He picked up a win in the Mets second game of the year pitching 5.2 innings allowing a run on 4 hits and a walk while striking out 7. He was 3-2 against the Nationals in 2017 in as many games pitching 34.1 innings allowing 11 runs, 9 earned (2.36 ERA) from 27 hits and 10 walks while striking out 49 and posting a WHIP of 1.149. His 2.36 ERA was the best ERA he posted against any team in the National League East. The Nationals have the following numbers against deGrom:
- Harper 9-24, 2 2B, HR, 5 BB
- Rendon 0-19, 4 BB, 6 K
- Kendrick 2-20, 3 K
- Taylor 1-19, BB, 11 K
- Zimmerman 5-16, 2 HR, 6 K
- Turner 5-15, 2B, HR, BB
- Weiters 3-12, HR
The Mets bats draw Stephen Strasburg this afternoon, coming off back to back All Star Seasons. In his first start in 2018 he allowed 3 runs, 1 earned over 6.1 innings from 8 hits and one walk while striking out 7 on his way to a win. Last year he was 15-4 over 28 games and 175.1 innings with a 2.52 ERA, 2.72 FIP (league leading), 1.015 WHIP and 176 ERA+. Stephen was 1-1 in four starts against the Mets pitching 24.1 innings holding the Mets to 8 runs (2.96 ERA) from 21 hits and 6 walks while striking out 19. The Mets have the following numbers against Strasburg:
- Reyes 8-32, 3 2B, BB
- Bruce 8-22, 2B, HR, 3 K
- Cabrera 3-16, 2 HR, 2 BB, 5 K
- d’Arnaud 4-16, HR, 2 BB, 6 K
- Cespedes 8-15, 2B, 4 K
- Lagares 2-16, 7 K
- Conforto 2-15, HR, 7 K
Who’s Hotter than a overcrowded 5 train trying to bring Mets fans to Grand Central and Yankee fans to some other place?
The Mets bullpen! Yesterday they posted 5 scoreless innings including HANSEL ROBLES (despite the Phillies messing with his undershirt)
Who’s Colder than all the fans yesterday at Citi Field before the Sun came out?
Any Mets fan who follows relies on the rhythm of the Mets first pitch times to establish order in their life. Through the weekend the Mets will have only one game this entire season that started at 7 PM.
Let’s Go Mets!
