Game Preview: Mets @ Nationals

I’m not sure what’s longer: the off-day after the All-Star break or the off-day after Opening Day. The Mets beat the Nationals 2-0 on Thursday just like BVW thought they would. His newly extended starter Jacob deGrom was great over 6 innings, his newly signed reliever Familia pitched a clean 8th, his newly acquired closer Diaz shut the door in the 9th and newly acquired second basemen Cano provided all of the offense including a homer in first at bat plus made a game saving defensive play. Just a great a day.

And then we had to wait for more Mets baseball.

But the wait is over! It’s Thorsday! Noah Syndergaard takes the mound this afternoon. Last year Noah went 13-4 over 25 starts and 154.1 innings with 2 complete games (tied for league lead) and 1 complete game shutout (tied for league lead). He posted a 3.03 ERA, 2.80 FIP, 1.212 WHIP and a 121 ERA+. He tossed 12.0 innings against the Nationals last season allowing 4 runs off 13 hits and 3 walks while striking out 7. The Nationals have the following numbers against Syndergaard:

Anthony Rendon 9-26, 2B, 2 HR, BB, 5 K
Ryan Zimmerman 3-13, 2 2B, 5 K
Howie Kendrick 1-12, 2B, K
Trea Turner 2-12, 2B, 2 K
Matt Adams 0-5, 3 BB, 3 K
Adam Eaton 3-8, K
Kurt Suzuki 0-6, BB, K
Michael A Taylor 2-7, 3 K
Juan Soto 1-6, 3 K

The Mets will get their first look this year at a National rotation mainstay: Stephen Strasburg. Stephen went 10-7 over 22 starts and 130.0 innings last year posting a 3.74 ERA, 3.62 FIP, 1.200 WHIP and 114 ERA+. He only faced the Mets once last year allowing 4 runs over 5 hits and 2 walks in 6.0 innings of work. In his career he is 8-5 over 17 starts against the Mets with a 2.83 ERA in 105.0 innings of work. Yoenis Cespedes has been one of the most prolific hitters against Strasburg going 9-18 with a double and a homer, so he’s definitely missed this afternoon. The Mets have the following numbers against him: