The Mets and Nationals hopefully return to the baseball field this afternoon. As custom, with Thursday being the home opener for the Nationals, both teams had off yesterday just in case the festivities had to be pushed back a day. The risk for snow today has been greatly reduced but an outside chance still looms.
Also looming in DC are the Mets bats! The Mets outfield came out in force on Thursday with homers from Cespedes, Bruce and Conforto! For Cespedes, it was his third homer in 6 days. For Conforto, it was wonderful to see him in his first game back from injury. The Mets look to keep the good times going tonight as Steven Matz takes on Gio González.
Steven Matz is looking to rebound from his first start of the season where he allowed 3 runs over 4.0 innings against the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon from 4 hits and 3 walks in the Mets only loss this season. The long ball hurt Matz who allowed 2 homers. Matz had two very different starts against the Nationals last year. In his second start of the season he allowed 4 earned runs from 8 hits and no walks in 7.0 innings. Three weeks later he held the Nationals scoreless over 7.0 innings and to only 4 hits and two walks. That start was one of two starts all year where Matz held an opponent scoreless. The Nationals have the following numbers against Steven:
- Rendon 3-12, HR, 6 K
- Taylor 3-10, HR, 2 BB, 3 K
- Harper 2-9, BB
- Kendrick 2-9, 2 K
- Zimmerman 0-9
- Turner 1-8, 2B
- Wieters 1-5, HR
Gio González is coming off a strong opening start to the 2018 season where he allowed 1 runs over 6.0 innings from 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 7. Last year he went 15-9 over 32 starts and 201.0 innings posting a 2.96 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 1.179 WHIP and 150 ERA+. Gio was tremendous against the Mets last year going 3-0 in as many starts holding the Mets to 5 runs in 20.0 innings (2.25 ERA). In that stretch he allowed 13 hits and 4 walks while striking out 13 (0.850 WHIP). The Mets have the following numbers against Gio:
- Lagares 16-43, 3 2B, 3B, Hr, BB, 7 K
- Cabrera 7-31, 2 BB
- Bruce 4-23, 4 2B, 3 BB, 9 K
- Flores 5-23, HR, 2 BB
- Gonzalez 2-19, BB
- Reyes 7-19, 2 2B, 2 HR
- d’Arnaud 3-16, 3 2B
- Cespedes 7-13, 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB
- Frazier 2-11, 2B, 5 K
Who’s Hotter than a Bowl of Ben’s Chili?
Cespedes! In 27 plate appearances he’s hitting .273/.407/.682 so far!
Who’s Colder than Tri-State Area Students thinking they would get a warm spring break?
Jose Reyes. He got the start for match-ups yesterday. He has the numbers today against Gio but on the season he is still searching for a hit in first 8 PA’s (he does have one walk though, also one caught stealing).
Let’s Go Mets!
